Class actions
David Friar is an Auckland barrister with significant experience in class actions and litigation funding, including proceedings in New Zealand and the United States.
Expertise
David has represented clients in a range of class actions, including:
- Securities class actions
- Consumer class actions
- Financial class actions
He has also represented clients in proceedings challenging litigation funding agreements.
David writes and speaks on class actions and litigation funding. This includes presenting a Legal Research Foundation CLE seminar, an ANZIIF insurance industry presentation, an ADLS CLE seminar, and joining a panel on class actions at a University of Auckland symposium.
What clients say
David “provides excellent advice regarding merits of disputes and strong tactical advice how to navigate disputes”
David is “a very smart guy who gets the complexities of our business and is clear on what we need and how to deliver it”
David ran an “exceptional case”
David is “industrious, committed and clever”
Examples of class action cases
Fullarton v Arowana International
Senior counsel for the promoter and one of its directors defending a multi-million dollar High Court securities class action concerning the public listing of Intueri
High Court Auckland · [2021] NZHC 931 · [2021] NZCCLR 28
Chip N Repair v IAG New Zealand
Senior counsel for IAG defending a proposed class action in the High Court
High Court Auckland · [2022] NZHC 2047
Southern Response Unresolved Claims Group v Southern Response
Junior counsel to Mark O’Brien KC in the High Court and Court of Appeal in a class action brought against the insurer
High Court Christchurch / Court of Appeal · [2017] NZCA 489 · [2016] NZHC 245 · [2016] NZHC 3105
United States class actions
While at Paul Weiss in New York, David acted in a number of class actions in the United States courts, including acting for Mastercard defending an antitrust class action concerning credit card interchange fees
United States courts
Publications
- “Class Actions”, Legal Research Foundation Brown Bag Lunch Seminar ()
- NBR, “With legislation MIA, court steps in to expedite class actions” ()
- Court of Appeal confirms common fund orders can be made at the start of a class action () Legal update
- Submissions to the Rules Committee on Improving Access to Civil Justice (, and )
- Submission to the Law Commission on Class Actions ()
- “Recent Supreme Court decision will change the nature and impact of class actions in New Zealand”, on Ross [2020] NZSC 126, with Scholes, ADLS Law News and interest.co.nz ()
- “Lights, Funding, Action: A Closer Look at Litigation Funding and Class Actions”, with Parlane and Woodhams, ADLS CLE seminar ()
- BusinessDesk, “Court of Appeal judgment further opens class action gates”, on the Ross decision ()
- “Litigation Funding”, ANZIIF Annual Liability Conference ()
- “The Future of Class Actions”, panellist, University of Auckland Symposium ()