
Richard Johnstone.
Barrister
LLB Hons (1985) University of Canterbury
M : +64 27 227 2028
DDI : +64 3 379 0432

An introduction
I commenced practice as a Barrister sole in June 2017, upon my retirement as a partner of Wynn Williams, Christchurch after 32+ years in my first job.
My work is primarily civil litigation, professional conduct and liability, insurance and construction disputes.
I appear regularly as lead counsel in District and High Courts, and Tribunals (including CEIT and WHRS), and have conducted appeals before the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court. I do have a national profile in the insurance industry, from before the Canterbury Earthquakes, based on my technical knowledge, and established advocacy and negotiation skills.
My specialist areas :
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Dispute resolution advocacy, including civil litigation and mediation
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Building disputes and Construction Contracts Act claims
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Insurance
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General Insurance (non-earthquake) claims, negotiation and disputes
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Unresolved earthquake insurance claims and repair/re-repair disputes
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Professional, Product and General Liability claims, actions and defence
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Property (including cyber) and liability insurance claims, presentation and negotiation
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Professional conduct and liability
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Lawyers’ professional conduct and discipline, ethics and negligence
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Liability claims and complaint representation for Brokers, Financial Planners, Architects, Quantity Surveyors, Engineers and Builders
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Partnership/director disputes and law practice leadership
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Complaint and discipline determination and process advice for professional bodies
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Mediation advocacy and appointment as mediator
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Arbitrations and Determinations ( eg under REINZ/ADLS agreements for sale and purchase of land) advocacy and appointment to arbitral panel or as determiner
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Intellectual property and invasion of privacy
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Trusts, wills and estate litigation
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Privacy and information access
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Land, access and water disputes
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Sports law including conduct and discipline process advice and decision-making, and Incorporated Societies’ Act reforms
I am available to assist lawyers and other disciplines with training and practice development. Some recent/prospective presentations include :
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NZIOB legal update webinar April 2022
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NZIQS legal update May 2022
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Compère for NZIOB/NAWIC panel discussion Construction Risk Allocation July 2022
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NZIOB Christchurch branch – annual legal updates 2018-21
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Health & Safety Developments
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Insurance and Liability – recent topical building cases
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Liability case law updates, various broking houses
Other relevant roles :
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Member of NZ Bar Association and the NZ Law Society
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Friends’ Panel of NZ Law Society including ‘Sensitive Matters’ panel
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Associate member of Arbitrators’ and Mediators’ Institute of NZ (AMINZ)
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Mentor for litigation teams and individual practitioners
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Convenor (former) of NZLS Canterbury/Westland standards committees (9 years)
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Life Member of New Zealand Insurance Law Association (NZILA) - former national committee member (22 years) and national president
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Associate member of NZIOB
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.
In some instances, I can take instructions directly, particularly for opinions, including arbitral or determination roles, and non-dispute advice.