Helen Smith

Helen has nearly 30 years’ experience as litigator. She is considered, determined, commercial and skilled at cutting through complex issues.
Helen provides specialist advice and advocacy in dispute resolution, civil and commercial litigation, insurance, and construction disputes. She also conducts independent investigations and appears for clients in inquiries and Coronial inquests.

After many years as a skilled mediation advocate, she also trained as a mediator to help people resolve their own disputes. Her focus is mediating civil and commercial disputes. Helen also facilitates negotiations between adversarial parties and expert conferencing.

Before joining Canterbury Chambers in 2024, Helen worked in private practice in New Zealand and local government in London. She was a partner at Duncan Cotterill from 2009 to 2016 and at Simpson Grierson from 2016 to 2024 where she was the firm’s national litigation practice group leader and led the firm’s insurance practice.

Helen is an excellent communicator. She provides clear and considered advice, is highly organised, and proactively seeks solutions. She takes a practical and pragmatic approach, recognising there are different ways to achieve a desired commercial outcome. Clients trust Helen to be in their corner with a plan in place, helping them to navigate risk, resolve disputes and achieve great outcomes.

Expertise

  • Arbitration
  • Building and Construction
  • Competition and Fair Trading
  • Contract, Civil and Commercial Disputes
  • Inquests
  • Inquiries
  • Insurance
  • Mediation
  • Tort
  • Trusts
  • Wills and Estates

Case Highlights

  • Acting for Fire and Emergency New Zealand in the Coronial Inquiry into the 15 March 2019 Masjidain attacks, 2021-current.
  • Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care, 2022: Acting for faith-based organisations including appearing at hearings.
  • Multimedia Communications Ltd v Enable Services Ltd [2021] NZHC 568: Successfully defending an application for an interim injunction seeking to restrain our client from giving effect to a decision not to renew a commercial contract.
  • Acting for a commercial client in a multi-million dollar arbitration involving alleged breaches of contract, tort and the Fair Trading Act 1986.
  • Acting for large corporate clients seeking advice on potential recalls and product liability claims, including those for clients with global operations, providing sensitive and strategic advice and working with technical experts in Europe and the US.
  • Acting for a trustee in a multi-million dollar trust and estate claim defending allegations of fraud and dishonest assistance.
  • Acting for a local authority facing claims arising from damage caused by Cyclone Gabrielle but relating to the exercise of earlier regulatory functions.
  • New Zealand Fire Service (as it then was): Acting in the Coronial Inquiry and Inquest into the deaths of eight people who survived the initial collapse of the CTV building but later died, 2012–2013.
  • Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission of Inquiry, 2011–2012: Acting for engineers, project managers and property owners relating to the Hotel Grand Chancellor, and other buildings which caused loss of life including the CTV building.
  • Acting for professionals facing claims or disciplinary complaints including accountants, architects, auditors, brokers, director, engineers, health professionals, lawyers, project managers, real estate agents and valuers.
  • Acting for entities facing WorkSafe investigations (including those involving workplace fatalities).

Testimonials

“She is pragmatic, cuts to the chase and is a really great communicator.”
Chambers Asia-Pacific Guide 2024, Insurance

“Helen is excellent. You can have confidence that any matter you instruct on will be handled incredibly well.”
Chambers Asia-Pacific Guide 2024, Insurance

“Helen Smith has good relationship with our clients that she acts for -and can handle difficult clients well.”
Legal 500 – Ranked as a Leading Partner, Insurance

Memberships

New Zealand Bar Association
New Zealand Insurance Law Association
AMINZ