David Hoskin

I know that being involved in court proceedings can be a stressful and challenging time for clients, so I take care to guide them through the process with clear and practical advice about what to expect at all times.

I have been practising law for over 30 years, the last 14 of which I have led the litigation team at Steindle Williams Legal, and as a result I bring extensive experience and strong expertise to a wide range of litigation matters.

In civil and commercial law my expertise includes commercial disputes, misrepresentation and other deceptive conduct, injunction proceedings, employment disputes, estate and trust claims, liquidations and bankruptcy proceedings, judicial review proceedings and weathertightness and construction proceedings. I also have extensive experience in alternative dispute resolution such as mediation and expert determination.

Recent civil cases:

2024- 2025

• High Court Family Protection proceedings on behalf of a defendant sole beneficiary of an estate. Claim by plaintiff sibling who was excluded from the Will. Successful settlement negotiated before trial providing for less than 10% of value of estate to plaintiff.

• Acting for a plaintiff in High Court summary proceedings and liquidation proceedings obtaining judgment for principal under loans against principal borrower and guarantor. Negotiated settlement in relation to interest and costs.

• Acting for a company applicant in High Court originating application to set aside statutory demand disputing the terms of a loan contract, leading to negotiated withdrawal of the statutory demand.

• Acting for a development company defending liquidation proceedings, in the context of a Construction Contracts Act claim for several million dollars, application for stay and restraint of advertising and strike out of liquidation proceedings, appeal to the Court of Appeal on High Court originating application, resolution resulting in withdrawal of all proceedings and parties proceeding to arbitration.  

• Acting for a plaintiff successfully obtaining summary judgment in a claim of defamation relating to media publications by a New Zealand media company, securing public apology and costs order.

2022 and prior

• Acting as counsel for a former Chief Financial Officer of a multinational company in high profile High Court proceedings brought against several parties involving allegations of inappropriate accounting. My involvement included a number of complex interlocutory arguments including a successful strike out of a cause of action, preparation for a lengthy High Court trial and participation in mediation just before trial which ultimately led to a settlement being reached.

• Acting as counsel for a large commercial party in an expert determination process involving a significant sum in dispute and multiple issues resulting in an award significantly reducing the quantum claimed.

• Issuing Judicial Review proceedings in the High Court at Wellington for an individual, against the Commissioner of the Inland Revenue due to the Commissioner’s failure to accept the taxpayer’s application for hardship relief in relation to significant tax arrears. Ultimately, the matter was successfully resolved by negotiation.

• Counsel for a manufacturing company in a significant multi-party leaky building claim for alleged negligence and failures in a large apartment development. The proceedings were ultimately settled at mediation prior to trial, to our client’s satisfaction.

• Commercial arbitration proceedings for a commercial tenant against a landlord involving a novel claim for damages for inordinate delay in reconstruction and abatement of rental on behalf of a leaseholder as a result of damage caused in the Christchurch earthquakes.

In criminal law matters, I regularly appear in a full range of criminal courts including the District Court, Youth Court, and High Court conducting criminal defence, including Crimes Act and Misuse of Drugs Act prosecutions, fraud and serious traffic matters. I also appear in the appellate jurisdiction in the High Court and Court of Appeal.

Recent criminal cases:

2024 - 2025

• Successful negotiation in Crown jury trial prosecution for two defendants in the fashion industry charged with serious domestic violence charges against a minor. On sentence successfully obtaining a discharge without conviction and permanent name suppression.

• Acting for a director of two franchise businesses defending an MBIE prosecution for breaches of the Immigration Act and Crimes Act, resulting negotiation of charges before trial. On sentence successfully obtaining a discharge without conviction and permanent name suppression.

• Acting for defendant charged with obtaining by deception and making a false statement alleged as party to a robbery of commercial premises, successfully acquitted after District Court jury trial.

• Acting for a defendant charged as part of a multi-accused drug operation trial charged with supply methamphetamine, participating in a criminal group and perverting the course of justice. Successful negotiation prior to jury trial. On sentence successfully obtaining a discharge without conviction and permanent name suppression.   

• 2023 and prior:

• Acting for a defendant charged with murder obtaining a finding of not guilty by reason of insanity. Successfully obtaining an order for permanent name suppression on appeal to the Court of Appeal.  

• Acting for a defendant in Crown prosecution for reckless driving causing injury, successful negotiation of charge to careless driving causing injury and obtaining discharge without conviction

• Acting for a defendant charged with assaults in a family relationship against her ex-husband and two stepsons. Obtaining interim name suppression to trial. Negotiation of charges before trial. On sentence successfully obtaining discharge without conviction.  

• Lead counsel in a highly publicised murder trial at the Auckland High Court resulting in the client being acquitted by the jury.

• Successful Court of Appeal proceedings halting the extradition of a client to face serious criminal proceedings in Australia.

• Successful stay application permanently halting proceedings for serious historical criminal offending against the client.