Sean acts for clients in a wide range of complex commercial disputes and regulatory matters. He has particular expertise in representative (class action) proceedings and in professional negligence, insurance and company law matters. He regularly advises and represents clients facing investigations and civil or criminal proceedings brought by the Commerce Commission, the Financial Markets Authority, WorkSafe and other regulators. Sean was listed as a “Rising Star” by NZ Lawyer in 2023.
Sean has appeared as sole and junior counsel in the District Court, High Court and Court of Appeal. Sean also has experience appearing in arbitrations and mediations.
Prior to joining Gilbert Walker, Sean worked for three years in Bell Gully’s litigation department. While at university, Sean undertook an internship abroad at Herbert Smith Freehills in London and tutored contract and tort law.
LLB (Hons) / BA (Canterbury)
Admitted to the Bar in 2016
regularly acting for liability insurers on indemnity issues and defending claims against their insureds
acting for a number of Toyota Dealerships across New Zealand in a large-scale consumer class action alleging that certain Toyota vehicles contained a defective diesel particulate filter and seeking damages for the resulting losses
acting for former directors of Feltex in the liability and loss phase of the $200m class action brought on behalf of more than 3,600 shareholder claimants arising from the Feltex IPO in 2004
acting for Kea Investments Ltd in a major, ongoing multinational fraud case, including obtaining worldwide anti-suit and anti-enforcement injunctions in the High Court and successfully establishing that the defendants had engaged in a conspiracy to defraud Kea Investments
acting for defendants facing charges laid by WorkSafe under the Health and Safety at Work Act, including acting for an entity facing charges in relation to the 2019 eruption on Whakaari / White Island
acting for a New Zealand subsidiary of an overseas-listed company in the first civil penalty proceeding brought by the Financial Markets Authority under the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Act
acting for Lawyers for Climate Action NZ in its judicial review of the Climate Change Commission
acting for a major commercial landlord on a number of property and leasing disputes across its portfolio
acting for the Financial Markets Authority in civil proceedings alleging market manipulation of NZX listed shares in breach of the Financial Markets Conduct Act 2013
acting for parties seeking and resisting interim injunctions in a range of disputes
acting for lawyers, accountants and other professionals facing civil claims
acting for trustees and beneficiaries in a range of trust disputes
