Richard Smedley

Senior Lawyer

Consultant

|

Christchurch

Bio

Richard Smedley took several years out from his university studies to travel the world finding work in a variety of fields. This experience brings him a wealth of first-hand knowledge and understanding from the non-legal world to help clients achieve practical and commercial resolution of disputes. He is also able to communicate with and understand people from all walks of life.

His legal experience covers all aspects of civil litigation including representing clients in negotiations, mediations, arbitrations, various tribunals, royal commissions and appearing in the District Court, High Court and Court of Appeal.

His areas of expertise include commercial debt collection, commercial litigation, insolvency, relationship property, trust and estate litigation, construction law and private international law.

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Recognition
Qualifications
  • LLB – University of Canterbury
  • Admitted in New Zealand – 1999
Richard Smedley
Expertise
Work highlights
  • Advised parties in relation to contracts using the New Zealand standard forms: NZS3910, NZS3915 and NZIA for construction and civil works.
  • Advised extensively on the Construction Contracts Act 2002 including Payment Claim and Payment Schedule documentation and representing parties in adjudications.
  • Advised clients embroiled in commercial lease disputes.
  • Acted for New Zealand Windfarms Limited in a contractual dispute lasting nine years.
  • Acted for and against liquidators and receivers.
  • Acted for banks in a wide range of commercial disputes.
  • Acted for a leading a New Zealand retailer in a prosecution by the Commerce Commission under the Fair Trading Act.
  • Acted for a Middle Eastern Bank to enforce a judgment obtained in Bahrain.
  • Acted for Holcim New Zealand Limited on contractual disputes and commercial debt collection.
  • Acted for a company based in the Solomon Islands embroiled in a dispute that involved an arbitration in Singapore.

"Richard's calm, collected and logical approach of achieving a desirable outcome for me as a client was most welcome in a time that can be seen as challenging."

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