Dentons New Zealand

Special Counsel

Patrick is a Special Counsel in our Litigation and Dispute Resolution team in Auckland. He qualified in Scotland in 2014 and, after five years practising there, moved to Dentons Kensington Swan in Auckland in 2019. Patrick’s practice covers a broad range of commercial litigation with a particular focus on insolvency matters, contractual and trust disputes, and competition law. He also assists our construction team with contentious issues arising out of construction contracts.

Patrick enjoys helping clients resolve disputes in a way that works for them, whether that involves direct negotiations with other parties, mediation, and/or court proceedings. At the same time, he also enjoys working with clients on tricky legal issues that aren’t, or aren’t yet, contentious, whether that involves advising liquidators and administrators on their duties and liabilities or advising companies on the competition law risks of a particular transaction.

Patrick is qualified in Scots law having studied at the University of Edinburgh. In Edinburgh, his practice was focused on commercial disputes including contractual, personal injury, property and intellectual property disputes, while he also took his first steps in insolvency work. Since coming to New Zealand and building on this experience, Patrick has been rated as a ‘rising star’ by IFLR1000 and a ‘key lawyer’ by Legal 500.

English

University of Edinburgh, 2014, Post-Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice

University of Edinburgh, 2013, Bachelor of Laws, (with Distinction)

University of Nottingham, 2009, Bachelor's degree, History

Admitted: Solicitor, Law Society of Scotland, 2016