top of page

PRACTICE

AREAS

CIVIL & COMMERCIAL LITIGATION 

 

​

TRUST & ESTATE CLAIMS 

 

​

INSURANCE LITIGATION

 

​

PROFESSIONAL LIABILTY & DISCIPLINE

 

​

CORONIAL INQUESTS

REGULATORY INVESTIGATIONS & PROSECUTIONS

 

​

practice_areas

Specialising in civil litigation, High Court trials and appellate cases.

 

our_vision

EXPERTISE

Stephanie is an experienced litigator across a variety of practice areas. She undertakes trial and appellate work and has appeared at all levels in the New Zealand Courts as well as in a number of specialist tribunals.

 

Stephanie has acted in many High Court cases and appeals involving civil, commercial, trust, insurance and property disputes as well as judicial review. She defends regulatory prosecutions and disciplinary complaints and acts as Counsel Assisting the Coroner, and for interested parties, in the Coronial jurisdiction. She has also acted as trial counsel, on pre-trial appeals and appeals against conviction in complex criminal cases.

 

She was one of the founding members of Plymouth Chambers in 2019, having moved to the Independent Bar in 2018 after thirteen years as a litigation partner first at Anderson Lloyd and then at Duncan Cotterill. 

​

Stephanie is currently a co-author of McGechan on Procedure and a member of the Rules Committee. She is committed to the development of the Independent Bar and the legal profession through education, mentoring and coaching. As a faculty member of the NZLS Litigation Skills Programme and a member of the New Zealand Bar Association’s Education Committee, she assists with litigation training, seminars and courses.

 

​Stephanie was appointed a King’s Counsel in 2022.

 

​

CASES

Recent cases include:​

​

  • Burke v R [2024] NZSC 37 – successful Supreme Court appeal against conviction with important implications for party liability for manslaughter under the Crimes Act 1966

  • R v Wright-Meldrum – trial counsel in a historical murder case including pre-trial appeals in respect of informant evidence and admissibility of evidence: Wright-Meldrum v R [2021] NZCA 410; Wright-Meldrum v R [2022] NZCA 649; [2023] NZSC 11 and rulings during trial in respect of informant evidence: R v Wright-Meldrum [2023] NZHC 3388 and admissibility of intercepted phone calls: R v Wright-Meldrum [2023] NZHC 3857

  • Harris v Racing Integrity Board [2023] NZHC 3361 – judicial review of disciplinary decisions by the Adjudicative Committee and Appeals Tribunal of the Racing Integrity Board

  • Ministry for Primary Industries v Gun City Limited [2022] NZDC 10959; [2024] NZDC 9878,  – defence of multiple charges under the Biosecurity Act which, following a lengthy trial, resulted in withdrawal of most charges and a discharge without conviction on the remaining charges

  • Ross v Southern Response Earthquake Services Limited [2021] NZHC 684, 2452, 2453, and 2454 - represented Canterbury homeowners in a class action relating to earthquake claim entitlements, first obtaining leave to intervene and then appearing on various interlocutory applications, most significantly to oppose interim funding orders sought by the litigation funder.

  • Cooke v Butler – trust dispute involving three interlocutory decisions [2021] NZHC 2014; [2022] NZHC 2687; [2023] NZHC 2716

  • R v Darrin Stephen Baylis [2021] NZHC 617 – defence of charges relating to membership of an organised criminal group

  • Gloriavale Christian Community - appointed by trustees in 2020 to undertake an independent inquiry into the community.

  • Williams v Tellen Systems NZ (2013) Limited [2021] NZHC 1199

  • Coroners Inquests:

    • Deborah Kovacic CSU-2018-CCH-000598 – 18 March 2021(Counsel Assisting the Coroner)

    • Benton Parata CSU – 2015-CCH-00025 – 21 January 2020 (Counsel Assisting the Coroner)

  • Westpac New Zealand v Anderson [2019] NZHC 979

  • Representing Redcliffs School to successfully challenge closure proposal by the Minister of Education (2015 to 2017)

  • PCC v Richard James Power (2 December 2016) – before the Appeals Council of the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants

  • Powell v Powell [2015] NZAR 1886; [2014] NZHC 2096; [2014] NZHC 476 – application for removal of trustees

  • Wightman v Public Trust (as executor of the estate WIGHTMAN) [2014] NZHC 3124; [2013] NZHC 671 – Family Protection Act claim

  • Department of Labour v Southroads [2014] NZHC 1384; [2013] NZHC 1620; (2013) 11 NZELR 19 – defence of charges under Health & Safety legislation

  • Silk Water Ltd (in liq) v Mama's Soup Kitchen Ltd (2010) 20 PRNZ 170 – application by liquidators

  • Department of Labour v Hanham & Philp Contractors Ltd & Ors (2008) 9 NZELC 93,095; (2008) 6 NZELR 79 – Health & Safety sentencing

  • Powelliphanta Augustus Inc (formerly Save Happy Valley Coalition Inc) v Solid Energy New Zealand Ltd & Ors (2007) 13 ELRNZ 200

  • Powelliphanta Augustus Inc v Minister of Conservation & Ors (2007) 18 PRNZ 616

ATTORNEYS

CONTACT

​

  • LinkedIn Social Icon
ADDRESS

Plymouth Chambers

P.O Box 363

Level 2​, 112 Cashel Street, Christchurch

Email: smg@stephaniegrieve.nz
 

Tel: 03 3651145

Mob: 0274777923

 

​

contact
bottom of page