Samuel Jeffs is a barrister with a broad civil and commercial litigation practice. He advises and appears in disputes involving contracts, property and property development, construction and engineering, companies and shareholdings, class actions, and trusts and estates.
Sam has developed particular experience as lead counsel — at trial and on appeal — across this range of work, and brings that perspective to matters where he acts as part of larger counsel teams. He has appeared at all levels of the New Zealand judicial system, including the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court, and in arbitrations and specialist tribunals.
Sam holds a BCL (Distinction) from the University of Oxford and a BA and LLB(Hons) from the University of Auckland, where he was a Senior Scholar in both Law and Arts. He is recognised as a leading junior in construction and infrastructure disputes by Doyle's Guide.
Recent Cases
Chen v An Ambrosia Ltd (2026)
Acting as lead counsel for the defendant directors and shareholders defending a claim under s 174 of the Companies Act. Judgment is reserved following a five-day trial in the High Court in early 2025.
Construction Arbitration (2025)
Acting as junior counsel for the principal in a dispute with an earthworks contractor involving claims for delay and time-related costs. The dispute culminated in a four-week hearing in late 2024.
Body Corporate No. DPS91535 v 3A Composites GmbH (ongoing)
Acting as junior counsel to Jim Farmer KC, then Davey Salmon KC, for the plaintiffs in a class action concerning cladding products alleged to be combustible. Sam has appeared at multiple hearings in the High Court ([2025] NZHC 1524) and Court of Appeal ([2023] NZCA 647, 648) and on the leave applications to the Supreme Court ([2024] NZSC 53).
Liao v Liao [2024] NZHC 828, CA judgment reserved
Lead counsel for plaintiffs alleging resulting trusts over residential properties in Auckland. Following a partly successful five-day trial in the High Court ([2024] NZHC 828), Sam also acted as lead counsel in the Court of Appeal on the issues on which the plaintiffs were unsuccessful. The Court of Appeal’s judgment is reserved.
Elysian Property Trustee Ltd v Wang [2024] NZHC 3604, [2023] NZHC 1639
Sole counsel for commercial property owner in a successful claim against a defaulting purchaser, securing an award of damages exceeding $2.7 million following three-day trial. Sam also sought summary judgment on liability and a freezing order earlier in the proceedings.
Body Corporate 408209 v Queenstown Lakes District Council [2024] NZWHT Auckland 02
Lead counsel for QLDC defending claims by a Body Corporate exceeding $4 million. Following a two-week trial and a subsequent one-day hearing on limitation issues, the claim was dismissed entirely on limitation grounds.
Haast Energy Trading Ltd v Electricity Authority [2024] NZHC 195
Junior counsel in successful appeal against Electricity Authority decisions relating to scarcity pricing, including securing increased costs against the Authority on an earlier interlocutory matter.
Foundation Village Ltd v Growing Spaces Ltd [2023] NZHC 2638
Lead counsel successfully opposing interim injunction, with Court accepting jurisdictional arguments based on an arbitration clause.
Construction Arbitration (2020)
Acting as part of the counsel team for the principal in a construction dispute against a contractor on a large Auckland development. The principal was successful following a 13-week hearing, partly interrupted by COVID delays.
Re Cryptopia Ltd [2020] NZHC 728
Junior counsel to Peter Watts KC representing 900,000 account holders in Commonwealth-leading decision establishing cryptocurrencies as property subject to trusts.
Samuel Jeffs is a barrister with a broad civil and commercial litigation practice. He advises and appears in disputes involving contracts, property and property development, construction and engineering, companies and shareholdings, class actions, and trusts and estates.
Sam has developed particular experience as lead counsel — at trial and on appeal — across this range of work, and brings that perspective to matters where he acts as part of larger counsel teams. He has appeared at all levels of the New Zealand judicial system, including the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court, and in arbitrations and specialist tribunals.
Sam holds a BCL (Distinction) from the University of Oxford and a BA and LLB(Hons) from the University of Auckland, where he was a Senior Scholar in both Law and Arts. He is recognised as a leading junior in construction and infrastructure disputes by Doyle's Guide.
Recent Cases
Chen v An Ambrosia Ltd (2026)
Acting as lead counsel for the defendant directors and shareholders defending a claim under s 174 of the Companies Act. Judgment is reserved following a five-day trial in the High Court in early 2025.
Construction Arbitration (2025)
Acting as junior counsel for the principal in a dispute with an earthworks contractor involving claims for delay and time-related costs. The dispute culminated in a four-week hearing in late 2024.
Body Corporate No. DPS91535 v 3A Composites GmbH (ongoing)
Acting as junior counsel to Jim Farmer KC, then Davey Salmon KC, for the plaintiffs in a class action concerning cladding products alleged to be combustible. Sam has appeared at multiple hearings in the High Court ([2025] NZHC 1524) and Court of Appeal ([2023] NZCA 647, 648) and on the leave applications to the Supreme Court ([2024] NZSC 53).
Liao v Liao [2024] NZHC 828, CA judgment reserved
Lead counsel for plaintiffs alleging resulting trusts over residential properties in Auckland. Following a partly successful five-day trial in the High Court ([2024] NZHC 828), Sam also acted as lead counsel in the Court of Appeal on the issues on which the plaintiffs were unsuccessful. The Court of Appeal’s judgment is reserved.
Elysian Property Trustee Ltd v Wang [2024] NZHC 3604, [2023] NZHC 1639
Sole counsel for commercial property owner in a successful claim against a defaulting purchaser, securing an award of damages exceeding $2.7 million following three-day trial. Sam also sought summary judgment on liability and a freezing order earlier in the proceedings.
Body Corporate 408209 v Queenstown Lakes District Council [2024] NZWHT Auckland 02
Lead counsel for QLDC defending claims by a Body Corporate exceeding $4 million. Following a two-week trial and a subsequent one-day hearing on limitation issues, the claim was dismissed entirely on limitation grounds.
Haast Energy Trading Ltd v Electricity Authority [2024] NZHC 195
Junior counsel in successful appeal against Electricity Authority decisions relating to scarcity pricing, including securing increased costs against the Authority on an earlier interlocutory matter.
Foundation Village Ltd v Growing Spaces Ltd [2023] NZHC 2638
Lead counsel successfully opposing interim injunction, with Court accepting jurisdictional arguments based on an arbitration clause.
Construction Arbitration (2020)
Acting as part of the counsel team for the principal in a construction dispute against a contractor on a large Auckland development. The principal was successful following a 13-week hearing, partly interrupted by COVID delays.
Re Cryptopia Ltd [2020] NZHC 728
Junior counsel to Peter Watts KC representing 900,000 account holders in Commonwealth-leading decision establishing cryptocurrencies as property subject to trusts.