Class Actions & Litigation Update
The number and types of class actions continues to grow exponentially by the day. Make sure you stay ahead of recent developments by taking a critical look at the most important issues and strategies legal practitioners need to be across right now. These include the Law Commission’s latest report on class actions and litigation funding, taking a close look at recent cases and approaches by the Courts, and the potential for data breach class actions. WEB233NZA28Z
Description
Attend and earn 3 CPD hours
Chair: Philip Skelton KC, Bankside Chambers
1.15pm to 2.15pm What Practitioners Must Know About Class Actions & Litigation Funding
- Class action overview in NZ
- Law Commission’s latest report on class actions and litigation funding in NZ: New Class Actions Act
- Opt-out claims: lawsuit against ANZ and ASB
- Settlement Issues
Presented by Dan Parker, Barrister, Capital Chambers
2.15pm to 3.15pm Data Breaches and Class Actions in NZ
- Likelihood of data breach class actions being brought in New Zealand moving forward
- The tort of publicity given to private facts in New Zealand
- New Zealand’s class action landscape
- Specific considerations in respect of a data breach class action: compensable loss issues
Presented by Stuart Dalzell, Partner, Dalzell Wollerman
3.15pm to 3.45pm Closing Comments from the Chair
Learning Objectives:
- Receive a timely overview of the latest report on class actions cases and litigation funding
- Examine recent and important cases and the approach of the Courts and legislation
- Gain a deeper understanding of recent class actions involving data breaches
Presenters
Philip Skelton KC
Philip Skelton KC is a barrister specialising in commercial litigation, employment law, shareholder disputes and public inquiries. Philip is one of the leading class action lawyers in New Zealand. His interest in group litigation began in 2001 while he was a partner at Russell McVeagh when he acted for a plaintiff group to successfully pursue claims against various global pharmaceutical companies involved in a multi-national vitamin price fixing cartel. Philip was admitted to the Bar in 1983 and commenced practice as a barrister sole in 2006 after 14 years as a Russell McVeagh partner. He was made a QC in 2013. Philip’s litigation experience includes frequent appearances in the Employment Court, High Court, Court of Appeal and in the Supreme Court.
Dan Parker
Dan is an advocate with over 30 years’ civil litigation experience. He specializes in construction, insurance, and commercial and property litigation together with trust disputes, judicial review and other civil matters. He has been at the forefront of class action litigation having represented the plaintiff group in their claim against James Hardie since 2015, initially to obtain orders to proceed as a representative action and then in 2020 as counsel in the four month hearing in the High Court followed by the appeal in 2022. He had earlier involvement in the Kiwifruit claim to obtain representative orders. He began practice at Cuningham Taylor in Christchurch, followed by eight years at Philips Fox (now DLA Piper) in Wellington. He founded specialist litigation practice Parker & Associates in 2001. in 2021 he began practice as a barrister at Capital Chambers in Wellington. He has been a regular presenter of seminar papers for the Law Society and Legalwise.
Stuart Dalzell
Stuart Dalzell has over 23 years’ experience, has appeared in the High Court, District Courts, Court of Appeal and specialist tribunals, and is regularly engaged on a broad range of contract, negligence and compensation claims. Stuart is passionate about access to justice and has worked on a number of collective redress and class action claims since 2014. He is often asked to help clients at the negotiating table and in mediation. Stuart’s method of advancing your claim or defence, and the strategic advice that he will give you along the way, will prioritise your real needs and focus on the “big picture”. Stuart has a BA/LLB (Hons) from Auckland University and prior to joining the firm in 2009, worked at one of the big national firms in litigation & dispute resolution, competition and consumer law and employment law.