Community
December 19, 2022
Shortland Chambers has been ranked as a Band 1 set of chambers for New Zealand in the Chambers & Partners 2023 Asia-Pacific Legal Guide rankings. In addition, 15 members are recognised in the Legal Guide’s individual listings.
The Chambers Asia-Pacific Legal Guide and rankings provide the most independent, in-depth insights and reliable recommendations on the best law firms and lawyers across the legal markets in Asia-Pacific. The rankings are based on feedback from interviewees.
The listing for Shortland Chambers is as follows:
Shortland Chambers is widely identified by interviewees as "an imposing, impressive set of top-level lawyers who excel at what they do," while another states: "I would consider the set by far and away the top set in New Zealand. Full of quality barristers." Many commentators praised the chambers for its deep bench and expertise, with one observing: "Shortland Chambers is the leading set in Auckland, and one of the leading sets in New Zealand. Shortland Chambers has excellent depth and breadth of expertise. There is someone there specialising in every field of commercial dispute."
The listings for the 15 ranked individual barristers are set out below.
Alan Galbraith KC. A veteran barrister of over 40 years' standing and experience across the broadest range of civil and commercial issues, with noted strengths in the competition, financial services and insurance spaces.
"Alan is very busy, for good reason. He is one of, if not the, pre-eminent commercial KC in New Zealand. He is strategically excellent and a great advocate, with an innate understanding of, and rapport with, judges."
Jack Hodder KC. Is one of New Zealand's most respected litigators and a veteran of over 600 superior court cases, including regulatory and constitutional as well as commercial issues, and has also appeared frequently as an arbitration counsel.
"He is, in my view, New Zealand’s leading commercial and public law advocate. He has huge knowledge and experience and thinks deeply about how to present a case in the most effective way. He is equally as comfortable with trial and appellate work."
Adam Ross KC. Brings three decades of litigation experience to an extremely varied civil and commercial practice which incorporates a strong regulatory component.
"A wise head in a crisis. He's a respected advocate. He can take the technical points with the best of them but is always willing to get behind the search for a solution."
Bruce Gray KC. Operates across a broad range of civil and public law issues, attracting particularly high praise for his work on insurance, media law and tort-related mandates. He is further noted for his highly accomplished advocacy and reassuring manner with clients.
"Bruce is a superb advocate with a highly developed strategic sense of how to present the case for the best effect."
Jane Anderson KC. While active across the commercial spectrum, her versatile range embracing both litigation and arbitration and incorporating particularly noted strengths where contract, insurance and property-related issues are concerned.
"Jane is fantastic, she’s the complete package. She is equal parts incredibly sharp, a wonderful advocate and eminently sensible."
Jenny Cooper KC. A versatile commercial litigator with particularly strong suits where competition, insolvency and regulatory issues are concerned and an increasingly noted capability in the public interest litigation sphere.
"Jenny is a highly capable senior counsel with very good judgement. She has extensive experience and expertise in regulatory matters and is active in public interest litigation."
Stephen Hunter KC. Continues to attract high praise for his management of a broad corporate and commercial caseload within which high-stakes business disputes and financial services-related matters feature particularly prominently.
"He gets to the heart of a matter and will work hard to resolve it, but also a skilled courtroom advocate who has the respect of judges. Clients appreciate that his technical skill is matched by calmness under pressure and commercial acumen."
Bob Hollyman KC. Focuses closely, within the context of a company and commercial practice, on contractual, insolvency and tort-related issues, being particularly noted for his expertise in the law of misrepresentation and breach of contract.
"Bob Hollyman is very good. In very complex cases with technical issues, he is very reassuring. He knows the issue and has direct experience to help us come through to the results."
Daniel McLellan KC. Instructed across a broad range of commercial litigation mandates, winning particular praise for his expert handling of defamation and insurance issues.
"Daniel is an astute operator and well respected by the judiciary."
John Billington KC (also listed in relation to White Collar Crime). Combines broad commercial and regulatory litigation experience with a noted criminal practice and a similarly strong track record in the handling of health and safety-related cases.
"John Billington KC is the barrister you want when you're under attack and up against the wall. He is principled but a fierce advocate who does everything he can to get the outcome the client wants."
John Dixon KC (also listed in relation to White Collar Crime). Combines commercial and criminal litigation expertise and experience, the latter including prosecutorial assignments in both New Zealand and the USA. He often acts on behalf of such bodies as the Commerce Commission, FMA and SFO, but is also active in defence roles.
"John is an excellent advocate and cuts through to the core issues quickly. Fantastic to work with and gives clients huge confidence."
Dr David Cooper KC. Previously ranked as a Junior. David focuses on complex, business-related litigation, acting frequently on disputes arising out of contractual provisions, takeovers, securities-related questions and regulatory investigations.
"David has a huge legal intellect, as well as being very commercially minded. Excellent strategic judgement. He writes beautifully and speaks in a considered way which has everyone, including judges, hanging on his every word."
Sarah Armstrong. Enjoys an established reputation as a highly effective litigator, developed in over 25 years of private practice. She is active across an impressively broad range of, among others, company, financial services and securities-related disputes.
"Sarah demonstrated an extensive breadth and depth of knowledge across a number of specialist skill sets, including, but not limited to, legal, finance, negotiation and communication."
Clive Elliott KC. Is identified by several interviewees as one of New Zealand's pre-eminent IP silks and is regularly noted for displaying particular flair when it comes to handling especially complex matters, those involving trans-Tasman elements, or those arising from the IT sector.
"Clive Elliott KC is one of the leading IP and consumer law barristers in the country. His legal skills and advocacy are exceptional. He is commercially focused and works very well with external law firms, so much so that he is effectively part of the team. He is always available and a pleasure to work with."
Kevin Glover. Is widely acknowledged for his intellectual property expertise, being both a published authority in the field and a much sought-after advocate who covers the full spectrum of copyright, patent, trade mark and associated issues.
"Kevin is an excellent commercial barrister, with a particular strength with intellectual property disputes. While understated, he is excellent strategically and a very good advocate. Opposing counsel underestimates him at their peril."
