Nura Taefi

Profile

Nura is an experienced civil lawyer. She deals with complex and novel legal problems across a range of areas. Her areas of practice include commercial law, intellectual property, trusts, estates, human rights, professional negligence, and relationship property matters.


Nura is recognised by the Legal 500 Asia-Pacific New Zealand directory as a tier one barrister sole for commercial disputes. She appears in the courts at all levels – ranging from specialist tribunals to the Supreme Court. She receives instructions to act for individuals, companies, public bodies, and as counsel to assist the courts.


Nura also works as an independent investigator and represents parties in investigations and inquiries. In 2023 she was appointed to the expert investigation panel for the Sport and Recreation Complaints and Mediation Service.


Nura is a member of the New Zealand Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal. She is a member of the New Zealand Bar Association Diversity and Inclusion Committee and supports a number of pro bono initiatives in the community.


Profile

Nura is an experienced civil lawyer. She deals with complex and novel legal problems across a range of areas. Her areas of practice include commercial law, intellectual property, trusts, estates, human rights, professional negligence, and relationship property matters.


Nura is recognised by the Legal 500 Asia-Pacific New Zealand directory as a tier one barrister sole for commercial disputes. She appears in the courts at all levels – ranging from specialist tribunals to the Supreme Court. She receives instructions to act for individuals, companies, public bodies, and as counsel to assist the courts.


Nura also works as an independent investigator and represents parties in investigations and inquiries. In 2023 she was appointed to the expert investigation panel for the Sport and Recreation Complaints and Mediation Service.


Nura is a member of the New Zealand Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal. She is a member of the New Zealand Bar Association Diversity and Inclusion Committee and supports a number of pro bono initiatives in the community.


Profile

Nura is an experienced civil lawyer. She deals with complex and novel legal problems across a range of areas. Her areas of practice include commercial law, intellectual property, trusts, estates, human rights, professional negligence, and relationship property matters.


Nura is recognised by the Legal 500 Asia-Pacific New Zealand directory as a tier one barrister sole for commercial disputes. She appears in the courts at all levels – ranging from specialist tribunals to the Supreme Court. She receives instructions to act for individuals, companies, public bodies, and as counsel to assist the courts.


Nura also works as an independent investigator and represents parties in investigations and inquiries. In 2023 she was appointed to the expert investigation panel for the Sport and Recreation Complaints and Mediation Service.


Nura is a member of the New Zealand Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal. She is a member of the New Zealand Bar Association Diversity and Inclusion Committee and supports a number of pro bono initiatives in the community.


Additional information

Case History
  • Francis and Dalton v Gross (November 2023 – judgment pending) - counsel to assist the Court of Appeal in a case about whether an equitable lien arises in an insolvency context to elevate the interest of unsecured purchasers of portable homes.
  • Mead v Paul [2023] NZSC 70 - landmark decision on the status of non-exclusive relationships under the Property (Relationships) Act 1976. Nura was also lead counsel in the Court of Appeal [2021] NZCA 649 and High Court [2020] NZHC 666.
  • Manuka Honey Appellation Society Incorporated v Australian Manuka Honey Association Limited [2023] NZIPOTM 19 - successful trade mark opposition to a certification mark for MANUKA HONEY. The case raised novel issues about the scope of certification trade marks, and the extent to which the Treaty of Waitangi protects registration of words in Te Re Māori.
  • Re Ŝroubek [2022] NZIPT 600569 – counsel to assist the court in an appeal which raised novel issues of administrative law.  
  • Thompson v Van Wijk [2021] NZHRRT 3 – a case affirming the highest compensation awarded to a victim of sexual harassment in New Zealand.  
  • Martin v Solar Bright Limited (in liq) [2021] NZEmpC 58 and [2021] NZEmpC 207 – counsel to assist the court in a case in involving issues of intellectual property and employment law.
  • Wynyard v Bremner [2020] NZHC 1589 - successful defence of a claim pursuant to the prejudiced shareholder provisions of the Companies Act 1993, Fair Trading Act 1947, and for breach of fiduciary duty.


Documents
  • Francis and Dalton v Gross (November 2023 – judgment pending) - counsel to assist the Court of Appeal in a case about whether an equitable lien arises in an insolvency context to elevate the interest of unsecured purchasers of portable homes.
  • Mead v Paul [2023] NZSC 70 - landmark decision on the status of non-exclusive relationships under the Property (Relationships) Act 1976. Nura was also lead counsel in the Court of Appeal [2021] NZCA 649 and High Court [2020] NZHC 666.
  • Manuka Honey Appellation Society Incorporated v Australian Manuka Honey Association Limited [2023] NZIPOTM 19 - successful trade mark opposition to a certification mark for MANUKA HONEY. The case raised novel issues about the scope of certification trade marks, and the extent to which the Treaty of Waitangi protects registration of words in Te Re Māori.
  • Re Ŝroubek [2022] NZIPT 600569 – counsel to assist the court in an appeal which raised novel issues of administrative law.  
  • Thompson v Van Wijk [2021] NZHRRT 3 – a case affirming the highest compensation awarded to a victim of sexual harassment in New Zealand.  
  • Martin v Solar Bright Limited (in liq) [2021] NZEmpC 58 and [2021] NZEmpC 207 – counsel to assist the court in a case in involving issues of intellectual property and employment law.
  • Wynyard v Bremner [2020] NZHC 1589 - successful defence of a claim pursuant to the prejudiced shareholder provisions of the Companies Act 1993, Fair Trading Act 1947, and for breach of fiduciary duty.


Publications and Seminars
  • NZLS Employment Law Conference “Proceedings in the Human Rights Review Tribunal” (2021)
  • ADLS Seminar “Practical Advice for Managing Discovery” (2019)
  • Legalwise Seminar “Civil Litigators Tool-kit - Interlocutory injunctions” (2019)
  • New Zealand Law Journal “The Uninvited Guest” [2014] NZLJ 364
  • Member of expert panel on girls at Colloquium on Children’s Rights at the University of Geneva (2014)
  • Beyond Harmonisation: The case for a Trans-Tasman Trade Mark Regime 86 IP Forum 11-23 (2011)
  • Chapter on girls’ rights in M Freeman (ed) Children’s Rights: Progress and Perspectives (Martinus Nijhoff, Leiden, 2011)

Professional Activities
  • 2018 – present: Barrister, Shortland Chambers
  • 2015 – 2018: Barrister, Quay Chambers
  • 2012 – 2015: Junior Barrister, Shortland Chambers
  • 2009 – 2012: Solicitor, Kensington Swan
Qualifications

BA/LLB (Auck)

LLM (distinction) (UCL)

Admitted: 2009

Barrister sole: 2012

Nura
Taefi
ntaefi@shortlandchambers.co.nz
+64 21 639 599
+64 9 307 9807
Shortland Chambers