Disputes

Resolving conflicts seems to be an essential part of human existence. We understand that sometimes the law is the best tool for you to use to get the right outcome.

We strive to hear and understand your issues, and then help you to understand the correct legal position. Our aim is to enable you to decide which battles to pick, and then stand with you helping you to succeed.

We are known for being effective. We find that sometimes you can get where you want to go by agreeing, but at other times attack is the best form of defence.

We recognize that going to Court is a means to resolve a dispute and not an end in itself. We therefore actively explore mediation, arbitration and just good, old negotiation.

When we need to go into bat, you can rest assured that we offer first-class Court advocacy. Our team has experience in the New Zealand Courts at all levels, and most Tribunals.

Finally, our dispute resolution experience means we can advise on risk management and where you need to put a fence to make sure it is at the top of the cliff.

Our Expertise

Courts/Tribunals/ Arbirations

Resolving conflicts seems to be essential part of human existence.  We understand that sometimes the law is the best tool for you to use to get the right outcome.

We strive to hear and understand your issues, and then help you to understand the correct legal position.  Our aim is to enable you to decide which battles to pick, and then stand with you helping you to succeed.

Our track record is for being effective. We find that sometimes you can get where you want to go by agreeing, but at other times attack is the best form of defence.

We recognize that going to Court is a means to resolve a dispute and not an end in itself. We therefore actively explore mediation, arbitration and just good, old fashioned negotiation.

When we need to go into bat, you can rest assured that we offer first-class Court advocacy. Our team has experience in the New Zealand Courts at all levels, and most Tribunals.

We can assist with:

  • Business and employment
  • Civil disputes including insurance
  • Land and leasing
  • Wills and estates
  • Judicial reviews
  • Family/relationship property

Estates and Wills

The certainties in life are death and taxes. Our expertise honed over many decades has assisted generations of clients to manage the transition of wealth from one generation to the next.

Our team can provide the framework for you to make good decisions about your assets. This includes Wills, establishing Trusts, charitable and philanthropic entities. Our Estates Team is experienced in considerately and efficiently dealing with the complications that arise in administering Estates.

Where there’s a will, there’s a fight. Our team have many years of experience in effectively resolving such disputes; ranging from ensuring all parties have accurate advice, through to arguing challenges in the Courts.

We can assist with:

  • Wills, Codicils and Memoranda of Wishes
  • Establishing Family Trusts
  • Establishing Charitable Entities
  • Negotiating resolution for Wills that have gone wrong
  • Challenging wills in Court
  • Managing disputes, executors and trustees
  • Applying to Court to remove trustees and obtaining directions for trust management

Divorce and Separation

Our family law team provides a proactive but sensitive service. We have experience in all the areas of separation and divorce. We can advise you at the start, during and at the end of a relationship.

Our family law team are here to help you through your separation.  If you have a dispute, our aim is to help you resolve it efficiently and with minimum distress. We therefore promote, and have wide experience with, alternative dispute resolution such as mediation. However, if court intervention is required, we can argue your case in court.

We can assist with:

  • Pre-Nuptial Agreements (Contracting Out Agreements)
  • Division of Relationship Property
  • Dissolution of Marriage

Insurance

Insurance policies do not always behave as expected; it is vitally important to understand what your policy means, and to have someone advocate fearlessly and effectively for your policy entitlements. Our team have done so for clients.

Parry Field Lawyers has been active in resolving insurance disputes since before the earthquakes.

Our team has an impressive track record in negotiating good outcomes, and resorting to the Courts where necessary.  We obtained the first Supreme Court judgment against an insurer after the Christchurch earthquakes and have acted for numerous commercial and residential policy holders since.

We can assist with:

  • Experience in advising on policy entitlement and managing material damage claims.
  • Advising on policy entitlement and managing business interruption claims.
  • Assembling the data and expert evidence required to ensure policy entitlements are obtained.
  • Advise on the effect of settlement agreements with insurers.

Employment

Navigating the complexities of employment law can be a daunting task. But don’t fret because you have a team of experts ready to stand by your side at Parry Field Lawyers.

Whether you’re drafting employment agreements, resolving disputes, or restructuring your business, our dedicated employment law specialists are here to provide you with expert guidance and support.

Our team of experienced professionals is equipped to assist you at every stage of the employment relationship. We take pride in offering tailored solutions to meet your unique needs and priorities. With a strong focus on practicality and commercial outcomes, we ensure that you not only understand your legal rights and obligations but also achieve your desired results.

Our team at Parry Field Lawyers is dedicated to ensuring your employment law matters are handled with precision, efficiency, and a keen eye for practical solutions. Whether you’re a business owner, part of an HR team, or an employee, we are here to add value to your journey.

We can assist you with:

  • Draft and review employment agreements
  • Craft and fine-tune employment policies
  • Handle variations to terms of employment
  • Provide compliance advice, including holiday and leave matters
  • Sort out employment implications of business deals
  • Guide you through workplace restructuring and redundancies
  • Assist with performance management
  • Navigate disciplinary processes
  • Address personal grievances
  • Represent you in mediation and Court appearances
  • Enforce employment agreements, including restraints and confidentiality clauses
  • Tackle issues of discrimination, bullying, and harassment

Family

Our family law team provides a proactive but sensitive service. We have experience in all the key areas of family law. We can advise you at the start, during and at the end of a relationship.

If you have a dispute, our aim is to help you resolve it efficiently and with minimum distress. We therefore promote, and have wide experience with, alternative dispute resolution such as mediation. However, if court intervention is required, we can argue your case in all courts, including the Family Court, the High Court and the Court of Appeal.

We can assist with:

  • Care of Children
  • Pre-Nuptial Agreements (Contracting Out Agreements)
  • Division of Relationship Property
  • Domestic Violence
  • Paternity
  • Adoption

Company and Shareholding

Harmonious relationships between shareholders and directors can suddenly and abruptly finish. This throws the parties back on company laws and constitutions that are often unknown and misunderstood.

Our litigators have a wealth of experience in navigating the often complicated layers of rules that govern companies. With an increasing number of New Zealanders organising their affairs through limited liability companies, Family and relationship property disputes can frequently involve shareholder issues. If managed badly the consequences can be substantial. Often the company holds very significant value. When things go wrong, we have experience in managing creditor compromises, bankruptcies and liquidations. This has involved negotiations with debtors, creditors, liquidators and obtaining Court orders.

We can assist with:

  • Drafting and amending shareholders agreements
  • Hostile director disputes
  • Managing hostile shareholder disputes
  • Understanding financial accounts and advising parties
  • Disputes over company and share values

Debt Collection

If cash is king, then unpaid debts can be a crisis. We understand that cash flow is the lifeblood of commerce and ensuring cost effective ways of recovering unpaid debt involves a good understanding of the law, the Court system and human nature.

Our team have decades of experience in providing practical legal guidance for business owners dealing with recalcitrant payers.

We can assist with:

  • Contract interpretation
  • Reviewing and advising on effective debt collection strategies
  • Managing the court process up to obtaining judgment and enforcement
  • Company liquidations
  • Providing an effective debrief and advice on minimizing unpaid debtor levels

Construction

New Zealand has internationally high rates of bespoke residential construction. The difference between residential or commercial construction project progressing smoothly or not frequently comes down to the quality of the construction contract. We have experience advising home builders through to commercial construction projects, both for owners and construction companies.

When things go wrong, our team has a detailed understanding of the construction process, and excellent ability and familiarity with the most frequently used construction contract templates. This enables our experts to provide confident, practical, accurate and timely advice in managing contract disputes where every day imposes a cost for someone.

We can assist with:

  • Advising on construction contracts before they are signed
  • Providing opinions and interpreting construction contracts
  • Adequately ensuring the risks of construction projects
  • Managing construction disputes including deploying the contractual processes such as an appointed engineer, arbitration clauses etc.
  • Urgent Court applications to restrain damaging and unlawful behaviour
  • Litigation to shed home liability to the appropriate party

Our Dispute Articles

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Get in touch with our Disputes Team