Brent has a wealth of experience in the District Court, High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court. Having successes in all courts.

In recognition of Brent’s knowledge of insolvency law, Brent is a contributor to Heath and Whale on Insolvency for LexisNexis. Heath and Whale on Insolvency is the leading insolvency text and is often referred to by Judges and Counsel in New Zealand.

Brent has also authored the Insolvency Precedents for Thomson Reuters. These precedents may be utilised by other New Zealand professionals such as other lawyers, insolvency practitioners and accountants. They are also available to Universities and students.

Brent is a committed and pragmatic negotiator having completed the Program on Negotiation from Harvard University, USA. Through this qualification Brent studied not just the fundamentals of negotiation but the ability to create and claim value, best practices for difficult situations, dealing effectively with emotions and relationships, negotiating across cultures and multi-party negotiations and organisational challenges.

Brent is passionate about negotiating favourable outcomes for his clients and able to implement this in his daily negotiations.

Where negotiations do not resolve matters, Brent is focussed on winning in Court, if he must. Brent has extensive experience in Court but also has undertaken international advocacy training. In particular, Brent has attended the Advanced Trial Advocacy intensive from the Australian Bar Association where he has developed skills from world class advocates.

Brent practices what he authors and provides expert and strategic advice to his clients. Brent has acted as counsel in court in regard to various proceedings, including pursuit of directors for breaches of duties, transactions that defraud creditors, transactions at undervalue, voidable transactions, overdrawn current accounts, enforcement of obligations to provide documents or attend liquidator interviews, review of liquidators’ decisions, setting aside related party resolutions, applications for court directions, pooling of related companies, surrender of securities, confirming validity of liquidators’ appointment, vesting property and miscellaneous debt recovery.

Brent has also obtained freezing orders to preserve property pending the outcome of litigation.

In addition to the above, Brent has acted as Counsel in a range of enforcement actions including liquidating companies, bankrupting individuals, and obtaining orders for arrest, attachment, charging and sale.

Despite having a keen interest in litigation, Brent’s primary focus is on commercial settlement, where possible.

Brent is committed to success! Success for our clients but also for himself and his team at Norling Law. This is recognised in various accolades and awards:

2014

  • Brent was personally a finalist in the New Zealand Law Awards for Young In-house Lawyer of the year.

2015

  • Brent was personally a finalist in the New Zealand Law Awards for Young In-house Lawyer of the year.

2016

  • Brent was personally a finalist in the New Zealand Law Awards for Young In-house Lawyer of the year.

2017

  • Brent led Norling Law to be a finalist in the New Zealand Law Awards in the Litigation and Dispute Resolution Specialist Law Firm category.

2018

  • Brent led Norling Law to be a finalist in the New Zealand Law Awards in the Litigation and Dispute Resolution Specialist Law Firm category.
  • Brent was personally a finalist in the New Zealand Law Awards for Young Private Practice Lawyer of the year.

2019

  • Brent led Norling Law to be recognised as the winner of New Zealand’s most innovative Law Firms.
  • Brent led Norling law to be a finalist in the New Zealand Law Awards for Litigation and Dispute Resolution Firm of the Year and Boutique Law Firm of the year for our work in Insolvency and Restructuring.

2020

  • Brent led Norling Law to be ranked and recommended in the Legal 500 Asia Pacific Guide.
  • Brent led Norling Law to be recognised as the winner of New Zealand’s most innovative Law Firms.
  • Brent was recognised by NZ Lawyer as a Rising Star which honours lawyers who are committed to making a difference.
  • Brent led Norling Law to be recognised as an Employer of Choice by NZ Lawyer.
  • Brent led Norling Law to be a finalist in the New Zealand Law Awards for Boutique Law Firm of the year for our work in Insolvency and Restructuring.
  • Brent led Norling Law to be awarded Excellence in the New Zealand Law Awards for Litigation and Dispute Resolution Firm of the Year.

2021

  • Brent was recognised by NZ Lawyer as New Zealand’s Most Influential Lawyer.
  • Brent led Norling Law to be awarded Excellence in the New Zealand Law Awards for Litigation and Dispute Resolution Firm of the Year.
  • Brent led Norling Law to be awarded Excellence in the New Zealand Law Awards for Employer of Choice.
  • Brent led Norling Law to be ranked by AsiaLaw Profiles for its work in Litigation and Dispute Resolution.
  • Brent led Norling Law to be ranked by AsiaLaw Profiles for its work in Insolvency and Restructuring.
  • Brent led Norling Law to be ranked and recommended in the Legal 500 Asia Pacific Guide.
  • Brent was recognised in the Legal 500 Asia Pacific Guide as a recommended lawyer.

Brent writes regular articles for various legal magazines but most are reproduced together with our own articles. You can view these at our Publications.

Brent can assist clients in a range of matters including:

  • Litigation and Dispute Resolution;
  • Insolvency and Restructuring;
  • Shareholder Disputes;
  • Tax Debt Problems;
  • Commercial Contract Disputes;
  • Debt Recovery and Security Enforcement; and
  • Construction Disputes.

If Brent’s expertise can be of assistance to you, do not hesitate to Contact us for a no obligation discussion. Or Schedule a no obligation consultation with Brent.

Recent and Notable Judgments

Below are a selection of cases where Brent has acted as Counsel in Court. This is not a full selection of cases and it should be noted that many cases do not reach a full trial or hearing. Rather, they settle. Those cases will not reflect in the below table.

Supreme Court

Canavan v Grant [2014] NZSC 82 Successful opposition to leave application. View
CP Asset Management Ltd v Grant [2014] NZSC 11 Successful opposition to leave application. View

Court of Appeal

90 Nine Ltd v Luxury Rentals NZ Ltd [2019] NZCA 424 Successful appeal of High Court’s decision dismissing an application for a liquidation of a company on discretionary grounds. View
Monocrane NZ Limited (in Liq) v Grant [2016] NZCA 139 Estoppel against claim for an overdrawn current account where Relationship Property Agreement exists. View
Grant v Waipareira Investments Ltd [2014] NZCA 607 Liquidation Regulations – surrender of securities. View
Grant v Lotus Gardens Ltd [2014] NZCA 498 Successful opposition to application for extension of time to cross appeal. View
Grant v Lotus Gardens Ltd [2014] NZCA 127 Successful appeal dealing with the automatic setting aside of transaction and statutory demand. View
Schuler v Grant [2014] NZCA 91 Successful opposition to appeal holding director liable for breaches of director duties – indemnity costs. View
Grant v CP Asset Management Ltd [2013] NZCA 452 Successful appeal reinstating liquidators replaced at the High Court and disregarding views of related creditors. View

High Court

Another Orange Service Centre Limited (in Liq) v Vincent [2021] NZHC 2135 Successfully defended summary judgment proceeding by a liquidator seeking judgment on an overdrawn current account. View
Trilogy Bar and Eatery v Samson Corporation Limited [2021] NZHC 177 Successfully obtained injunctive relief against reentry by landlord and obtained orders that the tenant occupy the premises. View
Alpine South Fishing Ltd (in liq) v Kim [2021] NZHC 319 Successfully obtained orders for security for costs against the plaintiff. View
Kim v Diamond Hostel Limited [2020] NZHC 1551 Successfully obtaining full payment of a debt for our client together with interest and indemnity costs (actual legal costs). View
FV Aluminium 2011 Limited v Firma Construction Limited [2020] NZHC 1358 Successfully defending an application for staying proceeding and restraingin advertising. View
Sak Hospitality Ltd v Joshi [2019] NZHC 2443 Defended an application for temporary stay of enforcement (sale of house of the judgment debtor). Stay of enforcement was granted, however, subject to various conditions. View
Alpine South Fishing Ltd (in rec) v Kim [2018] NZHC 2579 Successfully defending an application for an interim injunction preventing receivers taking further steps in relation to company assets. View
Greenfield Global Limited v MKAH Limited [2017] NZHC 1298 Successfully obtaining an injunction preventing the appointment of a receiver and defending costs and obtaining costs against the lender who unreasonably threatened receivership. View
Ranolf Company Limited (in Liq) v Bhana [2017] NZHC 1183 Successfully obtaining declaratory orders in favour of liquidator trustees and obtaining orders for sale of trust property to pay liquidators and creditors. View
Grant v Bhana [2016] NZHC 2755 Successfully obtaining orders that respondents be penalised for contempt of Court for failing to comply with Court orders. View
Grant v Bhana [2016] NZHC 2352 Successfully obtaining orders that respondents are in contempt of Court for failing to comply with Court orders. View
Schuler v Independent Livestock Agents Limited (in Liq) [2016] NZHC 1680 Successfully defending appeal to strike out proceedings. View
Central Tyres Waipukurau Limited (in Liquidation) v Pallesen [2016] NZHC 146 Successfully obtaining orders against director in breach of his duties to pay all debts of the company and costs and fees of liquidator. View
Andrews v Grant [2015] NZHC 2934 Successfully resisting a setting aside of judgment obtained and successfully interpreting an infrequently used provision of the High Court Rules. View
NZNet Internet Services Limited (in Liquidation) v Engini Limited [2015] NZHC 2713 Successful application appointing the same liquidators of the creditor company as interim liquidators of the debtor company. Interim liquidation order made on an urgent basis, 1 working day after filing application. View
Grant v Bhana [2015] NZHC 2596 Successful applicaiton obtaining orders that persons are in contempt of court and obtaining and order for arrest. View
Grant v Lotus Gardens Limited (in Liquidation) [2015] NZHC 2345 Successful application replacing liquidator to appoint liquidator elected by creditor. View
Central Tyres Waipukurau Limited (in Liquidation) v Pallesen [2015] NZHC 2324 Successful in obtaining orders to freeze properties of defendant pending outcome of litigation. View
Grant v McKenzie [2015] NZHC 1958 Testing voidable transaction regime in regard to suspicion of knowledge of insolvency. View
Grant v ML Trustees 2711 Limited [2015] NZHC 1652 Successfully obtaining costs against trustee. View
Grant v ML Trustees 2711 Limited [2015] NZHC 1503 Successful in obtaining a declaration of validity of liquidator appointment and that trustee ratified actions of co-trustee decisions. View
Grant v Johnson [2015] NZHC 611 Successful in obtaining a declaration that directors breached duties to company and are liable for debts of company. View
Grant v Rosebud Corporate Trustee Ltd [2014] NZHC 2789 Successful proceeding declaring that transaction was made at undervalue and requiring defendant to repay the difference. View
Grant v Pandey [2014] NZHC 623 Successfully obtaining orders requiring parties to provide the liquidator with books, records and documents of company View
Grant v Pandey [2014] NZHC 559 Successful in obtaining increased costs and costs for in-house counsel. View
Grant v Westcon Group NZ Ltd [2013] NZHC 3419 Voidable transaction. Unsuccessful in setting aside transaction but successful in obtaining an authority to support the proposition that secured creditors can be liable to a liquidator under the voidable transaction regime. View
Grant v Pandey [2013] NZHC 3330 Successful in obtaining orders requiring parties to attend an interview under oath by the liquidator. View
Grant v Pandey [2013] NZHC 3323 Successful in upholding a decision of Associate Judge on review and obtaining increased costs. View
Grant v Barahmi CIV-2014-404-1447 Successful in obtaining a warrant of arrest for noncompliance with Court order. View
West v Grant [2013] NZHC 3043 Successfully defending an application requiring that liquidators be replaced or supervised by the Court. View
Grant v Pandey [2013] NZHC 2844 Successful in opposing a parties protest to the jurisdiction of the High Court. View
Grant v Independent Livestock 2010 Ltd [2012] NZHC 3458 Successful in holding director liable for breaches of director duties – indemnity costs. View
Grant v Lenaghan [2012] NZHC 3065 Successful in obtaining declaration as to ownership of assets where ownership was not certain. View

District Court

Schuler v Independent Livestock Agents Limited (in Liq) [2015] NZDC 24512 Successfully defending an application for security for costs and stike out of claim. View
NZNet Internet Services Limited (in Liq) v Engini Limited [2015] NZDC 19835 Sucessfully striking out statement of defence which was based on an alleged forgiveness of debt and obtaining judgment View