Learn from the best. Keen to sharpen your approach to Interlocutory Applications? Learn when—and when not—to commence applications by assessing the risks and opportunities and how to figure out if the application is essential or potentially could harm your case. Get hands on guidance for drafting affidavits in support of your application, that can stand up to scrutiny and meet the essentials of rules of evidence. Master the skills for effective advocacy, understanding how to argue persuasively in these proceedings and why they differ from full trials. Gain all the skills you require to make each winning application.

Presenters

Tiho Mijatov, Barrister, Stout Street Chambers
Tiho is a barrister sole and practises from Stout Street Chambers, Wellington. He regularly conducts trials and appeals on a range of commercial and general civil matters including company law, property law, contract disputes, negligence and other areas of commercial life. He appears at all levels of the Courts. Tiho is ranked by the Legal 500 Asia-Pacific New Zealand Bar directory in top tier 1 as a leading barrister-sole for commercial disputes. Tiho has acted for plaintiffs and defendants who have either sought to bring or oppose a range of interlocutory matters. He has run cases at first instance and on appeal relating to interlocutory applications. Examples from which Tiho will draw include interlocutory matters relating to: adequacy of pleadings, discovery against parties or non-parties, interrogatories, pre-trial admissibility rulings, summary judgment and strike-out, and interim injunctions and other emergency relief.


Nick Laing, Partner, Duncan Cotterill
Nick is a litigation lawyer, practising in civil and commercial litigation. Nick is also a medico-legal expert. Nick acts for health service providers and health practitioners alike in health practitioner discipline and negligence claims, including before the Coroner, Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal, Health and Disability Commissioner, Privacy Commissioner and Ombudsmen. Nick also regularly advises on medico-legal aspects including duty of care, patient consent, privacy and treatment issues, and applied aspects of intensivist treatment. Nick advises health service providers with complex inquiries into patient care and treatment and has presented nationally on end-of-life care matters, including in relation to advance care planning and the End of Life Choice Act.


Kishen Kommu, Barrister, FortyEight Shortland Chambers
Kishen is an experienced civil litigator with a broad range of dispute resolution expertise including construction, property, commercial, insolvency and unit title disputes. He practices as a barrister sole from FortyEight Shortland Chambers and has appeared as counsel in the Court of Appeal, High Court, District Court, various tribunals and alternative dispute resolution processes. Prior to moving to the independent bar, Kishen practiced in the litigation teams of well-regarded firms in Auckland and Tauranga.


Helen Smith, Barrister, Canterbury Chambers
Helen has nearly 30 years’ experience as litigator. She is considered, determined, commercial and skilled at cutting through complex issues. Helen provides specialist advice and advocacy in dispute resolution, civil and commercial litigation, insurance, and construction disputes. She also conducts independent investigations and appears for clients in inquiries and Coronial inquests. After many years as a skilled mediation advocate, she also trained as a mediator to help people resolve their own disputes. Her focus is mediating civil and commercial disputes. Helen also facilitates negotiations between adversarial parties and expert conferencing. Before joining Canterbury Chambers in 2024, Helen worked in private practice in New Zealand and local government in London. She was a partner at Duncan Cotterill from 2009 to 2016 and at Simpson Grierson from 2016 to 2024 where she was the firm’s national litigation practice group leader and led the firm’s insurance practice. Helen is an excellent communicator. She provides clear and considered advice, is highly organised, and proactively seeks solutions. She takes a practical and pragmatic approach, recognising there are different ways to achieve a desired commercial outcome. Clients trust Helen to be in their corner with a plan in place, helping them to navigate risk, resolve disputes and achieve great outcomes.