Christine is an experienced specialist construction lawyer, having gained valuable experience at leading firms in New Zealand and in London.

Christine advises a broad range of construction parties from principals, contractors and sub-contractors to engineers, architects and insurers on issues arising both during and after construction. She has experience with New Zealand and international forms of construction contracts and consultancy services agreements. 

Her experience extends to both contentious and non-contentious construction matters. On the contentious side, Christine acts for parties in resolving complex and high value disputes through arbitration, mediation, adjudication, court, expert determination, dispute adjudication boards and other dispute resolution forums. On the non-contentious side, Christine’s experience includes advising parties on the establishment of panel arrangements, and the drafting and negotiation of construction contracts and consultancy services agreements. 

Christine is a member of the Society of Construction Law and the Auckland Women Lawyers’ Association. Christine regularly delivers seminars and provides thought leadership on key construction law topics to construction industry groups and clients.

Work Highlights

Procurement

Advising Watercare on its $3.5 billion investment in proactive network renewals via its Asset Upgrades and Renewals Framework. 

Advising public sector clients on various panel agreements for Consultants based on the CCCS Conditions of Contract.

Complex construction litigation

Acting for a large retirement village operator in complex and high value high court proceedings relating to defective construction materials against an ASX listed defendant with entities in New Zealand, Australia and the Republic of Ireland. This included working with several leading New Zealand King's Counsel and appearing in the High Court and Court of Appeal.

Acting for a contractor in respect of liability for alleged defects after completion in The Leadenhall Building (nicknamed “the Cheesegrater”), a major London skyscraper.

Water and wastewater

Acting for a joint venture (comprising two major UK contractors) in respect of claims relating to design defects in Nitrifying Trickling Filters in several wastewater treatment works in the North of England.

Construction insurance 

Advising clients on material damage, and other insurance policies, following the impact of the floods and cyclone on major projects in early 2023.

Advising insurers, and developers, on claims relating to ACM cladding on several high-rise residential and student-accommodation buildings following the 2017 Grenfell Tower Fire in London.

Energy and Natural resources 

Advising on claims relating to design liability in a flare system for an oil field in Abu Dhabi.

Property disputes 

Advising lessees in respect of rent reviews relating to commercial properties in central Auckland and the Hawkes Bay.

Areas of Expertise

Insights & News