Katerina accepts instructions on commercial, civil and property disputes. She advises clients on various contentious matters, including construction contracts, leases, partnership, and other disputes.

Katerina has particular expertise advising bodies corporate and unit owners, including advice on statutory repair and maintenance obligations, construction contracts, governance, liability issues, minority relief, and applications to the High Court for approval of schemes governing large scale remediation projects under section 74 of the Unit Titles Act 2010.

Katerina started practice in 2006 and joined the independent bar in 2016. Katerina worked at Meredith Connell for six years acting for both private clients and government departments (including the Commerce Commission, Inland Revenue and liquidators) and spent 1½ years at a boutique insurance litigation firm acting for insurers, primarily on material damage and professional indemnity-related disputes.

Katerina’s success is built on her intuitive ability to connect with instructing solicitors and clients, her attention to detail, and understanding the core legal and factual issues to provide commercial and strategic dispute resolution advice.

Katerina is a member of the New Zealand Law Society, Arbitrators’ and Mediators’ Institute of New Zealand, Auckland District Law Society, New Zealand Bar Association and Auckland Women Lawyers Association. She presents legal seminars, chairs a Body Corporate and contributes to the New Zealand Conveyancing Bulletin.

BROWNING v JONES [2020] NZHC 3301, [2020] NZHC 2308

Successfully obtaining sale and other orders in respect of a co-owned property, which included addressing waiver and estoppel by silence/acquiescence defences.

TANG v BODY CORPORATE 155936 [2020] NZHC 2813

Junior counsel in a successful opposition to a minority relief application under the Unit Titles Act 2010 in respect of an Auckland commercial unit title development.

SECTION 74 SCHEMES (VARIOUS)

Acting for bodies corporate and unit owners for both opposed and unopposed applications for orders settling schemes under s74 of the Unit Titles Act in respect of widespread building damage, including: Body Corporate 169774 v Weerasinghe [2020] NZHC 3144; Body Corporate 104278 v Whinerary [2020] NZHC 212; Body Corporate 86105 v Leslie [2019] NZHC 1853; and Body Corporate 87945 v Marine Parade Holdings Limited [2019] NZHC 1311.

BUILTWELL LTD v ALEXANDER [2019] NZDC 12234

Successful claim under the Construction Contracts Act 2002 in respect of disputed payment claims.

NISHA v LSG SKY CHEFS LTD (2017/2018)

Acting for an employee on costs and joinder-related issues in the Employment Court and Court of Appeal.

FIRM PI 1 LTD v ZURICH AUSTRALIAN INSURANCE LTD (2015)

Acting for brokers in a negligence case regarding the extent of insurance cover arranged for a Christchurch apartment complex. This included a separate issue determined by the Supreme Court.

A v A (2013)

Acting for a listed Australian commercial funds management company in a successful lease dispute arbitration and advising on subsequent debt recovery steps.

COMMERCE COMMISSION v CATHAY PACIFIC AIRWAYS LTD (2009-2014)

Acting for the Commerce Commission in proceedings against airlines and freight forwarders in relation to worldwide air cargo and freight forwarding price-fixing cartels (2009-2014)

WALKER v ARIYATHAS (2012)

Obtaining judgment against a company director for failing to maintain accounting records.

RE WANG, EX PARTE COMMISSIONER OF INLAND REVENUE (2011)

Successfully opposing on behalf of the Commissioner of Inland Revenue an application to have a creditor proposal approved.

Regulatory

Advising a company director in relation to a Commerce Commission cartel investigation into corporate conduct in New Zealand and Australia.