The Law Association of New Zealand

Commercial Case Law Update (2025) (On Demand)

This On Demand was recorded on 30 April 2025.

Recent case law has highlighted key issues in commercial law, influencing both legal practices and the responsibilities of practitioners. This On Demand will delve into the latest developments every commercial lawyer should be aware of, exploring how these changes impact legal practice and providing practical insights for advising clients proactively, including:

  • unpacking key equity cases in commercial law, showing courts’ push for certainty—covering injunctive relief, quantum meruit, and fiduciary breaches;
  • highlighting contract law updates, focusing on exit conditions, force majeure, and discretion—featuring cases from IT disputes to “woke banking”; and 
  • reviewing major tort decisions on director liability and economic loss, including rulings on accessory liability and negligence across jurisdictions.

Learning Outcomes

  • Explore the courts’ current approach on critical commercial law issues
  • Deepen your understanding of recent case law decisions and their effects on your practice


Who Should Watch?

Lawyers practicing commercial law. Property lawyers may also find this seminar useful.


Presenters

Jeremy Upson, Partner, Russell McVeagh

Nathaniel Walker, Partner, Russell McVeagh

James Tocher, Senior Associate, Russell McVeagh


Jeremy Upson

Jeremy is a highly experienced and respected litigator, with a practice encompassing a wide range of commercial and public law disputes. He has significant experience advising and acting on contract and tort claims, judicial review, insolvency matters including companies' claims against directors and auditors, property disputes, regulatory matters, confidential information, insurance litigation, and proceedings under the Commerce Act. He has appeared at all levels of the New Zealand court system. 

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James Tocher

James is in Russell McVeagh's Litigation team based in Wellington. He advises on a wide range of commercial and public law disputes, with particular expertise in class actions, complex litigation, judicial review, regulatory disputes, and human rights. James has extensive advocacy experience, having appeared regularly before the High Court, Court of Appeal, and Supreme Court, including multiple civil trials. Before joining Russell McVeagh in 2023, he served as a junior barrister at Thorndon Chambers and began his legal career as a judge's clerk at the High Court in Wellington. 

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Nathaniel Walker

Nathaniel is a civil litigator, acting on a wide range of private and public law matters.  He is regularly instructed on commercial, statutory, negligence and class action disputes, with notable expertise in equity and trusts.  Nathaniel has appeared as advocate at all levels of the New Zealand courts and in ADR processes.  He is recognised in all the leading directories and frequently writes and speaks on legal issues, particularly on equity and commercial law.     

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Details

CPD Hours: 2.00hr

Pricing Details

Ticket Price

Member: $195 plus GST
Non-Member: $275 plus GST






This On Demand includes the video and materials, and will earn CPD. 

Click here to access materials only.

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