Nick Coyle Senior Associate
BA (University of Auckland), LLB (Victoria University of Wellington)
- Profile
- Experience
Nick is a Senior Associate in the Dispute Resolution team.
He has wide experience in commercial litigation and has acted for clients facing ‘white collar’ criminal and regulatory charges. He has appeared in the District Court, High Court and the Court of Appeal as lead counsel at each level.
His practice has a focus on complex contractual, property and insolvency related disputes.
- Kuber Trading Ltd v Ross [2026] NZHC 1852 - Acted for the successful landlord respondent in an application to set aside statutory demands for unpaid commercial rent. Successfully argued that a "no set-off" clause in the lease barred the tenant and its guarantor from resisting the demands based on counterclaims for alleged breaches of the lease and unlawful re-entry, resulting in the applications being declined and an order for payment.
- Henry v Henry [2026] NZHC 1711 - Appeared as junior counsel for the first defendant in a High Court trial concerning competing family claims to a Ponsonby property, involving partnership, constructive trust, estoppel and deceit arguments.
- Cleanco Truck Wash Systems Ltd v Waikato Truck Wash Ltd [2026] NZHC 858 - Appeared alongside senior counsel for the franchisee defendants in successfully resisting an application for interim injunctive relief brought by a national franchisor seeking to enforce post-termination restraint of trade covenants. The application was dismissed.
- Hudson v Hobsonville Consulting Ltd [2025] NZHC 4155 - Acted for the respondent creditor in a High Court appeal concerning a co-guarantor's liability to contribute toward a discharged loan. The appellant's appeal was dismissed and the client's cross-appeal partly succeeded, securing an order for payment of $275,372.35.
- Mega Aqua Ltd v Sunnya Pty Ltd [2025] NZHC 3641 - Acted for the respondent creditor in an application to set aside a cross-border statutory demand for an Australian costs debt, involving issues of valid service and limitation periods.
- Sunnya Pty Ltd v Mega Aqua Ltd [2025] NZHC 3482 - Acted for the applicant in successfully obtaining High Court orders compelling a New Zealand company and its director to comply with a subpoena issued by the New South Wales Supreme Court, addressing novel questions of trans-Tasman judicial cooperation and this Court's jurisdiction under the Evidence Act 2006.
- Francis v Degree Plumbing Ltd [2023] NZHC 2920 - Acted for the liquidators of an insolvent company in successfully setting aside voidable pre-liquidation payments made to a plumbing contractor, securing an order for repayment plus interest under the Companies Act 1993 insolvent transaction provisions.
- Gundry v Director of Waka Kotahi [2023] NZDC 27122 – successful appeal against decision of Waka Kotahi to revoke appellant’s appointments as vehicle inspector and inspecting organization on the grounds that he had allegedly failed to comply with the conditions of his appointment.
- ACC v P & anor [2023] NZDC 253378 – successful challenge to admissibility of key evidence on which ACC relied on to prosecute two defendants for allegedly substantial fraud. Following the decision, the prosecutor withdrew most charges.
- Re Fistonich, ex parte Calypso No 1 Ltd [2023] NZHC 78 – successful application by judgment debtor for approval of creditors proposal under Insolvency Act 2006 despite opposition by parties claimed to be owed millions of dollars.
- WorkSafe New Zealand v Buttle [2022] NZDC 20694 – unsuccessful application to dismiss charges against ‘owners’ of Whakaari / White Island for alleged breaches of officers’ duties under s 44 of Health and Safety at Work Act 2015. Charges were eventually dismissed during trial.
- JDA Co Ltd v AIG Insurance New Zealand Ltd [2021] NZHC 2912 – unsuccessful representative claim by numerous Japanese car exporters under a marine cargo insurance policy known as the AIMS Scheme for damage to second-hand vehicles awaiting export from Japan caused by a typhoon.
- TPD 2018 Limited v Godfrey and Company Limited [2021] NZHC 431 – successful claim to order an account of revenue received by a joint venture conducted by two firms of loss adjusters following the Christchurch Earthquake.
- Dold v Murphy [2020] NZCA 313 – successful opposition to appeal against High Court decision declining claim in breach of fiduciary duty, breach of shareholder agreement and duress for recovery of AUD 2 million paid by Dold to Murphy to facilitate sale of AUD 112 million in shares in Cruise Whitsundays Pty Ltd.
Expertise
- Complex contractual disputes
- Mediation
- Arbitration
- Insolvency
- Employment
- Debt recovery
- Defamation
- Health and safety
- Fair trading claims
- Property law disputes
- Construction disputes
- Trust and estate disputes
Get in touch
M
+64 21 827 365
E
nicholas.coyle@chk.law