STEPHANIE GRIEVE KC

Stephanie has acted in many High Court cases and appeals involving civil, commercial, trust, insurance and property disputes as well as judicial review. She defends regulatory prosecutions and disciplinary complaints and acts as Counsel Assisting the Coroner, and for interested parties, in the Coronial jurisdiction. She has also acted as trial counsel, on pre-trial appeals and appeals against conviction in complex criminal cases.

Stephanie was one of the founding members of Plymouth Chambers in 2019, having moved to the Independent Bar in 2018 after thirteen years as a litigation partner first at Anderson Lloyd and then at Duncan Cotterill. She is currently a co-author of McGechan on Procedure and a member of the Rules Committee. She is committed to the development of the Independent Bar and the profession through education, mentoring and coaching. As a faculty member of the NZLS Litigation Skills Programme and a member of the New Zealand Bar Association’s Education Committee, she assists with litigation training, seminars and courses.

Stephanie was appointed a King’s Counsel in 2022.

• University of Otago (BA LLB (Honours))

• Admitted as a Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand 1997

• Partner, Anderson Lloyd – 2005-2011

• Partner, Duncan Cotterill – 2011-2018

• Independent Bar - 2018

• King's Counsel - 2022

• Member, Rules Committee

• Co-Author, McGechan on Procedure (2023 to present)

• Member, Canterbury Westland Standards Committee 1 (2015 to 2024)

• Member, Education Committee/ Mastering Advocacy sub-committee, NZ Bar Association

• Faculty Member, NZLS Litigation Skills Course

• Member, New Zealand Insurance Law Association

• Member, Canterbury Women Lawyers Association

• Trustee, Christchurch Arts Festival (2011 to present)

• Lead volunteer, Mothers Project, Christchurch Women’s Prison (2017 to present)

• Burke v R [2024] NZSC 37 – successful Supreme Court appeal against conviction with important implications for party liability for manslaughter under the Crimes Act 1966

• R v Wright-Meldrum – trial counsel in a historical murder case including pre-trial appeals in respect of informant evidence and admissibility of evidence: Wright-Meldrum v R [2021] NZCA 410; Wright-Meldrum v R [2022] NZCA 649, [2023] NZSC 11 and rulings during trial in respect of informant evidence: R v Wright-Meldrum [2023] NZHC 3388 and admissibility of intercepted phone calls: R v Wright-Meldrum [2023] NZHC 3857

• Harris v Racing Integrity Board [2023] NZHC 3361 – judicial review of disciplinary decisions by the Adjudicative Committee and Appeals Tribunal of the Racing Integrity Board

• Ministry for Primary Industries v Gun City Limited [2022] NZDC 10959; [2024] NZDC 9878, – defence of multiple charges under the Biosecurity Act which, following a lengthy trial, resulted in withdrawal of most charges and a discharge without conviction on the remaining charges

• Ross v Southern Response Earthquake Services Limited [2021] NZHC 684, 2452, 2453, and 2454 - represented Canterbury homeowners in a class action relating to earthquake claim entitlements, first obtaining leave to intervene and then appearing on various interlocutory applications, most significantly to oppose interim funding orders sought by the litigation funder.

• Cooke v Butler – trust dispute involving three interlocutory decisions [2021] NZHC 2014; [2022] NZHC 2687; [2023] NZHC 2716

• R v Darrin Stephen Baylis [2021] NZHC 617 – defence of charges relating to membership of an organised criminal group

• 2020 – appointed by trustees to undertake an independent inquiry into Gloriavale Christian Community.

• Williams v Tellen Systems NZ (2013) Limited [2021] NZHC 1199

• Coroners Inquests:

  • Deborah Kovacic CSU-2018-CCH-000598 – 18 March 2021(Counsel Assisting the Coroner)

  • Benton Parata CSU – 2015-CCH-00025 – 21 January 2020 (Counsel Assisting the Coroner)

• Westpac New Zealand v Anderson [2019] NZHC 979

• Representing Redcliffs School to successfully challenge closure proposal by the Minister of Education (2015 to 2017)

• PCC v Richard James Power (2 December 2016) – before the Appeals Council of the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants

• Powell v Powell [2015] NZAR 1886; [2014] NZHC 2096; [2014] NZHC 476 – application for removal of trustees

• Wightman v Public Trust (as executor of the estate WIGHTMAN) [2014] NZHC 3124; [2013] NZHC 671 – Family Protection Act claim

• Department of Labour v Southroads [2014] NZHC 1384; [2013] NZHC 1620; (2013) 11 NZELR 19 – defence of charges under Health & Safety legislation

• Silk Water Ltd (in liq) v Mama's Soup Kitchen Ltd (2010) 20 PRNZ 170 – application by liquidators

• Department of Labour v Hanham & Philp Contractors Ltd & Ors (2008) 9 NZELC 93,095; (2008) 6 NZELR 79 – Health & Safety sentencing

• Powelliphanta Augustus Inc (formerly Save Happy Valley Coalition Inc) v Solid Energy New Zealand Ltd & Ors (2007) 13 ELRNZ 200

• Powelliphanta Augustus Inc v Minister of Conservation & Ors (2007) 18 PRNZ 616

• Chair, NZ Bar Association Webinar – Expert Evidence – August 2024 and December 2021

• Chair, NZ Bar Association Webinar – Life at the Independent Bar, October 2022

• Panel discussion on governance – New Zealand Insurance Law Association – Christchurch branch, November 2019

• Chair – Canterbury Women’s Lawyers Association Professional Women’s Conference – August 2019

• Liability issues for construction professionals – Legalwise 10 CPD points in one day – February 2018

• Health & Safety in schools: practical considerations – Legalwise Education Law Conference - February 2017

• Directors’ duties - NZLS CLE Health and safety intensive – March 2016

• The new Health and Safety Reform Bill: implications for the construction sector – Legalwise Construction Law Conference – November 2015