Samuel Jeffs

• BCL(Dist) – University of Oxford, 2018
• BA/LLB(Hons) – University of Auckland, 2016

Sam Jeffs is a barrister with a proven track record in substantial commercial and civil disputes. He regularly advises and represents clients in matters concerning high-value contracts, property disputes, construction projects, and trusts and estates. He has appeared at all levels of the New Zealand judicial system including the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court.

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Sam's practice centres on complex commercial and construction disputes, where he has developed substantial experience both as lead counsel and as part of teams led by King's Counsel. His career path, exclusively at the bar, gives him a distinctive perspective as an independent and commercially-minded adviser and advocate.

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In recent years, Sam has established himself as a capable lead counsel. He successfully defended a local authority against proceedings for more than $4 million following a comprehensive two-week trial, represented a commercial property owner awarded damages exceeding $2.7 million against a defaulting purchaser after a three-day hearing, and successfully opposed an interim injunction on jurisdiction grounds in a case with important commercial implications.

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Sam also has experience as junior counsel in major commercial litigation. This includes acting in a $100 million construction dispute during a 13-week arbitral hearing, representing plaintiffs in two class actions involving corporate collapse and allegedly defective building products, assisting a local authority with a $350 million claim against its former insurance broker, and representing parties in trust proceedings involving assets valued in excess of $15 million.

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Beyond pure commercial disputes, Sam has been involved in a range of other matters, including ones involving Māori land law in the Court of Appeal, successful appeals from decisions of the Electricity Authority in the High Court, and proceedings to recover carbon credits misappropriated from an ahu whenua trust.

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Sam is recognised by Doyle's Guide as one of only two pre-eminent junior counsel for construction disputes in New Zealand, reflecting his growing reputation in handling complex commercial matters. He has served on the New Zealand Bar Association's Council and is currently on its Audit, Risk and Governance Committee.

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Sam graduated with a BCL (Distinction) from the University of Oxford after completing BA/LLB(Hons) degrees at the University of Auckland, where he was a Senior Scholar in both Law and Arts. During his studies, Sam won the Stout Shield mooting competition and national competitions for both mooting and witness examination. He represented New Zealand at the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot in Washington, DC, and served as Co-Editor-in-Chief of the Auckland University Law Review.

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Elysian Property Trustee Ltd v Wang [2024] NZHC 3604, [2023] NZHC 1639
Sole counsel for a commercial property owner in a successful claim against a defaulting purchaser, securing damages exceeding $2.7 million following a three-day trial. Sam managed all aspects of this commercial dispute, including successfully obtaining summary judgment on liability and a freezing order earlier in the proceedings.

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Body Corporate 408209 v Queenstown Lakes District Council [2024] NZWHT Auckland 02
Lead counsel for QLDC defending claims exceeding $4 million. Following a two-week trial in which important documents were disclosed by the claimant as a result of cross-examination, the claim was dismissed in its entirety on limitation grounds.

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Foundation Village Ltd v Growing Spaces Ltd [2023] NZHC 2638
Lead counsel successfully opposing an interim injunction that would have compelled a landscaping contractor to provide materials to a development principal, with the Court accepting jurisdictional arguments based on an arbitration clause.

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Haast Energy Trading Ltd v Electricity Authority [2024] NZHC 195
Junior counsel in a successful appeal against decisions of the Electricity Authority relating to scarcity pricing for trading periods affected in August 2021, including securing increased costs against the Authority related to interim relief.

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Re Cryptopia Ltd [2020] NZHC 728
Junior counsel to Peter Watts QC representing 900,000 account holders of a cryptocurrency exchange in a Commonwealth-leading decision establishing cryptocurrencies as property subject to trusts.

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