Peter Woods.

An introduction

I commenced practice as a Barrister sole in January 2024, upon my retirement as a partner of Anthony Harper after 22 years.  At Anthony Harper I had been the Head of the national Litigation team, a Board member and Chairman of the Partnership.
 

I was admitted as a Barrister in 1985 and have practiced as a civil litigator since then.  During an extended   period overseas I practiced as a Solicitor in England and Wales and was a Partner in a litigation practice from 1991 until 2000.  While in England I completed a Masters in Laws degree in Advanced Litigation.

 

My work is primarily general civil litigation.  
 

I appear regularly as lead counsel in District and High Courts, and Tribunals and have conducted appeals before the Court of Appeal.

 

After the Canterbury earthquakes I led Anthony harper’s specialist insurance litigation practice which handled hundreds of insurance claims for property (both commercial and residential) and business owners.  These involved some of the most complex and high value claims to have arisen from the earthquakes, including a representative action against the Earthquake Commission, representing Mr & Mrs Dodds against Southern Response Earthquake Services Limited and the various proceedings against Mitsui Sumitomo NZ limited.

 

In 2022 I was appointed as the Independent Specialist Advisor to the Government’s Finance and Expenditure  Select Committee in its reading of the Natural Hazards Insurance Bill ( which subsequently replaced the Earthquake Commission Act 1993). 

 

I have continued to represent property and business owners in respect of claims arising from natural disaster damage.

​

My specialist areas :

​

• Dispute resolution advocacy, including civil proceedings, mediation and arbitration

• Insurance & EQC

  • General Insurance (non-earthquake) claims, negotiation and disputes

  • Unresolved earthquake insurance claims and repair/re-repair disputes

  • Natural disaster claims, negotiation and disputes

  • Business Interruption claims, negotiation and disputes

  • Property (including cyber) and liability insurance claims, presentation and negotiation

• Building disputes

• Contract disputes

• Class Actions

• Shareholder disputes

• Mediation advocacy and appointment as mediator

• Arbitrations and Determinations ( eg under REINZ/ADLS agreements for sale and purchase of land) advocacy and appointment to arbitral panel or as determiner

• Intellectual property disputes

• Trusts, wills and estate litigation

 

Other relevant roles :

• Member of NZ Bar Association and the NZ Law Society

• Convenor (former) of NZLS Canterbury/Westland ADR committee

• Co-presenter of NZLS Insurance Law Seminars

• Mediator (CEDR UK, 2000)

Engagement

I will accept engagement through your existing lawyer, or I am able to arrange a specific brief with another firm to be identified and agreed with you.