Andrew Grant

LLM – Harvard Law School

BA/LLB (Hons) – University of Auckland

Andrew Grant is a specialist civil and commercial litigator. He has a broad civil practice, with particular expertise in contract, company, tort, property and trusts disputes.

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Andrew has acted as lead counsel in proceedings at all levels of the New Zealand courts system, including the New Zealand Supreme Court. He is regularly instructed on complex trial and appellate matters, as well as to provide specialist advice and advocacy in other forums such as international and domestic arbitrations, specialist tribunals, and mediations.  

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Prior to joining Bankside Chambers, Andrew was an associate at a leading litigation and arbitration firm in New York City, where he regularly acted for clients in New York state and federal court, as well as in international arbitrations under the ICC, UNCITRAL, AAA, ICDR and ICSID Rules of arbitration. He was also a junior barrister at Shortland Chambers, where he acted in commercial disputes together with leading King’s Counsel and other senior barristers.

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Andrew holds an LLM from Harvard Law School, where he received honours grades in multiple commercial litigation papers. He also holds a BA/LLB (Hons) from the University of Auckland, where he was awarded a number of prizes in advocacy, including the Auckland and New Zealand senior mooting championships, the prize for national best speaker, and the award for global best oralist at the Philip C. Jessup International Moot Court Competition in Washington DC.

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Andrew accepts instructions on matters around New Zealand and internationally.  He is a member of Bankside Chambers Singapore, and may also be instructed on international arbitration matters there.

Recent New Zealand cases of significance in which Andrew has acted as counsel include:

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McNamara Farms Limited v Lopez [2026] NZHC 1447(Becroft J) – Sole counsel in first successful High Court application for urgent appointment of receivers under section 61 of the Farm Debt Mediation Act 2019.

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Rahal v Bhargav [2026] NZCA 176 (Palmer, Dunningham and Grice JJ) – Senior counsel in appeal to Court of Appeal regarding proper approach to liability and damages under the Fair Trading Act 1986 for vendors of defective buildings. Also counsel in prior eight-day High Court trial, with Greg Blanchard KC (Bhargav v First Trust Limited [2023] NZHC 1054).

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Young v Xiao [2025] NZHC 3697 (Walker J) – Senior counsel in nine-day High Court defamation trial concerning interaction between political commentary and defamation law.

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Wu v Liu [2025] NZCA 560 (Cooke, Brewer and Harvey JJ) – Senior counsel in appeal to Court of Appeal regarding illegal contracts and restitution issues.  Also senior counsel in prior six-day High Court trial (Wu v Liu [2024] NZHC 2903), and in pending Supreme Court appeal (leave granted in Liu v Wu [2026] NZSC 28).

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Aquita Holdings Limited v Chen [2025] NZHC 3620 (Blanchard J) – Senior counsel in successful opposition to High Court application to modify long-standing easement regarding water take rights.

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Consult Recruitment Limited v Lloyd [2025] NZHC 3940 (Venning J) – Senior counsel in successful High Court application to enforce high-value vendor restraint of trade.

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Madhava Corporation Limited v Austin [2024] NZHC 785 (Andrew J) – Sole counsel in successful defence of High Court appeal regarding sale and purchase of land, and in subsequent successful opposition to application for leave to appeal to the Court of Appeal.

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Mangawhai Developments Limited v Lake View Estate Residents’ Society Inc [2024] NZCA 342 (Mallon, Venning and Fitzgerald JJ) – Counsel in appeal to the Court of Appeal involving contract and Incorporated Societies Act issues.  Also counsel in prior High Court summary judgment application (Mangawhai Developments Limited v Lake View Estate Residents’ Society Inc [2023] NZHC 1628).

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7 Farms Limited v TCD (2015) Ltd [2024] NZHC 1094(Andrew J) – Sole counsel in successful High Court application for variation of prior specific performance order into damages for breach of contract.

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Auckland Council v Ranfurly Village Limited [2024] NZHC 785(O’Gorman J) – Counsel in two-day High Court trial involving public law and regulatory issues, with Russell Bartlett KC.

Doyle’s Guide 2026: Recognised as a Recommended Commercial Litigation and Dispute Resolution Junior Counsel in New Zealand.

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• Hon. Paul R. Heath KC and Andrew Grant “Professional Obligations of Arbitrators” in Matthew Palmer (ed) Professional Responsibility in New Zealand (2nd ed, LexisNexis).
• Property Law Litigation, Seminar for the Law Association, March 2026.
• Recent Supreme Court Trusts Cases, Seminar for Legal Wise Seminars, February 2026.
• Andrew T. Grant “Tannadyce and the Role of Judicial Review in New Zealand Tax Disputes” (2018) 1 New Zealand Law Review 39.
• Andrew T. Grant “An Examination of New Zealand Criminal Appeals to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council 1841-2015” (2016) 27 New Zealand Universities Law Review 438.
• Andrew T. Grant “The Vulnerable Children Act 2014” (2016) 22 Auckland University Law Review 401.