Victoria Heine
General Background
Victoria has more than 25 years' experience in litigation across a broad range of commercial areas, including contracts, equity, infrastructure and tax. She has led successful cases for a diverse range of clients, including large corporates, state sector agencies, public interest groups, and individuals.
Read More
Many of the cases she has worked on are high-profile and complex. A number have been in new or evolving areas of law, where she has consistently demonstrated her ability to quickly appraise, articulate and apply new and/or untested legal concepts.
Prior to joining the Bar, Victoria was a partner at Chapman Tripp. During that time she served as Board Chair and Deputy Chair and played a pivotal role driving culture change, particularly in issues facing women in the workplace.
Victoria is an approved legal aid provider for civil litigation and for appeals to the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court. She is authorised by the New Zealand Law Society to take direct instructions in appropriate cases.
Experience
Lead counsel for Z Energy Limited in its contractual dispute with Air New Zealand over losses incurred by the airline following the Refinery to Auckland Pipline outage. [2019] NZHC 1187
Lead Counsel for Wellington International Airport Limited in a case brought by the New Zealand Airline Pilots' Association regarding the proposed $350,000 Wellington Airport Extension. [2016] NZHC 1528. [2017] NZCA 27.
Lead counsel in complex litigation arising from the proposed development of Shelly Bay in Wellington. Victoria is acting for kaumātua and other iwi members of Taranaki Whānui ki Te Upoko o Te Ika, who are seeking recovery of land at Shelly Bay that was sold to a developer.
Joint counsel with Justin Smith QC acting for Chorus New Zealand Limited in a case brought by Creative Development Solutions Limited alleging breach of a non-disclosure agreement (Judgment Pending).
Lead counsel for the tax payer in NRS Media Holding Limited v Commissioner of Inland Revenue [2017] NZHC 2978 which concerned the inter-company dividend exception.
Lead counsel for Wellington International Airport Limited in High Court litigation with Land Information New Zealand over land in Miramar, required for Airport expansion.
Lead counsel for a group of iwi who have filed an application in the Māori Land Court requesting that the court exercise its supervisory jurisdiction over “general land owned by Māori” to investigate the voting practices of a settlement trust.
Lead counsel for South Port New Zealand in litigation brought by Invercargill City Council seeking recovery of land owned by South Port on the basis of various equitable claims and/or mistake
Professional Activities
Admitted to the Bar 1993
Russell McVeagh 1993 to 1996
Fulbright Scholar, University of Chicago 1996-1997
Junior Barrister, 1997 to 2002
Partner, Chen Palmer 2002 to 2005
Principal Chapman Tripp 2005 to 2007
Partner Chapman Tripp 2008 to 2017
Thorndon Chambers 2018
Publications and Seminars
Commercial case law update: New Zealand Law Society intensive presenter (2019)
Conflicts of interest: New Zealand Law Society seminar presenter (2018)
Litigating against directors and companies: New Zealand Law Society presenter (2012)
Judicial session: case law update: session chair, Banking and Financial Services Law Association conference (2012)
Cartel criminalisation: panel speaker Competition Law and Policy Institute of New Zealand conference)
State intrusion into commercial law: speaker, Banking and Financial Services Law Association conference (2012)
Regulating utilities: current issues: New Zealand Law Society seminar presenter (2003)
Confidential information: NZLS seminar presenter (2002)
Qualifications
LLM, University of Chicago Law School
LLB Hons (First Class), Victoria University of Wellington
BSc (Biochemistry), Victoria University of Wellington,
Fulbright Scholar, University Senior Scholar, other scholarships and awards
