Bruce Scott

Bruce is a specialist in commercial, insurance and public law litigation, arbitration and mediation.

Bruce led Chapman Tripp’s Wellington litigation practice, before joining the independent bar in 2020. He has acted for various local and international companies and insurers in a range of commercial disputes. Some of his most significant cases have included acting for the Earthquake Commission for nearly a decade following the Canterbury earthquakes, and for Vector in long-running litigation concerning New Zealand’s Kapuni gas field. Bruce was recognised as a leading lawyer in Chambers Asia Pacific 2020 and Chambers Global 2020.

+64 27 4430 174 | bruce.scott@hawkestone.co.nz

  • Represented numerous insurers, banks and other financial service providers in a range of commercial and insurance disputes.

  • Acted on various commercial transactions and public law disputes for most of New Zealand’s largest fishing companies including Sanford, Sealord, Te Oahu Kai Moana and Talley’s Fisheries.

  • Successfully represented Vector in arbitration and on appeal against the Kapuni Mining Companies relating to Vector’s entitlements to gas from the Kapuni gas field, New Zealand’s oldest producing gas and condensate field.

    • Advised participants in the New Zealand seafood industry for over 30 years on a wide range of litigation and public law matters, including assisting with the development and drafting of policy, regulations and legislation

    • Acted on various commercial transactions and public law disputes for most of New Zealand’s largest fishing companies including Sanford, Sealord, Te Oahu Kai Moana and Talley’s Fisheries.

    • Advised the Earthquake Commission (EQC) on the discharge of their statutory natural disaster insurance obligations, including litigation and recovery matters for nearly a decade following the 2010-11 Canterbury earthquakes.

    • Represented various insurers in litigation concerning both claims made against them as insurers (public liability, income protection and health related claims) as well as their corporate litigation.

    • Advised Sovereign on a range of health and disability insurance matters.

Practice areas

Qualifications

LLB Victoria University of Wellington