Jane is a first-class litigator with extensive experience in large scale commercial disputes. Ranked by leading legal directory Chambers Asia-Pacific for dispute resolution, Jane is identified as "outstanding" and "extremely commercial and strategic with expert legal knowledge" – Chambers Asia-Pacific 2025.
Jane has also been recognised as a member of The Legal 500 Arbitration Powerlist for Australasia 2022 for practitioners with arbitration expertise.
Jane’s clients include large corporates, banks, insurance brokers and other financial institutions. She has particular expertise in shareholder disputes, banking and financial services litigation, consumer law, class action disputes, complex contractual disputes, arbitration, insurance, agriculture, Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act (CCCFA), professional negligence claims, and disputes involving issues of companies and securities law.
She routinely acts for clients in relation to investigations and prosecutions by regulators such as the Financial Markets Authority, Commerce Commission and Reserve Bank. Jane also has significant CCCFA expertise advising many banks and financial institutions on CCCFA risk mitigation and liaising with the regulator.
Jane has completed a Master of Laws at New York University on a Fulbright Scholarship and Hauser Global Scholarship. In the early part of her career, Jane was a Judge’s Clerk at the New Zealand Court of Appeal for Justice Glazebrook and worked as a junior barrister for David Goddard QC (later Justice Goddard). She then went on to become an associate in the litigation team in London at A&O Shearman.
Jane is a member of the New Zealand Financial Advisers Disciplinary Committe and a member of the CPA Disciplinary Tribunal.
Career highlights
Acting for directors in a NZD 1 billion shareholder class action in relation to a fintech company. Successfully defending a large energy company in a contractual dispute regarding carbon emissions worth approximately $150 million. Acting for an agricultural company in a significant contractual dispute regarding simultaneous termination of a large number of growers’ contractual arrangements. Significant warranty and indemnity claim in relation to the purchase of a New Zealand company by an international company in the infrastructure sector.
Acting in High Court proceedings for a Kiwisaver fund manager in relation to civil claims made by the FMA regarding investment management obligations. Acting for major banks on a number of fair dealing inquiries by the FMA. Acting for a client in the insurance industry on a multi-policy discount regulatory issue. Acting for interveners in a case stated in the High Court brought by the FMA relating to eligible investors.
Defending a prosecution by the Commerce Commission on charges laid regarding a “Made in New Zealand” claim. Acting in relation to MPI issues including interviews and prosecutions. Defending an overseas individual in relation to Overseas Investment Act regulatory action.
Advising major banks and financial service providers in relation to the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act 2003 and Commerce Commission investigations into lending.
Affiliations
- Board Member, Institute of Finance Professionals New Zealand Inc (INFINZ)
- Lay Member, Disciplinary Committee, CPA Australia
- Member of the New Zealand Financial Advisers Disciplinary Committee
- Member, Disciplinary Committee, CPA Australia
Achievements and recognition
- Recognised, Dispute Resolution, Chambers Asia-Pacific
- Recognised, Dispute Resolution, Chambers Global
- Recognised, Arbitration, The Legal 500 Arbitration Powerlist - Australasia
- Tier 1 team, Dispute Resolution, The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific
- Recognised, Litigation Law, Best Lawyers