Michael Mabbett

Background

Michael Mabbett brings 15 years’ experience in complex financial litigation to his role at Martelli McKegg. He joined the team in 2023 after working in top-tier commercial and boutique litigation firms, both here and in the UK. Michael has extensive experience in M&A and Investment disputes, restructuring matters, civil fraud and ‘soft IP’ disputes, across a variety of industries, particularly property, private equity, banking and financial services. He has been instructed on cases at all levels in the New Zealand Courts, the English High Court and various offshore jurisdictions, and appeared as counsel in the Māori Land Court, District Court, High Court and Court of Appeal and in international and domestic arbitration.

Despite being a strong, skilled advocate for his clients in court, he does his utmost to resolve cases before they reach that point – drawing on experience in internal investigations, due diligence, risk analysis and contract negotiations.

Michael’s recent experience (including at previous firms) includes:

• Acting for the directors of a significant New Zealand construction company defending a High Court claim by the company’s liquidators for breach of directors’ duties.
• Defending High Court proceedings against a sub-contractor to a complex ERP project (PricewaterhouseCoopers v Zag [2023] NZHC 1470).
• Acting for a HNW individual in relation to serious allegations of wrongdoing arising from a worldwide Private Equity group insolvency.
• Acting for a group of US$ noteholders in a High Court claim for deceit against the issuer company and senior officers in relation to a series of failed restructuring proposals (DuPont Pension Trust & Ors v Yuksel Insaat AS & Ors, English Commercial Court).
• Advising Receivers in a significant worldwide insolvency in respect of a US$100m audit negligence claim.

Expertise

• Commercial litigation
• Arbitration
• Fraud and white collar crime
• Restructuring and insolvency

Recent articles