Lucy is an experienced commercial litigator with expertise in banking and insolvency litigation, commercial disputes, and enforcement of secured debt.

She advises clients on all aspects of restructuring and insolvency law and regularly appears in the District Court, High Court and Court of Appeal.

Lucy’s experience includes acting for major trading banks, creditors, and insolvency practitioners, as well as local authorities, on a range of complex commercial disputes. 

Lucy is an active member of the Restructuring Insolvency Turnaround Association New Zealand (RITANZ) and Women in Restructuring and Insolvency (WIRI).

Work Highlights

Insolvency

Acted for creditors and insolvency practitioners on various insolvency matters, including:

·                 acting for the receivers of ELE Group

·                 acting for a major creditor in the receivership of the Kurow-Duntroon Irrigation Company

·                 acting for the receivers of the Drymix Group

·                 acting for investors in the liquidation of Halifax investment platform

Commercial litigation

Acting for Auckland Council and Auckland Transport in successfully defending a $88 million claim brought by Westgate Town Centre Limited in relation to major town centre development.

Westgate Town Centre Ltd v Auckland Council [2023] NZHC 1455

Banking litigation

Acting for major trading banks on various disputes, including debt recovery, defence of customer claims and mediations (including farm debt mediations)

Hennah v Registrar of Companies [2020] NZHC 1232; Hennah v Westpac Banking Corporation [2022] NZHC 1526

Bank of New Zealand v Matsis [2021] NZHC 1122

Voidable transactions

Appeared as sole counsel for liquidators in the High Court in relation to disputed voidable dispositions under the Companies Act.

Sprosen v NFL Foods Ltd [2023] NZHC 2013

Bankruptcy / liquidation

Appeared in the High Court and Court of Appeal as sole counsel for various defended liquidation and bankruptcy applications.

Zhang v Westpac New Zealand Ltd [2021] NZCA 672

Nutra Foods 2011 Ltd (in liq) v Attitude Foods (2018) Ltd [2023] NZHC 2013

Security enforcement

Advised on numerous enforcement and recovery matters, including mortgagee sales and repossessions.

Fraud

Acted for clients to obtain urgent freezing orders and trace funds in employee fraud cases.

Areas of Expertise

Insights & News