Jeremy Upson

Jeremy Upson is a highly experienced and respected litigator, with experience spanning a wide range of commercial and public law disputes. He has appeared at all levels of the court system. He joined Russell McVeagh in 2019 and has significant experience advising and acting on contractual disputes, judicial review, insolvency matters including companies’ claims against directors and auditors, proceedings under the Commerce Act, property disputes, regulatory matters, confidential information, and insurance litigation including arising out of the Canterbury earthquakes.

Jeremy's recent experience includes acting for and advising:

• New Zealand Superannuation Fund in its successful defence of the first ever judicial review of the Fund's responsible investment policies and practice;

• An insured and its insurers on a multi-million dollar liability claim arising out of a building collapse;

• Tilt Renewables Ltd in relation to a novel scheme of arrangement facilitating a 100% takeover and sale of its New Zealand wind power generation assets;

• Winton Property Investments Ltd's judicial review of a decision granted a NZX-listed overseas person consent to purchase land residential development;

• Directors on insolvent trading risk; and

• A client responding to liquidators' notices for books, records and documents.

Jeremy has previously acted on other significant matters including:

• Acting in a judicial review of a regulator’s decision to disclose confidential and compulsorily obtained information to third parties.

• Appearing in the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal on an employment agreement interpretation issue turning on principles of contract interpretation.

• Advising the receivers of a failed finance company on claims against company directors and auditors.

• Advising receivers and liquidators of entities subject to regulatory investigation and prosecution.

• Obtaining a permanent injunction against disclosure of a leaked confidential spreadsheet.

• Successfully defending residential building insurance claims against an insurer.

• Successfully defending a price-fixing damages claim against an international air cargo carrier.

• Acting as counsel to and appearing at professional disciplinary committees hearing complaints relating to the collapse of the CTV building.

LLB (Hons), University of Waikato; BA, The University of Auckland.

Jeremy was admitted to practise in 2010, and clerked at the Court of Appeal before going into private practice at another leading New Zealand law firm.

Jeremy is a member of the New Zealand Law Society's Civil Litigation and Tribunals Committee, RITANZ - the Restructuring & Insolvency Tribunal, and is recognised by The Legal 500 as a "Rising Star" in Restructuring and Insolvency.