Julian Brown

Julian has a broad commercial and regulatory practice across a wide range of industry sectors. He has particular expertise advising clients on disputes arising from commercial contracts, construction projects, insurance claims, financing arrangements, and disputes relating to directors’ duties, confidential information, insolvency, and tax.

Julian has experience acting on disputes at all levels of the New Zealand court system, and in international arbitrations, mediations and expert determinations. His international experience includes working at Hogan Lovells International LLP and Joseph Hage Aaronson LLP in London, where he advised clients in major English commercial litigation, international arbitrations, and tax disputes with HMRC and European tax authorities.

International commercial arbitrations
Acted for claimants and respondents in numerous ad hoc and institutional international commercial arbitrations relating to M&A agreements, joint venture projects and large scale infrastructure projects. 

International infrastructure litigation
Acted for a sovereign nation, as claimant, in a dispute with a foreign construction company in relation to a failed infrastructure project. 

Commercial contract dispute in Court of Appeal and Supreme Court
Acted for the claimant in appeals before the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court in relation to the interpretation of a sale and purchase agreement. The Supreme Court decision set new legal precedent in New Zealand.

Directors’ duties litigation
Acted for a Big 4 accounting firm, as receiver of a finance company, involving claims against the company’s directors and auditors.

Commerce Act litigation
Acted for the applicant appellant in a High Court stay application and subsequent challenge of a Commerce Commission authorisation of a competitor acquiring a vertically integrated monopoly through the acquisition of particular assets.

Breach of confidence, defamation, and commercial contract litigation
Acted for a large New Zealand business in a number of disputes, including High Court litigation for breach of confidence, defamation and commercial contract issues.

New Zealand tax litigation
Acted for a private New Zealand company in a long-running tax dispute with the Commissioner of Inland Revenue, including a two-week High Court trial.

International tax litigation
Acted for multinational businesses and ultra-high-net-worth individuals in tax disputes and tax investigations involving HM Revenue and Customs and various European tax authorities.