General Background
John attended Victoria University of Wellington where he graduated with a law degree. He first commenced practice in a mid-sized litigation firm in Wellington where he later became the Senior Common Law Partner.
John joined the independent Bar in 1989 and took silk in 1996.
John has very wide experience in all forms of litigation and in particular in trial work where he has acted as senior counsel in a number of nationally significant cases.
Whilst John dedicates most of his time to the law he has a background in representative golf, motor sport and currently is an avid sailor.
John’s interest in sport has led to his having a significant involvement in sports law issues.
John acts as pro bono counsel for the S.P.C.A. and Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society of New Zealand Inc.
Selected Recent Cases
John has recently acted in regulatory and commercial matters as counsel for Auckland Transport Ltd, Watercare Services Ltd, Jetstar, Zespri New Zealand Ltd, Milford Asset Management Ltd and currently the Attorney-General in defence of an application for costs under the Costs in Criminal Cases Act.
John has recently been involved in the defence of a serious fraud prosecution in relation to offences under the Secret Commissions Act. He is currently involved as counsel for the defence in pending SFO prosecutions.
John is also currently engaged in a number of relationship property cases where issues arise in relation to entitlements under family trusts. John is currently acting for the plaintiff in defamation proceedings and is also advising the Human Rights Commission in relation to similar media related issues.
Professional Activities
- Member of the Arbitrators' and Mediators' Institute of New Zealand Inc (AMINZ)
- Judge of the Courts Martial Appeal Court for New Zealand
- Currently Counsel in a number of commercial proceedings in the High Court and Court of Appeal
- Currently Counsel in a number of commercial arbitrations
- Currently Counsel for the defence in major serious fraud proceedings
- Currently Counsel in defamation proceedings
- Currently Counsel in Construction Contracts Act litigation in the High Court and Court of Appeal
- Currently Counsel advising in relation to proceedings under the Securities Markets Act
- Currently Counsel for the Attorney-General in proceedings in the High Court
Publications and Seminars
- February 2016 presented for the New Zealand Bar Association, Access to Justice Programme.
- October 2015 - Presented for New Zealand Bar Association Advocacy Series
- 2015 - Consultant to the New Zealand Law Commission on proposed reforms to the Crimes Act
- August 2012 - Presenter, Competiton Law and Policy Institute of NZ Conference - "Prosecution and defence of cartel proceedings"
- 2011 - Presenter, NZ Bar Association seminar - "Trial Advocacy Techniques"
- 2011 - Presenter, Legal Research Foundation seminar - "Expert Evidence in New Zealand"
- Co-author New Zealand Law Society text "Introduction to Advocacy"
- Author of New Zealand Law Society seminar papers "Serious Fraud in New Zealand"
- Has delivered conference papers on sports law issues and is a member of ANZSLA.
- Has chaired Appeal Tribunals for National Sporting Bodies.
- Has delivered conference papers for the New Zealand Bar Association.
- 1997 - Co-presenter with Honourable Justice Blanchard and J Fogerty QC NZLS Seminar Appellate Advocacy.
- 1994 - Author of paper "Recent New Zealand Efforts to Combat Environmental Crime" for the International Society for Reform of Criminal Law, published Criminal Law Forum January 1996.
- 1990 - 1992 - Law reporter, New Zealand Law Reports.