Dion is a Senior Associate in the Auckland litigation and dispute resolution team, specialising in cyber, financial regulatory litigation, construction disputes, and insurance matters.
Dion has acted for insurers in a wide variety of cyber instructions, including acting as breach counsel, handling recoveries, defence for tech claims, and providing coverage advice. Dion provides coverage advice for a key insurer client across a wide range of policies including professional indemnity, general liability, cyber and technology. Alongside Tanya Wood, Dion manages a 24/7 cyber hotline for a New Zealand insurer, providing rapid legal support to insureds who suffer cyber breaches.
He has broad experience in a variety of civil litigation matters in both the District Court and High Court, ranging from contract disputes and debt recovery to complex class actions and regulatory investigations. His experience also includes insolvency and defective building claims.
At the outset of Dion’s career, he gained experience in general commercial matters, which allows him to provide practical and commercially pragmatic advice in resolving disputes.
As part of Duncan Cotterill’s AI implementation group, he tests and evaluates potential tools, staying abreast of developments in the AI space, which overlaps with his role in the Cyber team. Dion is a keen early adopter of technology, focusing on providing efficiencies for the benefit of clients. He led the roll-out of the Auckland team’s use of electronic bundling and e-discovery software.
Representing one the directors of the failed CBL Corporation (and CBL Insurance) in the six High Court proceedings (FMA proceedings, liquidators’ proceedings and two sets of class actions issued by shareholders) issued against the directors in the aftermath of the $747m collapse of these companies.
Acting for an overseas-based settlor/beneficiary of a trust in respect of replacing a corporate trustee, and recovering trust assets that the director of the corporate trustee had attempted to misappropriate.
Acting for various clients in respect of Construction Contract Act disputes.
Acting for insurer clients on both indemnity and debt recovery matters.
Advising directors of their obligations under the Companies Act 1993.
Acting in various bankruptcy and liquidation disputes.
They drive our client relationships and connections with our community, and underpin our achievements.