The ‘truly collaborative legal team’ at Bell Gully is praised for its ability to ’cover a wide range of tricky issues’ across a host of complex commercial disputes. Counting large New Zealand corporates, financial institutions, and government agencies among its key clients, the team’s caseload regularly includes class actions, regulatory investigations and disputes, construction disputes, defamation and media disputes, and white collar crime cases. Leading the department is Sophie East , who has particular expertise in class actions, banking and finance litigation, arbitration, and all aspects of corporate disputes. East is supported by Wellington-based deputy leader Rachael Brown, who specialises in public law, including Māori legal issues, as well as employment law. David Friar, lauded by clients for his ‘depth of enquiry and understanding’ and strong courtroom advocacy, focuses on complex commercial disputes, insurance litigation, and corporate and insolvency disputes. Jenny Stevens is a key contact for competition law-related disputes and other sector specific economic regulation, while Kirsty Dobbs is recommended for her expertise in contract and construction disputes. The ’hard-working’ Tim Fitzgerald is a key port of call for retail banks, listed entities, and other corporate and insolvency practitioners on some of their most complex disputes. Blair Keown specialises in contentious issues relating to the financial markets, while Jesse Wilson is particularly experienced in takeovers and securities law.
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Good balance of skills, particularly at senior associate level. Able to cover a wide range of tricky issues and draft precise submissions with and without the assistance of senior counsel.’
‘Tim Fitzgerald is hard working, calm and approachable.'
Key clients
- Air New Zealand
- ANZ Bank
Work highlights
- Acting for ANZ Bank New Zealand in the largest class action in New Zealand to date (by number of claimants) in respect of alleged breaches by ANZ of disclosure requirements under the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act 2003.
- Acting for ASX-listed company AWN Holdings in a high-profile class action brought by investors in relation to the Initial Public Offering of the formerly NZX-listed Intueri Education Group Ltd.