Jonathan specialises in commercial, insurance and public law disputes. He regularly appears as counsel in mediations and in the senior Courts, as well as in various specialist tribunals. Jonathan is well-known for his ability to tackle complex matters and create strategies focussed on pragmatic and commercial dispute resolution.  As a skilled negotiator, particularly in mediations, he takes a highly personable approach focused on preserving on-going relationships, whilst also maximising successful outcomes.

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Jonathan leads a broad spectrum of civil and commercial litigation and disputes work. He has significant experience managing large, complex and multi-party disputes, particularly for corporate and listed entities. Jonathan’s insurance law practice is focussed on professional indemnity work, in which he acts for insurers and a broad range of professionals defending civil liability claims and disciplinary processes.

Jonathan’s public law practice is centred on judicial review and public law damages claims, in which he typically acts for respondent public sector agencies.

 

Recent highlights:

Commercial 

  • Advising a territorial and building consent authority in a precedent-setting claim concerning alleged liabilities to commercial tenants for building defects.
  • Representing a listed entity in a claim for professional negligence against the client’s former solicitors for inadequate due diligence in a large commercial development property transaction.
  • Representing the owner of a private jet in a claim against its New Zealand operator arising out of the acquisition and operation of the aircraft.
  • Representing an online marketplace provider in an intellectual property dispute against a competitor concerning alleged trademark infringement, copyright breaches and passing off.

Insurance

  • Representing a listed ‘B2B’ reseller supplier, and its insurers, in various claims involving the sale of allegedly defective third party products.
  • Representing a professional trustee company, and its insurers and associated off-shore entities, in defending a claim arising out of the alleged failure to protect more than €11 million in trust assets.
  • Representing a chartered accountant, and his insurers, in defending a claim of professional negligence arising out of allegedly negligent tax and trust related advice & services provided to a series of client trusts and related entities.
  • Representing various tertiary education providers, and their insurers, in a range of claims, including arising out of the commercialisation of intellectual property, and concerning inappropriate conduct by staff members towards others.

Public

  • Representing the New Zealand subsidiary of a FTSE250 company that operates a government owned facility in New Zealand to defend a large number of judicial review and public law damages claims.
  • Representing an international airport in a judicial review challenging the legality of certain flight path adjustments for departing aircraft.
  • Representing a number of landowners in pursuing compensation claims for compulsory land acquisitions by the Crown under the Public Works Act.
  • Advising and representing various corporate clients in relation to regulatory compliance issues and responding to regulatory investigations.

Jonathan's insights

New Zealand overhauls insurance contract law

11 July 2025

GILC Risk Radar 2025 showcases key insurance law insights

23 May 2025

Insurance Law Reform in New Zealand – Professor Rob Merkin KC

7 February 2025

We're driven by our values

They drive our client relationships and connections with our community, and underpin our achievements.

He tāngata

  • Past Chair of the Duncan Cotterill Board and Partnership.
  • Regular speaker at industry events and conferences on dispute resolution and insurance law.
  • Trustee and Chair of the Friends of New Zealand Schools’ Debating Foundation.

Enterprising

  • Member of the Presidential Council of the International Insurance Law Association.
  • Past President of the New Zealand Insurance Law Association Inc.
  • Contributing author to various legal texts published by LexisNexis, Chambers and Partners and Thomson Reuters.
  • Admitted in England and Wales.

Excellence

  • Ranked Band 4 in the Chambers and Partners Asia Pacific Legal Directory for dispute resolution. 
  • Recognised as a Leading Individual by the Legal 500 Asia Pacific Legal Directory for insurance and dispute resolution. 
  • Former recipient of the Cleary Memorial Prize.
  • Recognised in the 2026 edition of Best Lawyers New Zealand.

Authenticity

“Jonathan has strong legal skills coupled with good business acumen.” – Chambers and Partners Asia Pacific 2025

“Jonathan Scragg is an extremely capable general insurance law solicitor with excellent client rapport.” – Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2025

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