Profile
David Friar
David is a partner in our litigation team. He has substantial experience as a commercial litigator in both New Zealand and New York.
He has particular expertise in commercial disputes, corporate and insolvency law, and insurance litigation.
David regularly acts for receivers and liquidators, and has litigated some of New Zealand's leading insolvency cases. He also acts for a number of corporate clients, banks and financial institutions.
In addition, David represents insurers and insureds in a wide range of insurance disputes, including issues arising out of the Christchurch earthquakes. He has particular experience in PI and D&O litigation, and has litigated cases involving directors, auditors, accountants, solicitors, liquidators, investment bankers and a professional society.
He writes and speaks extensively on directors' duties, insolvency, insurance law, commercial law and litigation, including at professional and legal conferences and at New Zealand Law Society seminars.
David's international experience includes six years at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP in New York, during which time it was named best litigation firm in the United States by American Lawyer magazine. Prior to that, he received an LLM from Columbia University in New York, where he was a Fulbright Scholar.
David sits on the board of the New Zealand AIDS Foundation.
Qualifications
LLB (Hons), BA, University of Otago
LLM, Columbia University
Admitted
1996 New Zealand
2005 New York
International Career
- Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP, New York
2004-2010
