John Burton, Partner
John runs a corporate law practice, providing pragmatic commercial advice to private sector companies and government agencies. He advises on a broad range of issues, from governance, compliance, procurement to acquisitions. He also drafts and negotiates commercial agreements for different sectors, including telecommunications, IT, health, direct marketing, shipping and exporting.John is a specialist in all aspects of maritime law, with particular knowledge of admiralty practice, ship arrests, groundings, collisions, safe port/berth disputes, cargo recovery claims, ship building and ship repair contracts, ship sale and purchase, salvage and chartering.
John has had legal involvement with all of the major casualties on the New Zealand coast over the last 15 years including Jody F Millennium, Tai Ping, F.V. Kotuku and Rena.
John is a committee member of the Maritime Law Association of Australia and New Zealand, and honorary solicitor to the Wellington Coastguard and Sailability Wellington Charitable Trust.
John is listed in:
- "Great Lawyers" section of the Chief Legal Officer’s Report surveying in-house counsel in New Zealand.
- Maritime Lawyer’s section of "The Best Lawyers Guide" (United States).
- Guide to the World’s Leading Shipping and Maritime Lawyers (United Kingdom).
Areas of expertise:
Commercial and corporate law
Energy law
Insurance law
Litigation and dispute resolution
Maritime law
Public and Administrative law
Background:
L.L.B., University of Canterbury, 1981
Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand, 1982
John joined Izard Weston in 1994, having previously worked in London and
Wellington.
John's Personal Interests:
Keen yachtsman, interested in all things to do with ships and the sea, golf, food and skiing.
