John heads up the commercial litigation practice group in Simpson Grierson's Wellington office.  He is a partner with experience in all forms of dispute resolution, and advises the firm's major corporate clients on a wide range of commercial disputes.  He represents clients in the Court of Appeal, High Court and District Courts, and in arbitrations, mediations and negotiation.

John has wide experience in a range of commercial contractual disputes.  He has also acted in complex commercial deception and fraud cases.

John regularly advises on trade practices, including competitor disputes, and regulatory compliance/ enforcement.  He undertakes compliance training for the firm's clients, including on the Commerce Act 1986, and the Fair Trading Act 1986.

He is a member of the firm's Energy, Networks and Utilities group, advising on strategy and risk on regulatory and compliance matters, disputed joint ventures, contract disputes and land acquisition.

John has wide experience in commercial property disputes, including valuation claims and rent reviews, and advises on a variety of commercial landlord and tenant disputes.  John is also a member of the firm's intellectual property practice group and advises on intellectual property disputes and enforcement.

• He is acting for a multi-national corporate in the energy retail sector in connection with a Commerce Commission inquiry into pricing.
• He is acting for a local authority in a complex land valuation dispute.
• He acts for major corporates and government departments in lease disputes and rent reviews.
• He is acting for an international energy company in connection with a joint venture dispute relating to the Maui pipeline.  He has also advised in connection with contractual issues concerning the supply and sale of gas from Pohokura and from Maui.
• He advised a major corporate in the transport sector in connection with an investigation by the Commerce Commission into price advertising.
• He acted for a multi-national corporate in the energy retail sector in connection with a Commerce Commission inquiry into its national price discount scheme and related advertising.
• Acted for Toll NZ Consolidated in connection with incidents arising in the course of operation of its ferries, and rail divisions.
• Advised Transpower New Zealand in connection with the targeted control regime under section 57E of the Commerce Act 1986.
• Represented New Plymouth District Council in the High Court and Court of Appeal following a challenge by over 150 long leaseholders to the Council's decision making process concerning land at Waitara.
• Acted for a government department in relation to major IT and telco disputes.

• Admitted as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales, 1990
• Intellectual Property Society of Australia and New Zealand - member