The firm was established in February 2001 with the intention of building a boutique litigation practice
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Stuart Dalzell : Partner
Ph: 027 270 0258
Email: sdalzell@dwlaw.co.nz
Stuart is an experienced civil and commercial litigator with over 25 yearsβ experience in the law, including 10 years as a partner at Dalzell Wollerman (and its predecessor firm).
He has appeared as counsel in a variety of Courts and Tribunals, and on appeal to the Court of Appeal.
Areas of specialisation:
Employment law β works with employer and employee clients on all employment law issues. Stuart is experienced in mediation, the Employment Relations Authority, and has appeared in the Employment Court;
Class actions β Stuart has acted for representative plaintiffs in consumer class action litigation;
Building and construction - extensive experience acting for both plaintiff and defendant parties in leaky building and construction litigation involving claims in contract, negligence, and breach of statutory duties;
Commercial disputes β contract, tort, property/lease disputes, public law and complex commercial disputes; and
Insurance β policy coverage/response, and claims/disputes.
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James Wollerman : Partner
Ph: 021 077 9600
Email: jwollerman@dwlaw.co.nz
James specialises in a wide range of commercial claims, with a focus on construction, insurance and property litigation and dispute resolution.
He has extensive experience acting for both plaintiff and defendant parties in leaky building and construction litigation involving claims in contract, negligence, and breach of statutory duties. This includes acting for large Body Corporates and representative plaintiffs in class action litigation. He acts for clients in a range of property related matters, including residential sale and purchase disputes. He has acted for clients in complex commercial disputes for breach of contract in relation to the manufacture and supply of products and services.
Jamesβ insurance experience covers fire and general, public liability, product liability and professional indemnity disputes.
James is a regular participant at mediation and has appeared in the District and High Courts, Court of Appeal and specialist tribunals. He provides clear and efficient advice and enjoys assisting his clients to achieve successful outcomes to their disputes.
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Dexter Fry : Senior Associate
Ph: 04 494 9056
Email: dfry@dwlaw.co.nz
Dexter joined Dalzell Wollerman in 2019 after completing his LLB/BCom at Victoria University of Wellington.
Dexter has 5+ years of litigation experience in a range of areas including construction, leaky homes and insurance claims, class actions and trust/estate disputes. Dexter has been involved in assisting homeowners, body corporates, construction companies and insurers.
Dexter has appeared in the Court of Appeal, High Court and attended various mediations. Recent highlights include appearing in a 5 month High Court trial and a two-week hearing in the Court of Appeal.
Away from work, Dexter is a keen runner and sports fan with a particular interest in cricket.
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Sophie Barnao : Associate
Ph: 04 494 9062
Email: sbarnao@dwlaw.co.nz
Sophie joined the team at Dalzell Wollerman in March 2021 after completing her LLB/BA at the University of Otago.
Sophie has experience in a range of civil and commercial litigation areas including class actions, construction, insurance, leaky homes and commercial disputes. This often involves claims in contract, negligence, and for breach of statutory duties.
Sophie has assisted with proceedings in the Court of Appeal, High Court and District Court. Recent highlights include appearing in a summary judgment hearing in the High Court relating to alleged breaches of the Construction Contracts Act 2002 and the NZ Standard construction contract β NZS3910.
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Fraser Hallett : Solicitor
Ph: 04 494 9064
Email: fhallett@dwlaw.co.nz
Raised in Wellington, Fraser joined Dalzell Wollerman at the beginning of 2023, after completing an LLB and BCom at Otago University. In his time at the firm, Fraser has gained litigation experience across a range of civil matters, acting for homeowners, insurance companies, and education providers. Fraser has also assisted in the settlement of a high-profile employment dispute, which is an area of particular interest to him.
Fraser is also a keen sportsperson, coaching and playing football throughout his time at university, alongside involvement with the Otago Youth Wellness Trust. In his spare time, Fraser enjoys making music with friends and spending time with family.
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Sujin Jung : Solicitor
Ph: 04 494 9052
Email: sjung@dwlaw.co.nz
Sujin began her legal career in 2022 while she was completing her qualifications at the University of Canterbury. Prior to joining Dalzell Wollerman, Sujin worked at a large New Zealand law firm working across property and commercial law with a strong focus on private clients. Her broad experience in these areas helps her to provide technical and personalised advice to clients. Outside of the office, Sujin likes to spend time with her friends and family - usually by going on long walks or playing golf (when itβs not too windy).
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Emily McLean : Solicitor
Ph: 04 494 9050
Email: emclean@dwlaw.co.nz
Emily joined the team in February 2024, after supporting a commercial in-house team as a law clerk. She graduated with an LLB/BA majoring in Political Science from Victoria University in 2023. Emily has a keen interest in employment law, contractual disputes, and class actions. In her free time she enjoys reading a good book and going to the gym.
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Laura Howell : Law Clerk
Email: lhowell@dwlaw.co.nz
Laura is currently in her fourth year of study towards a LLB/BA in Criminology and Public Policy at Victoria University. She joined the team in mid-2023 and enjoys building her legal experience with the help of passionate people. In her spare time, she likes keeping active and being around friends and family.
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Kerry Goodway : Office Manager
Ph: 021 1254 087
Email: kgoodway@dwlaw.co.nz
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Sophie Conboy : Receptionist / Legal Secretary
Ph: 04 499 0390
Email: sconboy@dwlaw.co.nz
Sophie joined the firm in October 2023 having moved to New Zealand from Ireland. She is currently finishing her own legal studies while gaining invaluable experience in her position at Dalzell Wollerman. In her free time Sophie enjoys running and travelling.