Adrian is a barrister with a particular focus on commercial disputes and regulatory offences.

Adrian joined the independent bar after 20 years of private practice, the last 10 of which were as a partner of national law firm, Russell McVeagh.  As a passionate advocate he has led matters in the District Court, High Court, Court of Appeal, and Supreme Court across a wide range of civil, regulatory, and criminal litigation.

Examples of previous cases

Defending Credit Suisse against a $200m class action alleging prospectus misrepresentation in relation to the conduct of the 2004 Feltex IPO (Houghton v Saunders [2017] 2 NZLR 189; [2015] 2 NZLR 74; [2014] 1 NZLR 541; [2013] 2 NZLR 652;[2010] 3 NZLR 331).

Judicial review of the Wellington City Council's rating of rural wind farm assets (Meridian Energy Ltd v WCC [2017] NZHC 48).

Admiralty claims against the Lancelot V and securing her sale pendent lite (Glencore Grain BV v The Ship "Lancelot V" [2015] NZHC 2052). 

Litigating claims over the Pohokura gas/condensate field for breaches of the JVOA, the Commerce Act, and the Crown Minerals Act (Todd Pohokura Ltd v Shell [2015] NZCA 71; HC Wgn, CIV-2006-485-1600, 13/7/2010).

Arbitrating:

• take or pay obligations against Rio Tinto resulting from a transformer outage at the smelter.

• access rights to bulk oil transportation and storage infrastructure.

• the value of the New Zealand Dairy Board.

Acting on Health & Safety prosecutions and enforcement actions, including for:

• Transfield Services defending charges over a fatality while conducting line work (DoL v Transfield Services DC Wgn, CRI 11085502761, 11/9/13);

• NZ Bus responding to charges over people being trapped by bus doors (Police v WCT [2015] NZHC 1442);

• KiwiRail responding to charges over management of gas levels during work in tunnels (WorkSafe v KiwiRail [2015] 24979).

Acting for Te Rūnanga-Ā-iwi-o-Ngāpuhi, Tūhoronuku Independent Mandated Authority,  the Ngaati Hinerangi Trust, and the Ngaati Koata Trust on various matters including Treaty settlement negotiations, trust deed, Māori Fisheries Act, and Te Ture Whenua Māori Act disputes, and Waitangi Tribunal proceedings. 

Conducting internal investigations into such matters as:

• the leaking of a confidential government cabinet paper;

• allegations of improper procurement processes and responding to parallel investigations by the Commerce Commission;

• illegal exporting of dairy products and responding to parallel investigations by MAF and the SFO.

contact 

adrian@adrianolney.com

Mobile: (+64) 021 777091 

DDI: (+64) 4 979 5840

Wellington

Woodward Street Chambers

level 6, Woodward House

1 Woodward Street

PO Box 10028

Wellington 6143

Auckland

Contact us

Information for clients

Set out below is the information required by the Rules of Conduct and Client Care for Lawyers of the New Zealand Law Society (“Law Society”).

Fees

The basis on which fees will be charged and when payment of fees is to be made is set out in my Standard Terms of Engagement and/or letter of engagement.  

Professional Indemnity Insurance

I maintain professional indemnity insurance that meets or exceeds the minimum standards specified by the New Zealand Law Society.

Client Care and Service

As your lawyer I must:

• Act competently, in a timelyway, and in accordance with instructions received and arrangements made.
• Protect and promote your interests and act for you free from compromising influences or loyalties.
• Discuss with you your objectives and how they should best be achieved.
• Provide you with information about the work to be done, who will do it and the way services will be provided.
• Charge a fee that is fair and reasonable and let you know how and when you will be billed.
• Give you clear information and advice.
• Protect your privacy and ensure appropriate confidentiality.
• Treat you fairly, respectfully and without discrimination.
• Keep you informed about the work being done and advise you when it is completed.
• Let you know how to make a complaint and deal with any complaint promptly and fairly.

The obligations lawyers owe to clients are described in the Rules of Conduct and Care for Lawyers.  Those obligations are subject to other overriding duties, including duties to the Court.

More information is available at www.lawsociety.org.nz or on 0800 261 801.

Limitations on liability

Limitations on the extent of my obligations or liability to you are set out in my Terms of Engagement and/or letter of engagement.  Generally, my liability is limited to the maximum cover provided by my professional indemnity insurance.

Complaints

If you have a complaint, please discuss it with me first.  If you prefer, you may refer your complaint to an independent barrister to be agreed by us.  The Law Society operates The Lawyers Complaints Service and your re able to make a complaint to that service.  Information and advice about that service is available on 0800 261 801.