Eight One Two Limited v Ryan

Acting for Eight One Two Limited, with a successful application to remove a vexatious financing statement which registered security interests over numerous vehicles owned by the applicant. The matter was resolved during the hearing, and the financing statement was then removed. Costs awarded on a scale 2B basis.

Lifestyle Rental Properties Limited & Ors v Sensational Views Limited [2025] NZHC 2877

Acting for Sensational Views Limited in successful opposition to sustain caveat by Lifestyle Rental Properties Limited. Costs ordered in favour of Sensational Views Limited.

Lifestyle Loans Limited v Pope and another [2025] NZHC 2181

Acting for the trustees in successful challenge to sustain caveat by Lifestyle Loans Limited. An appeal has been filed by Lifestyle Loans Limited, and the matter is proceeding to the Court of Appeal.

Matakana Luxury Ltd v Matakana Sheds Ltd & North Homes Ltd [2026] NZHC 744

Acted for Matakana Luxury Limited in this High Court proceeding concerning two applications to remove caveats lodged against titles to a Matakana property. The respondents claimed beneficial interests under a constructive trust, alleging that a fiduciary relationship had arisen and been breached in the lead-up to the sale.

Applying the summary principles governing caveat applications, Associate Judge Cogswell declined to remove the caveat lodged by Matakana Sheds Limited, finding the constructive trust claim reasonably arguable pending substantive proceedings, but granted removal of the caveat lodged by North Homes Limited, whose mortgage had been extinguished on sale by the mortgagee.

The matter is now on appeal to the Court of Appeal.

Defence of automatism – Sexsomnia – Parasomnia [2026] NZDC 3480; [2026] NZDC 10142

Acted for the defendant involving three charges of indecent act on a child under the Crimes Act 1961.

The defence case was that the conduct occurred during an episode of parasomnia – a sleep disorder capable of producing sleep-related sexual behaviour – such that our client was not criminally responsible for his actions.  Following psychiatric and psychological assessment, the Court accepted at a conceded insanity hearing that the only reasonable verdict was not guilty by reason of insanity.

At the disposition stage under the Criminal Procedure (Mentally Impaired Persons) Act 2003, the expert evidence established that our client had no ongoing mental disorder and posed a low risk of recidivism. On that basis, the Court ordered his immediate release under s 25(1)(d) of that Act, which the Crown ultimately accepted.

Kerse v Samcro Trust [2025] NZDC 781

Acting for the Samcro Trust in successful defence of an appeal by the Kerses against a decision of the Tenancy Tribunal.

Sharemilking Dispute

Acting for a share-milker in settlement of a sharemilking dispute on a Waikato dairy farm involving complex calculations, where cow condition, milk production and pasture production illustrated that losses argued by the farm owners were a result of the farm owner’s-dictated policy. Appointment of a veterinarian to body condition score every cow on the farm at drying off.

Jin v Keen on Piercing [2024] NZERA 756

Acting for Keen on Piercing in a successful opposition to a personal grievance for unjustified dismissal.