Pauline is very well known in her specialist field of maritime law and is regarded as a leading lawyer in that area.

Her practice covers the full range of both “wet” and “dry” maritime work including Admiralty litigation, marine and aviation insurance, the international sale and carriage of goods, domestic carriage of goods, the law relating to freight forwarders, charterparty advice and the sale and purchase of vessels.

Pauline’s clients include major marine insurers from both New Zealand and around the world, a number of New Zealand’s major exporting and chartering interests, and a significant number of freight forwarders and carriers, both domestic and multi-national.

She is also regularly instructed by non-marine liability insurers where the claim has maritime aspects, such as claims against yacht and spar designers, ship repairers and builders.

Pauline is named in numerous legal guides, including the Guides to the World’s Leading Shipping and Maritime Lawyers and to Women in Business Law, Best Lawyers and the Chambers Asia Pacific Guide. She is also admitted to the Supreme Court of Samoa.  In 2016 she was named by Best Lawyers as Auckland Maritime Law’s “Lawyer of the Year”.

Aside from her legal practice Pauline is a director of Insured HQ Limited. She is also Secretary of the Raglan Sailing Club.

“Within the insurance industry, marine insurance is considered a specialist field and Fee Langstone have marine insurance expertise by way of Pauline Davies and senior associate Bradley Alcorn. Pauline Davies has established herself as a leading expert in all matters marine and we seek her advice on all classes including Marine Cargo, Pleasure Craft, Commercial Hull and Marine Liability products.”

“Pauline Davies’ strengths lie in, policy interpretation, recovery action and settlement negotiation. What sets Pauline apart from the others is her ability to articulate complex marine concepts and communicate her response in a way where the insurer is able to understand and in turn relay this information to our end customers.”

“I feel when working with Pauline Davies that we are partners ultimately looking for a solution to a problem if one can be found. Pauline also assists with advice on unique marine underwriting risks and is acknowledged for her expertise and sound interpretation of the Institute Clauses. We feel her skills in marine insurance are unique and if not the top is amongst the top marine legal experts in the marine industry.”

“Pauline Davies is always available and extremely knowledgeable.”

“Pauline Davies is meticulous and considers issues from all possible angles. Her advice is always succinct without sacrificing clarity.”

— Client testimonials, Legal 500 Asia Pacific Rankings 2020/2023

Work highlights

• Lam v Mo [2017] NZHC 997 (professional indemnity claim against solicitor, found not to have been under retainer)

• Milford Helicopters Ltd v Heli Support New Zealand Ltd [2019] NZHC 1615 (successful recovery action against a helicopter repairer, after a crash)

• Glencore Grain v Ship Lancelot V [2015] NZHC 1874 (payment of pre-arrest wages to ship’s crew on humanitarian grounds).

• Svitzer Salvage BV v Z Energy Ltd [2013] NZHC 2584 (charter and salvage issues arising from grounding of MV Rena).

• Schenker AG v Commerce Commission [2013] NZCA 114, (2013) 22 PRNZ 286 (discovery of documents provided to regulator by third party, in confidence).

• GVI Logistics Ltd v Goat NZ Ltd (2011) 9 NZBLC 103,473 (when damage occurs, for purposes of demarcation between domestic and international transport liability regimes).

• QBE Insurance (International) Ltd v Jaggar [2007] 2 NZLR 336 (CA) (non-disclosure, materiality, information in public domain).

• Keybank National Association v The Ship “Blaze” [2007] 2 NZLR 271 (priorities – US registered mortgage, competing NZ registered security interest).

• Read the latest industry news from Pauline here

Professional associations

• New Zealand Law Society
  

• Maritime Law Association of Australia and New Zealand
  

• Customs Brokers and Freight Forwarders Federation of New Zealand
  

• Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CMILT)

• Member of Shiparrested.com, an international network for the facilitation of fast and efficient arrest or release of ships
  

• Arbitrators and Mediators Institute of New Zealand (AAMINZ)
  

• Adjunct External Fellow, Centre for Maritime Law, National University of Singapore Faculty of Law