Peter Woods

Peter Woods is recognized internationally as one of New Zealand’s leading insurance lawyers. In addition, Peter advises clients on a wide range of commercial disputes, including commercial property, company law, contract interpretation, construction (including leaky homes), defamation, franchise, insurance and intellectual property. Peter’s insurance work includes leading cases for property damage and broader issues of insurers’ misconduct. He led the claim by Mr and Mrs Dodds against Southern Response Earthquake Services Limited, where the Court determined that Southern Response had engaged in misleading and deceptive conduct and it had misrepresented the amount that the Dodds were entitled under their Policy. That judgment applies to approximately 3000 claims and will mean approximately $400m is going to be paid to homeowners in Christchurch. Peter also led a successful class action against the Earthquake Commission, which led to the Commission accepting that it had not used the correct standard of repair.

Peter and his team have represented hundreds of residential and commercial property owners, including the leading reported cases for TJK (NZ) Ltd and for Emmons Developments NZ Ltd (where the total sum insured is approximately $190m).

In addition to insurance litigation, Peter has a broad international commercial litigation practice, regularly appearing in the High Court and the Court of Appeal and at arbitrations. He has also appeared before the Royal Commission into the Pike River Coal Mine Tragedy and the Canterbury Earthquake Royal Commission.