James is a partner and specialist litigator in the banking and finance department. His areas of specialisation are insolvency and restructuring, and banking and finance litigation. He acts for financial institutions, liquidators, receivers, directors, and creditors on both contentious and non-contentious matters.
James advises on all aspects of restructuring and insolvency law. He has extensive experience in liquidations, receiverships, administrations, and other insolvency proceedings (including statutory managements). He regularly acts on complex restructurings, directors' duties claims, voidable transaction claims, asset-tracing and fraud claims, and security disputes.
James appears in court at all levels, and is experienced in alternative dispute resolution.
James is actively involved in the development of insolvency-related legislation in New Zealand, through filing submissions with select committees, meeting with relevant ministries, and being invited to speak at conferences in New Zealand and Australia.
- Asia Pacific Legal 500 Restructuring & Insolvency 2012 - Recommended Lawyer
- PLC Which Lawyer? Restructuring & Insolvency 2011 - Leading Lawyer
Examples of Work
- Acting for the receivers of Strategic Finance, Lombard Finance & Investments, and other failed finance companies
- Advising lenders and receivers in the agri-sector, the property sector, and the insurance industry
- Acting for and against liquidators in various liquidations, including claims against directors and voidable preference claims
- Advising the Official Assignee
- Advising directors in respect of directors' duties
- Advising on the Personal Property Securities Act
- Advising on cross-border insolvency issues (including acting for Omegatrend's shareholder and directors in Omegatrend International (In Liq) v New Image International, one of the first cases to consider the implementation of the Insolvency (Cross-border) Act)
Other Credentials
- INSOL New Zealand - Member
- Banking & Financial Services Law Association (BFSLA) - Member
- Inns of Court, London - Pegasus Scholar (2006)
