Media and communications

Defamation litigation
Acted for the publisher of the New Zealand Herald newspaper in the Simunovich Fisheries defamation proceedings, understood to be New Zealand's largest defamation claim.

Acted for the publisher of the New Zealand Herald and Herald on Sunday newspapers defending other defamation proceedings brought by Kim Dotcom, John Spencer, Mark Hotchin, Michael Laws and others.

Acted for other publishers and claimants bringing or defending defamation proceedings. This included having proceedings dismissed against a major Australian newspaper, sued in New Zealand, based on a publication on its website.

Name suppression challenges
Acted for the publisher of the New Zealand Herald newspaper and for the mainstream media collectively (i.e. the major newspaper publishers and television and radio broadcasters) in various high profile challenges to Court on name suppression orders in criminal proceedings of public interest.

Opposing interim injunction applications seeking to prevent publication
Acted successfully for media organisations opposing interim injunction applications seeking to prevent publication of stories on matters of public interest.

Privacy and data protection
Acted on numerous matters including advice to multinational organisations on compliance with New Zealand legislation; acted for a multinational entertainment content provider on New Zealand privacy issues; and acted for a multinational medical device manufacturer on privacy and data protection issues in New Zealand.

Advertising, marketing and promotions
Acting for fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) manufacturers and advertising agencies on the compliance of advertising and marketing materials. These include point of sale materials, product packaging, and competitions and promotions with the relevant law including Fair Trading Act, Advertising Standards, Gambling Act, Privacy Act, copyright, trade mark and passing off, and regulations covering foods, beverages, alcohol, and medicines.