Mike is a Partner in Lane Neave’s dispute resolution and litigation team.
He has advised and appeared in Court and arbitrations on a wide range of commercial and civil litigation disputes including shareholder disputes, property matters, agribusiness-related disputes, defamation, and insolvency matters.
Mike acts for a diverse range of clients including large organisations, local councils, high-net-wealth individuals, as well as SMEs.
He has developed specialist expertise in acting for clients involved in relationship property, and trust and estate disputes in both the Family Court and High Court.
Outside of work, Mike takes a keen interest in sport, business and governance and is a board member of a local SME and former board member of Touch Canterbury.
Recent Case Highlights
- Acting, alongside Greg Blanchard KC, in a successful claim for damages of $23,000,000 for misrepresentation against a vendor arising out of a business sale.
- Acting for a party in dual High Court proceedings (applicant for appointment of receiver) and Family Court proceedings (respondent to application for division of relationship property) with respect to a farming property and asset pool worth approximately $9,000,000.
- Acting for Professional Trustee companies in past and existing High Court proceedings.
- Acting for an exchange-listed agribusiness company with respect to various debt recovery claims.
- Acting for a high-net-worth individual in a shareholder dispute related to a primary industry business. This included seeking rescission of an Injunction, a prejudiced shareholder application, and defending liquidation proceedings. The dispute settled at a Judicial Settlement Conference.
- Acting alongside Richard Raymond KC for an engineer in a six-week High Court Trial which successfully settled during the Trial.
- Acting for various shareholders and directors in High Court proceedings involving shareholder disputes, breach of contract claims, and breach of director duty claims.
- Acting for a prominent Christchurch Property developer on a number of contentious matters, including existing High Court proceedings.
- Acting for the CEO and Mayor of a local district council in separate, successful, defamation claims.
