Senior Associate - Auckland
Kayla Grant
About
Kayla is an experienced litigator whose practice focusses on public and administrative law. She has appeared before the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, High Court and Māori Land Court, as well as in a range of tribunals and alternative dispute resolution fora.
Kayla specialises in issues at the intersection of public and commercial law. She has acted in a range of judicial review proceedings, spanning from orthodox review of administrative decisions, to cases raising novel public law issues. She regularly represents government departments, Crown entities and commercial clients in cases alleging contractual and tortious breaches, including in complex High Court trials. Her practice comprises both contentious and advisory work.
Before joining MC, Kayla was a judges’ clerk, and worked in the litigation team at another leading New Zealand law firm on a wide range of public law and commercial matters. In 2023 she was awarded the Pegasus Scholarship to work with barristers at leading chambers in London.
Recent Cases & Achievements
Defending the Attorney-General in class action proceedings raising both contractual issues and issues under the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990.
Acting in judicial review proceedings relating to an application for compensation arising from the government’s M.Bovis response under the Biosecurity Act 1993.
Representing the Crown in an appeal on questions of law, raising complex issues regarding the interaction of the law of trespass, tikanga, and the Resource Management Act 1991.
Representing WorkSafe New Zealand in declaratory judgment proceedings on statutory interpretation issues arising from the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015.
Acting in judicial review proceedings raising issues of comity with the legislature.
Credentials
BA/LLB(Hons), University of Auckland
Pegasus Scholar, 2023