proceeds of crime - test litigation
We love working with, and working for, lawyers and clients who want to build case law in criminal proceeds.
It's an exciting jurisdiction: the odds are against you, legal fees and costs orders are high, the burden of proof is low, and your opponent is a very motivated and well resourced Commissioner of Police and his detectives and investigators throughout New Zealand! And ps: if you win your case in these circumstances, we reckon you should have bragging rights for a few years (max 2 year limit).
We find some lawyers and clients can work with very challenging odds, and some people cannot. Some lawyers will be 'scared' to challenge the police, and some clients fold and have a panic attack at the first letter they receive from the Commissioner's lawyers with a cost threat in it. ps: cost threats in civil are cheap, there's one on every corner usually.
Some people have a stomach for risk, and some people do their best when pushed against the wall. Some people do their best work in the final few hours before that work is due. These are the people we want around us. Street fighters. Calculated risk takers. Courageous people. Heroes basically.
If you want to build some case law with us, and you don't mind an adventure, let us know. And best of all, we don't need to win the case to build and develop the case law. We just need to put our novel arguments forward.
We take a progressive approach to communication with clients and in respect of test litigation in the High Court: If your approach is inconsistent with this, or you are very conservative, you are unlikely to be a 'fit' on our teams.
It's an exciting jurisdiction: the odds are against you, legal fees and costs orders are high, the burden of proof is low, and your opponent is a very motivated and well resourced Commissioner of Police and his detectives and investigators throughout New Zealand! And ps: if you win your case in these circumstances, we reckon you should have bragging rights for a few years (max 2 year limit).
We find some lawyers and clients can work with very challenging odds, and some people cannot. Some lawyers will be 'scared' to challenge the police, and some clients fold and have a panic attack at the first letter they receive from the Commissioner's lawyers with a cost threat in it. ps: cost threats in civil are cheap, there's one on every corner usually.
Some people have a stomach for risk, and some people do their best when pushed against the wall. Some people do their best work in the final few hours before that work is due. These are the people we want around us. Street fighters. Calculated risk takers. Courageous people. Heroes basically.
If you want to build some case law with us, and you don't mind an adventure, let us know. And best of all, we don't need to win the case to build and develop the case law. We just need to put our novel arguments forward.
We take a progressive approach to communication with clients and in respect of test litigation in the High Court: If your approach is inconsistent with this, or you are very conservative, you are unlikely to be a 'fit' on our teams.