Mark specialises in commercial litigation and advocacy, assisting clients to resolve complex disputes and difficulties.

Mark specialises in commercial litigation and advocacy. His areas of expertise include company, contract, insolvency, energy and technology. He has considerable experience with complex cases and issues. He is regularly involved in the analysis of problems and disputes, strategic solution planning, litigation, mediation and negotiation.

Mark is recognised as a leading litigation and dispute resolution lawyer by several international legal guides, including the Asia Pacific Legal 500, Who's Who Legal, Global Counsel 3000, the IFLR 1000, the World's Leading Insolvency and Restructuring Lawyers, Chambers Global and PLC Which Lawyer?

Chambers Global 2008 describes him as "respected and admired by clients" who are impressed by his "effective and understated style".

He is currently the Chairman of Bell Gully's Wellington office.

He has also practised in London.

Qualifications

LLB, Victoria University of Wellington

Admitted

1980 New Zealand

International Career

  • Speechly Bircham, London
    1983-1985

Publications

Contact

Email: Mark O'Brien

DDI: 64 4 915 6972

Mobile: 64 21 614 831

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Areas of Expertise

Recent Work

Greymouth Petroleum Holdings Ltd v Todd Taranaki
Bell Gully acted successfully for Greymouth Petroleum in a High Court dispute concerning the ambit of legislative prohibitions against exploration and mining, competing land access claims and competing claims by an outgoing permit holder to plug, and by an incoming permit holder to use, existing oil and gas wells in the permit area.  This is now the leading case on legislative prohibitions against petroleum exploration and mining and on plug and abandonment obligations in relation to existing oil & gas wells.

Takeovers Panel v Delegat's Wine Estate Ltd
Advised successfully on an application for judicial review of a Panel decision in a contested takeover and by the Panel for compliance and remedial orders. This was the first case involving the Takeovers Panel as a party.

South Pacific Shipping appeal
Acted successfully for the liquidators of South Pacific Shipping in the High Court and Court of Appeal, in a leading case on the reckless trading provisions of the Companies Act, culminating in the largest ever New Zealand award against a company director.