Qualifications
LLB (Hons, First Class), University of Otago; BCL (Distinction), University of Oxford
Admitted
2006, New Zealand; 2015, England & Wales
Nicola is a partner in our Litigation & Dispute Resolution team and co-chairs the firm’s Climate, Sustainability and ESG practice.
Nicola also leads the firm’s International Law and Sanctions practice and sits on the Chapman Tripp board.
Nicola is an arbitration specialist experienced as counsel before international arbitral tribunals. She acts as counsel and is appointed as arbitrator on international and cross-border disputes, particularly where public and commercial law intersect, with expertise in public international law and business and human rights. Nicola also leads an active domestic civil litigation practice, advising on corporate and commercial disputes, including in the energy and financial services sectors and most recently in relation to climate change and greenwashing.
Nicola is recognised internationally for her expertise in climate and sustainability risk management and disclosure. She advises boards and executive teams on climate, modern slavery and other non-financial risks, compliance, and reporting, and regularly presents on these issues. She has co-authored several major public pro bono legal opinions for The Aotearoa Circle on the responsibilities of directors, fund managers, and trustees to manage climate and nature related risk.
Nicola is recognised for her disputes expertise by Chambers Asia Pacific, Legal 500 Asia Pacific, Lexology Index: Arbitration and Global Arbitration Review.
Recent highlights
- Counsel for Fonterra Co-operative Group on live climate change-related tort claims filed against multiple New Zealand defendants (Smith v Fonterra).
- Counsel for Z Energy in the first major greenwashing litigation in New Zealand, which settled in 2025 and for Fonterra Brands (New Zealand) in defending fair trading claims in relation to product labelling and greenwashing.
- Counsel to a French multinational in the first recognition proceedings before the New Zealand courts concerning an international investment award under the ICSID regime.
- Counsel on a major international arbitration for Hong Kong company involving satellite litigation in Singapore and Australia.
- Counsel for the Commission of Small Island States on Climate Change and International Law before the Inter-American Court of Human Rights
- Counsel for L&M Coal Holdings in one of the most significant recent contractual disputes before the New Zealand Supreme Court.
- Advising significant New Zealand banks, fund managers, listed issuers and insurers on climate change financial risk and disclosure under New Zealand’s climate disclosure regime.
Affiliations
- Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK).
- Fellow of the Arbitrators’ and Mediators’ Institute of New Zealand.
- Member of the International Council on Commercial Arbitration Expert Working Group on State-State Conciliation under the Paris Agreement.
- Member of the Australian Centre for International Arbitration’s Sustainability Working Group.
- Adviser to Legal Response International, providing pro bono support to developing country state parties to the UNFCCC and Paris Agreement.
