STEPHANIE GRIEVE KC

Stephanie’s civil litigation practice encompasses commercial, trusts, insurance and property disputes as well as judicial review. She also defends regulatory prosecutions and professional disciplinary complaints and acts as counsel assisting the coroner, and for interested parties, in the coronial jurisdiction. Stephanie has extensive trial and appellate experience, including acting as trial counsel, on pre-trial appeals and appeals against conviction in complex criminal cases and on appointment by the court as amicus curiae. She 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. Stephanie is a co-author of McGechan on Procedure,  a member of the Rules Committee as a New Zealand Law Society representative of the profession and a member of the New Zealand Law Society’s External Advisory Group on diversity, equity and inclusion.Stephanie is committed to the development of the Independent Bar and the profession through education, mentoring and coaching. As a faculty member of the New Zealand Law Society’s Litigation Skills Programme and a member of the New Zealand Bar Association’s Education Committee, she assists regularly 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 (New Zealand Law Society Representative)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 AssociationMember, Canterbury Women Lawyers AssociationTrustee, Christchurch Arts Festival (2011 to present) Lead volunteer, Mothers Project, Christchurch Women’s Prison (2017 to present)

Pierce v Tripp Rolleston & Ors [2026] NZHC 1582 – acting for plaintiffs bringing claims of fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty and knowing receipt in respect of a property transaction which extinguished their second mortgage security. Successful defence of applications by defendants for summary judgment based on limitation.Acting for High Performance Sport New Zealand in a coronial inquiry into the death of Olympic cyclist Olivia Podmore  (Inquest 2024-2025)Counsel Assisting the Coroner in :Inquiries into the deaths of ex-professional rugby players, Billy-John Guyton and Shane Christie;Inquiry into the death of Laisa Waka/Tunidau who was murdered by an inpatient at Hillmorton Hospital (Inquest 2026);Inquiry into the death of Alexander Nicholls-Braddock while an inmate in Christchurch Mens Prison (Inquest 2025).Burke v R [2024] NZSC 37 – successful Supreme Court appeal against conviction with important implications for party liability for manslaughter under the Crimes Act 1966R 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 3857Harris v Racing Integrity Board [2023] NZHC 3361 – judicial review of disciplinary decisions by the Adjudicative Committee and Appeals Tribunal of the Racing Integrity BoardMinistry 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 chargesRoss 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 2716R v Darrin Stephen Baylis [2021] NZHC 617 – defence of charges relating to membership of an organised criminal group2020 – appointed by trustees to undertake an independent inquiry into Gloriavale Christian Community.Williams v Tellen Systems NZ (2013) Limited [2021] NZHC 1199Coroners 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 979Representing 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 AccountantsPowell v Powell [2015] NZAR 1886; [2014] NZHC 2096; [2014] NZHC 476 – application for removal of trusteesWightman v Public Trust (as executor of the estate WIGHTMAN) [2014] NZHC 3124; [2013] NZHC 671 – Family Protection Act claimDepartment of Labour v Southroads [2014] NZHC 1384; [2013] NZHC 1620; (2013) 11 NZELR 19 – defence of charges under Health & Safety legislationSilk Water Ltd (in liq) v Mama's Soup Kitchen Ltd (2010) 20 PRNZ 170 – application by liquidatorsDepartment of Labour v Hanham & Philp Contractors Ltd & Ors (2008) 9 NZELC 93,095; (2008) 6 NZELR 79 – Health & Safety sentencingPowelliphanta Augustus Inc (formerly Save Happy Valley Coalition Inc) v Solid Energy New Zealand Ltd & Ors (2007) 13 ELRNZ 200Powelliphanta Augustus Inc v Minister of Conservation & Ors (2007) 18 PRNZ 616

Stephanie is regularly involved as faculty in practical litigation skills courses and webinars, as well as presenting on wider issues of relevance to the profession and the Independent Bar.March 2026 - Panel Member, New Zealand Law Society - Gender Equality and the Future of the ProfessionChair, NZ Bar Association Webinar – Expert Evidence – August 2024 and December 2021Chair, NZ Bar Association Webinar – Life at the Independent Bar, October 2022Panel discussion on governance – New Zealand Insurance Law Association – Christchurch branch, November 2019Chair – Canterbury Women’s Lawyers Association Professional Women’s Conference – August 2019Liability issues for construction professionals – Legalwise 10 CPD points in one day – February 2018Health & Safety in schools: practical considerations – Legalwise Education Law Conference - February 2017Directors’ duties - NZLS CLE Health and safety intensive – March 2016The new Health and Safety Reform Bill: implications for the construction sector – Legalwise Construction Law Conference – November 2015