Ben is an experienced commercial and civil litigator with broad expertise spanning insurance, construction, trust and estate disputes, and complex commercial litigation.
He regularly appears as sole counsel in the High Court and District Court, as well as in tribunals, arbitrations, and mediations. Having practised at the independent bar for over a decade, Ben combines strong advocacy skills with a pragmatic and commercially focused approach to dispute resolution.
Ben’s extensive courtroom experience means he understands not only how disputes are won and lost, but also when a negotiated or alternative resolution is in a client’s best interests.
With more than two decades of legal experience across New Zealand and Australia, Ben has particular expertise in construction and earthquake-related insurance litigation, together with company law matters including shareholder disputes, oppressive conduct claims, insolvency, and professional negligence matters for both plaintiffs and defendants.
He also advises and acts in a broad range of commercial and civil disputes, including breaches of lease, contractual disputes (including sale and purchase of land agreements), and guarantee claims.
At his core, Ben is a problem-solving litigator focused on achieving practical and commercially sensible outcomes for clients, whether through litigation, negotiation, mediation, or other forms of alternative dispute resolution.
Ben’s experience taking matters through the courts enables him to provide realistic advice about litigation risk, strategy, and when a matter is best pursued to hearing or resolved through settlement. Ben has also been appointed as amicus curiae by the Court, reflecting the confidence placed in his independent judgment and expertise.