Meet the minds of Emily Chambers

Grant Collecutt
Chambers Principal and Senior Court Barrister

ABOUT GRANT

Grant is a senior civil barrister with a particular focus on property, commercial, finance, and trust disputes, and directs chambers with a wealth of experience in commercial litigation and alternative dispute resolution.

Grant thrives on resolving complex contractual disputes and challenging corporate legal issues for clients across Auckland and New Zealand.

First admitted to the Bar in 1988, Grant was a partner at Simpson Dowsett Mackie from 1997 to 2003. He commenced barrister sole work shortly thereafter practising first from O'Connell Chambers in Auckland's prestigious Shortland Street in 2009, then starting Emily Chambers in the Britomart quadrant in 2012.

Grant can be contacted directly on +64 9 308 9919 or +64 21 620 835 and by email at gcollecutt@gmail.com

Warren G C Templeton
Your dedicated Senior Litigator and Advocate

ABOUT WARREN

Warren is an experienced Senior Litigator who has practiced law for over 50 years, having practiced at the Independent Bar and having previously been a Litigation Partner at an Auckland city law firm for over 16 years and decades at the Bar.

He has enjoyed being a regular mentor to younger practitioners for decades.

Due to his extensive legal knowledge, and appellate experience, Warren is frequently retained to appear when cases proceed on appeal at Court of Appeal, Supreme Court and Privy Council level (when that still applied). His experience is over a wide range of subject matters reflecting his significant and diverse experience. He has appeared as counsel at all levels of litigation. Many of his cases are reported in the New Zealand Law Reports as well as other professional publications. He has also been a Cost Reviser for the New Zealand Law Society for over 30 years.

Warren has been involved in various committees of the New Zealand Law Society including Legislation, Law Reform, Family and Public issues as convener and as a member. Warren has also been legal counsel for a number of public bodies including the New Zealand Association for the Blind, and Partially Blind, the New Zealand Nutrition Foundation and as well as presenting papers at numerous legal seminars.

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

• Appellate Advocacy
• Civil and Commercial Litigation, including Contract and Tort Claims
• Company Disputes
• Criminal, Serious Fraud
• Defamation and Media Law
• Family Law
• Mediations
• Military Law
• Property and Land
• Public and Administrative law including Judicial Review
• Professional/Disciplinary Complaints
• Relationship Property Disputes
• Trust and Equity Law
• Wills and Estates including Family Protection and Testamentary Promises

SOME REPORTED CASES AT APPELLATE LEVEL INCLUDING COURT OF APPEAL, SUPREME COURT AND PRIVY COUNCIL

Li v Liu [2019] NZAR 259 (Court of Appeal)
Bayly v Hicks [2013] 2 NZLR 401 (Court of Appeal)
The Attorney General for England and Wales v R [2007] 2 NZLR 347 (Court of Appeal)
Dollars & Sense Finance Ltd v Nathan [2007] 2 NZLR 747 (Court of Appeal)
Potter v Potter [2003] 3 NZLR 145 (Court of Appeal)
The Attorney General for England and Wales v R [2002] 2 NZLR 91 (Court of Appeal)
Pauanui Publishing Ltd v Montgomerie (2004) NZAR 702 (Court of Appeal)
Tram Lease v Croad [2003] 2 NZLR 461 (Court of Appeal)
Adams v R [1999] 3 NZLR 144 (Court of Appeal)
Nash v Nash (1994) NZFLR 921 (Court of Appeal)
Knight v Commissioner of Inland Revenue [1991] 2 NZLR 30 (Court of Appeal)
Orrell v Midas Interior Design Group 4 PRNZ 608 (Court of Appeal)
Money v Ven-Lu-Ree [1988] 2 NZLR 414 (Court of Appeal)
Auckland Acclimatisation Society v Sutton Holdings Limited [1985] 2 NZLR 94 (Court of Appeal)
Dollars & Sense Finance Ltd v Nathan [2008] 2 NZLR 557 (Supreme Court)
Qui v Crown [2008] 1 NZLR 1 (Supreme Court)
Potter v Potter [2005] 2 NZLR 1 (Privy Council)
The Attorney General for England and Wales v R [2004] 2 NZLR 577 (Privy Council)
Money v Ven-Lu-Ree [1989] 3 NZLR 129 (Privy Council)

Warren can be contacted directly on +64 9 309 3713 or by email at wcgtempleton@xtra.co.nz

Roshni Kaur
Our expert in family law

ABOUT ROSHNI

Roshni graduated with a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Otago in 2011 and is a proud 'scarfie' at heart. She then obtained her Master of Laws in 2018 from the University of Auckland, specialising in litigation and alternative dispute resolution.

Roshni is originally from Malaysia, of Punjabi heritage, and speaks four languages.

Roshni grew up travelling and learning about many cultures due to having parents who both worked in the aviation industry. Growing up around various cultures, learning different languages and understanding how people approach conflict has made Roshni have a special interest in alternative dispute resolution and litigation. She is a lead provider of family legal aid services.

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

Family law, including relationship property

• Advising on preparation for mediations, negotiations and Round Table Meetings
• Care and contact arrangements for children, guardianship disputes and other matters involving children under the Care of Children Act 2004
• Preparing agreements before, during and after relationships, facilitating relationship property settlements, assisting to resolve relationship property disputes, spousal maintenance disputes and other matters under the Property (Relationships) Act 1976
• Obtaining dissolutions of marriage under the Family Proceedings Act 1980
• Obtaining or defending protection orders under the Family Violence Act 2018

Civil Law

• Assisting senior counsel with preparing and initiating proceedings at the District Court and High Court
• Interviewing clients, attending Mediations, Negotiations, Case Management Conferences
• Court appearances at the District Court, High Court and Court of Appeal
• Facilitating procedure for filing and service of foreign language evidence
• Conducting thorough discovery including seeking information from overseas forums

Qualifications

Master of Laws with Second Class Honours, specialising in Litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution (LLM) – University of Auckland (2018)
Bachelor of Laws (LLB) – University of Otago (2011)
Adjunct Instructor at The College of Law since 2022
Appointed as a lawyer for children within the Family Courts of Auckland and Waitakere (2023)

Roshni can be contacted directly on +64 21 777 176 or by email at roshni@roshnikaur.co.nz

Ryan Marsich

ABOUT RYAN

Ryan is a civil and family barrister with a particular focus on contract, trust, and relationship property disputes. He is a hard working and driven Advocate who delivers pragmatic and solutions-focused advice.

Ryan has appeared in Courts and Tribunals from the District Court up to the Court of Appeal in relation to various legal issues. He has also worked with a number of senior Barristers and leading King's Counsel (as junior counsel) on complex litigation which has added further depth to his knowledge and experience.

Prior to commencing legal practice, Ryan worked in commerce and, on top of his LLB (Hons) (1st class), has a bachelor's degree in accounting. He also maintains an academic interest in the law and has written articles and papers on contemporary legal issues.

Outside the law, Ryan is a musician and an avid music enthusiast. He is a drum tutor (and lead drummer) of a South Auckland based pipe band with a strong community and youth development focus. He is also a former New Zealand Pipe Band Champion.

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

• Preparing, initiating and managing proceedings and appeals in the Family Court, District Court, High Court, and Court of Appeal
• Appearances in the Family Court, District Court, High Court, and Court of Appeal
• Preparing for and attending mediations and arbitrations
• Preparing relationship property agreements, facilitating relationship property settlements

QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor of Laws (LLB)(Hons)(1st class) - Auckland University of Technology (2021)
Bachelor of Applied Management (Accounting) (BAppMgt) – Northland Polytechnic (2015)

PUBLICATIONS AND AWARDS

Legal Research Foundation Unpublished Postgraduate Student Paper Award (2024)
Commercial Common Sense in Contract Interpretation: Observations on the Court of Appeal in Technix v Fitzroy and The Malthouse v Rangatira — Victoria University of Wellington Law Review (2021)

RECENT NOTABLE CASES

Hair v Cook [2025] NZCA 547 (application for leave to adduce further evidence on appeal)
Tramroad Limited v Guru NZ Forests Limited [2025] NZHC 2167 (application to sustain caveat registered under the Land Transfer Act 2017 pursuant to a contract)
Hair v Cook [2025] NZHC 1679 (appeal of restraining orders under Property (Relationships) Act 1976)
Estate of Kinsella [2025] NZHC 1881 (application to correct a will under the Wills Act 2007)
Na'amanu v Samoan Assemblies of God in New Zealand (Inc) [2024] NZHC 3640 (applications for security for costs, strike out, and joinder in proceedings under the Declaratory Judgments Act 1908 and Judicial Review Procedure Act 2016)
Hair v Cook [2024] NZCA 584 (application for leave to appeal to Court of Appeal)
Wiggins v Wiggins [2024] NZHC 863 (application to refer matter to alternative dispute resolution under the Trusts Act 2019)
Hair v Cook [2024] NZHC 347 (appeal of interim spousal maintenance order under the Family Proceedings Act 1980)
Multimedia Communications Limited v Enable Services Limited [2022] NZHC 3452 (application for leave to appeal the decision of an arbitrator in relation to a contract dispute)
Kōkako Lodge Trust v Auckland Regional Public Health Service & Auckland Council [2022] NZHC 2280 (application for interim orders under the Judicial Review Procedure Act 2016)
Grant (as receiver of Bassett 43 Ltd (in receivership)) v Montgomerie [2022] NZCCLR 28 (Court of Appeal) (appeal of decision declining an application for orders under the Receiverships Act 1993)
Gilchrist v Lyon [2022] NZHC 506 (appeal of an application under the Family Protection Act 1955)

Ryan can be contacted directly on +64 27 224 4918 or by email at ryan@ryanmarsich.co.nz

Stuart Brauninger
Chambers Manager and Litigation Support / Trial Preparation Specialist

ABOUT STUART

Stuart has worked primarily in the legal industry since returning to Auckland from Hamilton in 2011, first under the tutelage of David Smyth and Edward Werry at O'Connell Chambers in Shortland Street before moving over to join Grant Collecutt at Emily Chambers as Chambers Manager in 2014.

CURRENT POSITIONS

Chambers Manager at Emily Chambers
Director at Brauninger & Associates Limited (Litigation Support and Trial Preparation specialists)
Director at E-Consult Limited (Business Consultants)
Director at Citicorp Investments Limited, Citicorp Properties Limited
Director at Grosvenor Capital Limited, Grosvenor Properties Limited, Grosvenor Trustee Services Limited

PROFESSIONAL HISTORY

Stuart initially worked for the National Bank of New Zealand (when he also started his ACA at Auckland University) and then worked with a number of other NZ wide and international companies in various administration, sales and management roles before moving into residential property and owning a number of residential housing companies in Auckland through to 2004.

Moved from Auckland to Hamilton in 2004 to help further the interests of some of the residential property businesses he was involved with.

On his return to Auckland in 2011, Stuart consulted as a litigation support and trial preparation provider to barrister David Smyth (and others) while based at O'Connell Chambers in Auckland's prestigious Shortland Street legal precinct, as well as acting as a professional Liquidator/Receiver. From there, Stuart moved his professional operations to Emily Chambers in Britomart, becoming Chambers Manager and all the while continuing to run his various businesses, primarily his specialist Litigation Support and Trial Preparation firm where he continues to be proud to have been chosen to be a specialist consultant and advisor to some of New Zealand's finest Barristers and KC's.

Stuart is also an expert in all Tribunal matters, from the Disputes and Residential Tenancies Tribunals to running the Auckland branches ERA / Employment related matters along with his counterpart, Yuri Lukas, who is based in both in his own Chambers in Christchurch as well as having a room at Emily Chambers in Auckland.

Stuart can be contacted directly on +64 274 740 681 or by email at stuart@brauninger.co.nz