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Michael Fitzpatrick-Cockram

He/himAssociate
About

Michael is part of our Litigation and Regulatory team, advising on commercial, local government and public law matters. He has appeared in the High Court and has been involved in proceedings before all senior courts, as well as commissions of inquiry.

He has a particular interest in complex regulatory frameworks that affect cross-border clients, including life sciences, hazardous substances, international sanctions and food safety. Michael regularly advises on a broad range of regulatory issues and disputes for both international and domestic clients.

 
Bar admissionsBarrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand

EXPERIENCE

  •  Acted as junior counsel obtaining an interim injunction preventing a contract party from gaining access to source code held in escrow as part of a substantive technology dispute (DWS (NSW) Pty Ltd v Chief Executive of the Department of Internal Affairs [2024] NZHC 222). 
  • Appeared as junior counsel for Quotable Value Ltd in a successful strike out application, securing an award of indemnity costs (Lau v Hollis & Scholefield Limited [2022] NZHC 3223).
  • Assisted as part of the legal team in the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal for Make it 16 v Attorney-General [2022] NZSC 134, a successful application for declarations of inconsistency with the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act (pro bono).
  • Representing Boss Fire's New Zealand interests in trans-Tasman proceedings to enforce its 'Fyrebox' trade mark.
  • Advising global clients on issues arising from geopolitical environments with a particular focus on the insurance and financial services sectors.
  • Providing regulatory advice to importers on a broad range of New Zealand regimes, including medicines, cannabis-related products, hazardous substances and food regulation.
  • Assisting an international pharmaceutical company on potentially contentious issues concerning clinical trial indemnities.
  • Advising clients on how to respond to or challenge high-value, mission-critical procurement decisions.
  • Regularly advising local authorities on public and administrative law obligations and contentious decision-making.
  • Supporting an emergency response under the Civil Defence Emergency Management Act 2002 following New Zealand's August 2022 severe weather events.
  • Acting for insurers, insureds and brokers on complex or high-value insurance claims and coverage advice.
  • Assisting rainbow organisations in effective engagement with government decision-makers (pro bono).

 

Languages
  • English
Education
  • Victoria University of Wellington, LLB, 2022
  • Victoria University of Wellington, BA (Political Science and German), 2022

Memberships and Affiliations

  • Young AMINZ
  • Young Insurance Professionals New Zealand
  • New Zealand Law Society
 

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