Bell Gully litigation head recognised as New Zealand’s top litigator for 2020 in APAC awards

The firm was also considered the leading litigation firm in the country for the year

Bell Gully litigation head recognised as New Zealand’s top litigator for 2020 in APAC awards

Bell Gully’s litigation head David Friar has been recognised as New Zealand’s top litigator for 2020 in this year’s Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific Awards.

The awards highlight “excellence in disputes and litigation practice throughout the Asia-Pacific market across a wide range of dispute resolution practice areas” for the last 12 months, Benchmark Litigation said.

Friar specialises in complex commercial disputes, class actions, insurance litigation, and corporate and insolvency disputes. His clients include banks and other financial institutions, insurers, corporations and insolvency practitioners.

Most Read

He has appeared at all levels of court in New Zealand. He is also knowledgeable in financial regulatory issues, including conduct requirements, and contract law; he contributed to the chapter on directors’ duties in Morison's Company Law.

Friar obtained his LLM from Columbia University on a Fulbright scholarship. From 2004-2010, he worked with New York firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison.

Benchmark Litigation also recognised Bell Gully as the New Zealand Litigation Firm of the Year at the awards. The accolades, Friar said, testified to the litigation team’s efforts.

“Our team works closely with our clients, applying a strategic and commercial focus to every aspect of the dispute resolution process. Receiving the award for Firm of the Year showcases the significant experience and depth of expertise that we have across the entire team,” he said.

Friar said that the recent expansion of the team through the hire of five new senior associates has brought “outstanding additional international and local expertise to our litigation practice.”

In June, two Bell Gully lawyers were named in Benchmark Litigation’s Benchmark Asia-Pacific Top 100 Women in Litigation 2020 list.

Recent articles & video

Freshfields unveils Data Trends 2024 report, forecasting challenges and AI opportunities

Family law in New Zealand – what's changing?

Privacy Commissioner to launch public consultation on new biometrics rules

NWM promotes senior associates to partner

Fast Firms of 2023 invest in people to build momentum

Hogan Lovells expands energy transition capabilities with new partner hire in Washington DC

Most Read Articles

Winners of the 2023 NZ Law Awards unveiled

Wynn Williams strengthens litigation team with new special counsel

Family law in New Zealand – what's changing?

NWM promotes senior associates to partner