We are delighted to have been ranked Band 1 in the 2026 Chambers and Partners Asia-Pacific and Global Guides for Dispute Resolution: The Bar – New Zealand, marking our sixth consecutive year in the top tier. We congratulate the 13 individually ranked Bankside barristers, recognised for their legal ability, depth of experience, and skilled advocacy.
Bankside continues to stand out for the exceptional quality of its barristers and its depth and breadth of talent. A source notes that, "Bankside Chambers has considerable depth of expertise, particularly in construction and commercial disputes."
Another similarly reports: "I would rate Bankside as having the best depth, across all levels, of any set in New Zealand."
Bankside has also been acknowledged for upholding a tradition of eminence in the alternative dispute resolution sphere, housing leading arbitrators and mediators and maintaining an enduring presence in the arbitration hub of Singapore.
Silks
- Christine Meechan KC: Band 1 for the eighth consecutive year. “Christine is known for her adept management of large and complex pieces of litigation in general, and for expert handling of construction and insurance-related disputes in particular.”
- Tom Weston KC: Band 1 for the fifteenth consecutive year. “Tom Weston KC enjoys a strong reputation for his broad and highly varied commercial litigation practice which incorporates particularly strong construction and trust-related components.”
- Simon Foote KC: Band 2. “Simon Foote KC focuses closely on disputes arising in the construction and engineering spheres, offering extensive experience in the fields of both litigation and international arbitration. He is additionally noted as an accomplished handler of certain classes of criminal cases and complex commercial disputes.”
- Jason Goodall KC: Band 3. “Jason Goodall KC maintains a broad commercial litigation practice, encompassing a substantial body of financial services work and extensive experience before the High Court and the Court of Appeal.”
- Philip Skelton KC: Band 3. “Philip Skelton KC is a vastly experienced barrister who brings over a decade of experience as a partner at a prominent law firm. He is well known for representing clients in sizeable class actions as well as employment disputes.”
- Kelly Quinn KC: New Silks. “Kelly Quinn KC is a leading construction law barrister. A former Crown prosecutor, he also practised law in Hong Kong and has become a trusted and respected advocate.”
- Sarah Jerebine KC: New Silks, following her appointment in October 2025. “Sarah Jerebine KC is well reputed for disputes in the public law sphere, with significant experience advising the Crown.”
- Lady Deborah Chambers KC: maintains her High Net Worth – Spotlight ranking for the fifth consecutive year. “Deborah Chambers KC is widely recognised for her handling of relationship property and trust litigation matters. She is particularly noted for her expertise in high-profile divorce cases, especially those involving multi-jurisdictional aspects.”
Juniors
- Jeremy Johnson: Band 1. “Jeremy Johnson is active in a variety of areas of commercial litigation and arbitration, with expertise across trusts, relationship property and company law.”
- Lauren Lindsay: Band 2. “Lauren Lindsay is noted for simultaneously maintaining busy domestic litigation and international arbitration practices, acting on matters arising from an impressively varied range of business sectors and addressing both complex contractual disputes and criminal cases with significant commercial components.”
- Polly Pope: Band 2. “Polly Pope is an experienced litigator with over 20 years' experience in private practice. She offers particular expertise in insolvency and restructuring.”
- Graeme Christie: Band 3. “Graeme Christie specialises in construction law disputes, bringing to the table over 40 years' experience in the space, acquired largely with leading solicitors' firms in both New Zealand and London.”
- Rebecca Rose: retains her rankings in High Net Worth: The Bar, Tax: The Bar, and Dispute Resolution: The Bar (Band 3). “Rebecca Rose conducts a varied practice, spanning civil, commercial and public law issues, but is particularly well known for her handling of high-stakes cases involving private clients and disputes involving trusts and estates.”
Chambers and Partners provides independent rankings of the world’s leading lawyers, law firms, and chambers, based on legal expertise, client service, and the quality of work delivered. Its rigorous research process includes client interviews, peer feedback, and detailed analysis.
We would like to thank all our clients who participated in the 2026 Chambers and Partners research process for their ongoing support.
Further Reading
Read the Bankside Chambers Review
Comment