recognised leaders in the development of the law of negligence
Charlotta graduated from the University of Birmingham in 2001. She was admitted as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of England & Wales in 2007 and to the New Zealand Bar in 2011.
Her career began as a litigation assistant at a large UK personal injury practice. After completing her legal studies, as a postgraduate at the University of Central England, she practiced principally in the area of civil litigation, specialising in personal injury and clinical negligence claims.
In 2009 Charlotta moved to New Zealand and joined the predecessor to the current firm. She completed a Masters in Legal Studies with a focus on local government law and is now a litigation specialist managing a diverse range of claims in the Weathertight Homes Tribunal, the District Court and the High Court.
Charlotta was appointed an associate of the firm in 2014.
Climate Change is not "fake news”
High stakes - are you covered?
Double J Smallwoods v Gisborne District Council (HC)
Horwood v Opotiki District Council (HC)
Vieceli v Christchurch City Council (HC)
Gauld v Waimakariri District Council (HC)
Body Corporate 351522 v Queenstown Lakes District Council (HC) 20.3.13
We successfully resisted an application for leave and summary judgment brought by the plaintiff against our client the Whangarei District Council.
As an island nation with a very long coastline we are particularly vulnerable to changes in sea levels.
Climate change will impact on us all and especially on those living and working along the coast.
The skylines of our major cities are dotted with high rise cranes. Major infrastructure and construction works also means major risk.
We successfully defended the council against claims in nuisance and Rylands v Fletcher and although found liable in negligence, it was for only 26% of the amount claimed.
The council successfully defended an application for particular discovery of irrelevant documents.
Contractors have always needed to be aware and take steps to avoid the risks of causing harm to land and property belonging to others.
We successfully argued in the Tribunal that the claimant’s assignment was invalid, its own claim should be reduced by 50% for contributory negligence and the quantum of the claim should be reduced. The net result was the claim was reduced by nearly 60%.
Charlotta Harpur takes five minutes to tell NZ Lawyer Magazine about what appalling issue New Zealand needs to address, and cruising in her 1957 Chevy Bel Air.