Media and entertainment

Our media law team advises across the full spectrum of media sector issues, including content and advertising clearance, competitions and promotions, social media issues, digital platforms and AI and harmful digital communications, as well as marketing, media, media rights and wider commercial and technology agreements. We regularly assist with matters involving suppressed information, access to court files, and complaints about the use and misuse of information.

We act on publication complaints, defamation and harassment claims, and disputes arising from both traditional and digital publications.

We also bring deep sector expertise to corporate transactions in the media industry.

Launch of Netflix

Advised Netflix on the launch of its internet entertainment streaming service into New Zealand.

WhaleOil interim injunction application

Acted for the New Zealand Herald in opposing interim injunction proceedings to restrain publication of material sourced by a hacker from WhaleOil.

Defamation proceedings

Acted for publishers defending multiple defamation proceedings including those brought by Kim Dotcom, John Spencer, Mark Hotchin, Michael Laws, John Tamihere and many, many others.

Acted for claimants bringing or defending defamation proceedings. This included having proceedings dismissed against a major Australian newspaper, sued in New Zealand, based on a publication on its website and successfully obtaining judgment for a well known Korean businessman.

Name suppression challenges

Acted for media organisations in various high profile challenges to Court on name suppression orders in Court proceedings of public interest.

Opposing interim injunction applications

Acted successfully for media organisations opposing interim injunction applications seeking to prevent publication of stories on matters of public interest.

"Landmark" suppression case

Successfully opposed suppression orders being granted against a sexual offender, who has now been convicted of several offences, in a matter which progressed all the way to the Supreme Court. The offender has now been named amid significant media attention.

Significant "super-injunction" litigation

Successfully opposed a "super-injunction" application, involving allegedly defamatory statements made about the two T-Rex skeletons lent to Auckland Museum.