Hamish is experienced in advising on and acting in a wide range of commercial and corporate disputes, with a particular focus on regulatory, insurance, banking and construction disputes. He is ranked as a Rising Star for dispute resolution by Legal 500 and NZ Lawyer, and is listed on Legal 500’s Australasia Arbitration Powerlist.
Hamish has appeared in New Zealand courts at all levels and in arbitrations and other contractual dispute resolution forums. Recent experience includes defending substantial class action claims, and acting in complex commercial matters arising from the insolvency of a listed insurer and in relation to the New Zealand International Convention Centre project at SkyCity.
Hamish joined the Gilbert Walker team after completing his LLM at the University of Cambridge. He previously worked at Shortland Chambers as a junior barrister, and as a Judges’ Clerk for the President of the Court of Appeal. During 2018, he worked at barristers’ chambers in London as a Pegasus Scholar.
Hamish is the recipient of numerous scholarships and awards, including the WM Tapp Studentship in Law from Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge. He has been awarded the New Zealand Law Foundation’s Sir Ian Barker Published Article Award and the New Zealand Law Society’s Hon Rex Mason Prize in Legal Writing.
LLB (Hons) / BA (Auckland) LLM (Cambridge)
Admitted to the Bar in 2012
advising SkyCity on various matters arising out of the construction of the New Zealand International Convention Centre, including issues arising out of the major fire at the site in 2019
acting for a mining prospecting company in declaratory proceedings arising from a dispute with the purchaser of mining rights, relating to the non-payment of two performance payments of US$40m
acting for a major bank in relation to a litigation funded class action brought by investors following the collapse of Ross Asset Management, a financial adviser revealed to have been running New Zealand’s largest Ponzi scheme
acting for PwC in proceedings arising from the collapse of CBL Insurance group of companies
acting for the Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society of New Zealand Incorporated on public interest appeals in respect of environmental matters, including successfully appearing in the Supreme Court in relation to a seabed mining proposal in the South Taranaki Bight
