Samuel Jeffs is a barrister with extensive experience in high-value and complex litigation.
Sam advises and represents clients in a range of civil and commercial disputes, including in relation to contracts, property and property development, construction and engineering projects, companies and shareholdings, class actions, and trusts and estates. Sam has appeared at all levels of the New Zealand judicial system, including the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court, as well as in arbitrations and other specialist tribunals.
Sam has developed substantial expertise both as lead counsel and as part of larger counsel teams. His career exclusively at the independent bar provides him with a distinctive perspective as a commercially-minded adviser and advocate.
Sam is a graduate of the University of Oxford (BCL (Distinction)) and the University of Auckland (BA, LLB(Hons)), where he was a Senior Scholar in both Law and Arts.
Recognition
Sam is recognised by Doyle’s Guide as one of only two pre-eminent junior counsel for construction disputes in New Zealand.
Recent Cases
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 QC representing 900,000 account holders in Commonwealth-leading decision establishing cryptocurrencies as property subject to trusts.
Samuel Jeffs is a barrister with extensive experience in high-value and complex litigation.
Sam advises and represents clients in a range of civil and commercial disputes, including in relation to contracts, property and property development, construction and engineering projects, companies and shareholdings, class actions, and trusts and estates. Sam has appeared at all levels of the New Zealand judicial system, including the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court, as well as in arbitrations and other specialist tribunals.
Sam has developed substantial expertise both as lead counsel and as part of larger counsel teams. His career exclusively at the independent bar provides him with a distinctive perspective as a commercially-minded adviser and advocate.
Sam is a graduate of the University of Oxford (BCL (Distinction)) and the University of Auckland (BA, LLB(Hons)), where he was a Senior Scholar in both Law and Arts.
Recognition
Sam is recognised by Doyle’s Guide as one of only two pre-eminent junior counsel for construction disputes in New Zealand.
Recent Cases
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 QC representing 900,000 account holders in Commonwealth-leading decision establishing cryptocurrencies as property subject to trusts.