Connect with meHarriet has experience across a wide variety of civil and insurance litigation matters having represented clients in liability claims, regulatory claims, material damage claims, earthquake matters and subrogated recoveries.
She has a particular focus on defending negligence claims against a range of professionals including lawyers, engineers, surveyors and property inspectors, along with assisting clients through investigations and defending charges under health and safety and resource management legislation. She has also spent time on secondment assisting the claims team at a large New Zealand insurer in response to the Auckland Flooding and Cyclone Gabrielle events.
Harriet has appeared in the District Court and as junior counsel in the High Court for professional indemnity and property insurance disputes. She also has a particular interest in alternative dispute resolution.
Professional Indemnity
- Junior counsel in the successful defence of claims in negligence and breach of fiduciary duty against a law firm in a High Court trial and subsequent successful application for an increased costs award.
- Assisting general practitioners in negligence claims including provision of improper tax advice during property sales, failure to correctly consider the application of the Overseas Investment Act to various land purchases and claims involving the negligent preparation of a client’s will.
- Assisting in disciplinary claims against solicitors in response to complaints about conduct issues including acting in a conflicted position, failure to provide appropriate advice and inappropriate conduct, along with complaints for overcharging and improper use of a firm trust account.
- Assisting property inspectors resolve claims in negligence and under consumer protection legislation prior to the issue of court proceedings as well as representing inspectors through court proceedings.
- Resolving claims against engineering and construction firms for negligent ground works and construction work through alternative dispute resolution processes.
Statutory Liability
- Defending a large forestry management company resulting in withdrawal of all charges.
- Assisting multiple construction companies during WorkSafe’s investigation phase resulting in resolution of the matter without prosecution occurring.
- Defending companies charged under the Resource Management Act in forestry, farming and manufacturing industries through the prosecution process, negotiating reduction of charges and sentencing.
- Defending companies charged under the Health and Safety at Work Act, primarily in the construction industry, through the prosecution process, negotiating reduction of charges and sentencing. Successfully obtaining a non-financial sentencing order for a small company without the means to pay a fine.
- Advising a large commercial entity on updates to their health and safety management regime.
Civil Liability
- Advising and assisting in litigation resulting from the Christchurch Earthquake Sequence, including appearing as junior counsel in the High Court defending a multi-million dollar claim by a body corporate against its insurer.
- Successfully pursuing subrogated recoveries for insurers and insureds in relation to material damage claims including property damage caused by fire.
- Commercial Litigation
- Environmental Liability
- Inquiries, Investigations and Prosecutions
- Professional Liability
- Work Health and Safety
- Professions and Business Services
- Financial Institutions and Services
- New Zealand Law Society
- Auckland District Law Society
- New Zealand Insurance Law Association
- Auckland Woman’s Lawyers’ Association
- Young Insurance Professionals (NZ)