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Zane Kennedy

Partner
Auckland
Download Zane's vCard

DDI:        +64 9 353 9893
Mobile:   +64 21 350 660
FAX:        +64 9 353 9701
Email:      

Zane is a commercial litigation lawyer who leads the firm’s national dispute resolution team. Zane has a particular focus on commercial litigation including contract disputes, financial services litigation, Companies Act matters, and partnership and joint venture disputes.

Professional Qualifications

LLB (Hons) University of Auckland, 1992

Areas of expertise

Commercial Litigation
Corporate Recovery and Insolvency
Banking Recoveries
Intellectual Property
Insurance

Zane has more than 17 years experience in the field of commercial litigation and has developed specific expertise in contract, financial services litigation, partnership and joint venture disputes.  He also has particular interest in urgent interim relief, including injunctions and Anton Piller orders, and the fields of equity and restitution.

Zane is experienced in alternative dispute resolution processes (mediation and arbitration) and seeks to incorporate them into an overall dispute resolution strategy.  He also has extensive experience of the litigation process itself and has appeared on numerous occasions before all forums in New Zealand including the High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court.

Some of Zane's major projects
  • Appeared with senior counsel for Maruha Corporation of Japan in significant commercial joint venture fraud proceedings in the High Court which resulted in a damages award in excess of NZ$6m
  • Acted for the Swedish international Assa Abloy group of companies in defending large-scale High Court proceedings based on breach of contract and conspiracy allegations and seeking damages in excess of $10m
  • Acted for PricewaterhouseCoopers in bringing a number of High Court claims for breach of directors’ duties and other Companies Act litigation
  • Represented a number of New Zealand’s large trading banks, including Bank of New Zealand and ASB Bank Limited in significant litigation in the High Court and Court of Appeal
  • Acted for Dorchester Finance Ltd in High Court and Court of Appeal proceedings on complex guarantee disputes
  • Acted for Peters Capital Limited and Ngati Awa on a shareholders’ derivative order application in respect of a $19m claim
  • Acted for PricewaterhouseCoopers in arresting company directors for contempt of court
  • Represented Credit Management Systems Inc in international contract and copyright dispute proceedings against Fisher & Paykel Finance Ltd
  • Managed and conducted large-scale contract dispute litigation with prominent Queen’s Counsel
  • Represented the debtor in the largest successful Part V insolvency proposal in New Zealand’s history
  • Advised and represented lawyers, accountants and other professional organisations in relation to professional indemnity claims
  • Experienced in the area of urgent interim relief including interim injunctions, Mareva injunctions, preservation of property orders and Anton Piller orders
  • Worked with prominent Queen’s Counsel on a number of significant judicial review matters involving the Crown and professional bodies such as the New Zealand Law Society
  • Experienced in advising commercial clients on dispute resolution and negotiation strategies

Memberships and directorships

Member, INSOL New Zealand (Restructuring, Insolvency & Bankruptcy Professionals)

International recognition

Leading individual (Dispute Resolution) - Chambers Global - 2010/2011, 2009/2010
Endorsed individual (Dispute Resolution) - PLC Which Lawyer - 2011/2012, 2010/2011
 
Work history

Partner, Minter Ellison Rudd Watts, Auckland (2003 - current)  Formerly Senior Associate (2002 - 2003)
Senior Associate, Buddle Findlay, Auckland (1998-2002)
Associate, Martelli McKegg Wells and Cormack, Auckland (1993-1998)




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