Paul has decades of experience as counsel (predominantly as lead counsel) and more recently as arbitrator in general commercial arbitration matters across a wide range of legal issues and subject matter. That experience is all based in jurisdictions that have adopted the UNCITRAL Model Law – New Zealand, Australia or International (Ad hoc).

Paul’s arbitration work is supported by 26 years as counsel at all levels in the New Zealand courts plus appointments in Australia and Fiji. Paul has also worked alongside senior counsel in Hong Kong in an international matter involving publicly listed companies in Hong Kong (and elsewhere) investing in the New Zealand dairy industry.

Paul is a Fellow with CIArb and a number of arbitration institutes worldwide, as well as an arbitration panel member in numerous jurisdictions.

Paul is a highly qualified and experienced commercial and civil mediator who specialises in the resolution of complex multi-party disputes. Paul uses his extensive commercial experience (as director, CEO and company receiver) to assist the parties explore pragmatic, commercial solutions to their disputes.

Paul is active in both traditional one-day mediations (typically litigated disputes) and early facilitated negotiations between commercial parties (whether as mediator or member of a disputes board). Paul has significant first-hand commercial experience of the benefits of early and continuous engagement by either a single mediator or Dispute Board in long-term projects and commercial relationships.

Conflict avoidance techniques and engagements are a specialty of Paul’s and where he spends significant time as a dispute resolution practitioner. Paul has designed a number of dispute avoidance processes for businesses and joint ventures where the parties involved have been at various stages of dispute (from early warning signs through to stalemated boards of directors or shareholders).

Paul’s experience makes him ideally suited for conflict avoidance and corporate diplomacy engagements that require a long-term engagement and the ability to bring together multiple parties and stakeholders to build and maintain strategic relationships and achieve results that are of mutual benefit to all stakeholders.

Early Conflict Resolution Experience

Property Joint Venture

This matter involved a significant property development joint venture involving three large scale residential developments. One of the joint venture parties had development experience and held all the information regarding the development and the finances. The other party had a more senior position in the relationship but was a funder and did not have up to date information on the finances and the state of the developments. The parties’ personal and professional relationships were in conflict. The development work on all three developments had stalled, holding costs were rising and equity was being eroded.

Paul worked with both parties and their legal teams over the course of four months to negotiate a package for the joint venture parties to be able to divide up the properties and any net profit and bring their relationship to an end.

Government Department and Commercial Supplier

This dispute involved a government department who regularly engages with commercial suppliers. The government department and a commercial supplier were in dispute regarding performance of the contract they had entered into. The contract was delayed and there had been a significant price escalation advised by the supplier due to delays.

Six months of negotiations with the parties and their legal teams saw resolution on the termination of the supply contract and agreement on the remuneration both would receive as a consequence of termination.

Shareholders Disputes

Paul has worked on several shareholder disputes which typically take two main forms:

• Work with the shareholders over an extended period to help them improve their relationship to the point that they can continue in business together. Some of these engagements are 12 months to two years in duration; or
• Work with shareholders who are unable to continue in business together to negotiate termination of the relationship, sale of shares, restraints of trade, disposition of assets etc. These engagements can take anywhere from two weeks to three or four months.

Transborder Public Company Dispute

This dispute involved a publicly listed company in New Zealand and a publicly listed company in California. The parties had a long-term supply and maintenance agreement over which they were in dispute. Both Boards of Directors considered that the only pathway forward was commercial litigation. The first dispute that would need to be determined was around forum: which jurisdiction that litigation should take place in.

Paul spent 12 months working with the Boards of Directors, their senior management teams and their lawyers negotiating for a resolution which would negate the need for litigation (the potential damages claims would run into several million dollars).

After 12 months of negotiations a new supply agreement was negotiated and entered into between the parties. They remain in business together today.

Note: In all the above examples, these matters were resolved without litigation being commenced.

Paul has extensive experience in the marine industry and shipping disputes – from construction disputes through to international ship arrests. This experience ranges from Paul’s early career conducting search and rescue missions or Exclusive Economic Zone patrols in the Royal New Zealand Air Force through to his experience in the finer detail of superyacht construction, chartering and finance work. Paul’s experience also covers matters such as cargo claims, leasing arrangements and international resource disputes – typically involving fishing rights.

Paul also acted as a receiver for Caterpillar Finance (Asia Pacific) on the receivership and sale of an international superyacht business.

Paul has a passion for aviation. In the early stages of his career he was an Orion P3K navigator /tactical co-ordinator in the Royal New Zealand Airforce. It is where he also experienced the law for the first time, acting as witness on the prosecution of numerous fishing vessels caught fishing illegally inside New Zealand’s territorial waters or Exclusive Economic Zone.

Since then, Paul has acted in a wide range of aviation matters from cargo claims through to commercial aircraft accidents and personal injury/fatality claims.

Some specific examples of Paul's aviation experience are highlighted below.

• Paul acted for IATA for a number of years dealing with a wide range of disputes involving international travel and related issues under the Warsaw Convention.
• Acting on a wide range of commercial issues for several airlines including Air New Zealand, Singapore Airlines, Ansett Australia and Air Pacific. This work included cargo claims, cartel allegations, maintenance and refit issues (including product failure), engineering defects, leasing disputes, accidents, solvency events and financing. This work included the Voluntary Administration of Ansett Australia in 2001 and the subsequent recapitalisation of Air New Zealand by the New Zealand government.
• Paul has also acted for secured creditors on several airline receiverships/insolvencies. This work included the seizing of assets (including leased aircraft) located both domestically and internationally.
• Acting for numerous underwriters both in the general aviation market and for international airlines including Air New Zealand, Air Pacific and others. Again, the aviation insurance work undertaken by Paul was wide ranging and included representing insured parties at inquests into aviation fatalities.

Paul’s work has included several aviation disasters, both in New Zealand and internationally. Given his legal and military aviation experience Paul was accepted as an aviation accident investigation officer in New Zealand.

Paul has years of experience acting on complex banking and financial disputes as receiver, counsel or mediator. His receivership work includes acting as receiver of a failed finance company following the 2007 GFC. As counsel he acted on the largest joint venture receivership in New Zealand history – between New Zealand based forestry interests and CITIC in China.

Paul is accustomed to working on matters with complex debt and securitisation issues that need careful analysis, often involving a consortium of banks – both domestic and international – with competing interests or priorities that need to be resolved.

Fintech is a strong interest of Paul’s where he is actively engaged in, and publishing on, the use of arbitration and mediation for the resolution of complex Fintech matters involving smart contracts, cryptocurrency and other distributed ledger technology. 

As with many arbitrators and mediators, Paul has decades of experience in construction, engineering and infrastructure issues. Paul has also acted as counsel on numerous construction disputes (from superyachts through to high-rise buildings) both in the courts and in arbitration (international and domestic). Paul acted for the receivers on the receivership of Hartner Construction Ltd in 2000 – at that stage the largest construction company failure in New Zealand.

Paul has also mediated numerous multi-party disputes involving construction, engineering and infrastructure issues. Paul sits on the advisory board of one of New Zealand’s largest infrastructure companies.

Paul is the chairperson of the Master Builders Association Standards Committee – which investigates, hears and determines all disputes regarding registered Master Builders in New Zealand.

Coupled with his marine practice, Paul has a strong interest and experience in the freight and transport sectors. He has been for over a decade now an independent director of New Zealand’s largest family-owned freight business – which has domestic freight, logistics and international freight divisions.

This expertise sees Paul regularly asked to advise on strategic planning initiatives for the future direction of transport, both nationally and internationally, including green initiatives.

Paul has extensive experience in sports law and has represented individuals at an international level in cycling, squash, motor racing and rugby (including All Blacks).

He is the chairperson of the appeals committee for Netball NZ and was an age group adjudicator for Triathlon NZ. Paul has also lectured in sports law at UNITEC Institute of Technology.

Paul is a panel member for the New Zealand Government Sport and Recreation Complaints and Mediation Service

As Arbitrator /neutral / Counsel

Acting as arbitrator in a number of arbitrations under the Arbitration Act 1996 (UK).

Acting as arbitrator in a domestic arbitration under the Arbitration Act 1996 (NZ) regarding a commercial contract dispute. 

Acting as arbitrator in a domestic arbitration under the Arbitration Act 1996 (NZ) regarding a family estate dispute. 

Chairperson of the Registered Master Builders Association of New Zealand complaints committee – 15 hearings conducted and determinations issued in the last 12 months. 

New Zealand Regional Councils – 3 investigations and determinations issued into the conduct of elected officials in the last 12 months. 

Acted as senior counsel in 4 International arbitrations involving disputes over superyacht construction contracts

Lead counsel in a superyacht refit dispute in the Melbourne High Court. 

Lead counsel acting for the Fijian Tax Authority in a transfer pricing claim against Fiji Water (estimated damages $1.6 billion Fijian dollars). 

Lead counsel on numerous disputes for IATA - New Zealand and Pacific islands. 

Lead counsel acting for the receivers of Hartner Construction Limited (at the time the largest construction failure in New Zealand). 

Lead counsel acting for the receivers of Carich Training (largest education provider receivership in New Zealand). 

Junior counsel acting for New Zealand public company in partnership dispute with CITIC ($2.6 billion). 

Junior counsel acting for Air New Zealand on the collapse of Ansett Australia. 

Junior counsel acting on behalf of Tainui - the first Maori land settlement with the New Zealand government – value $170 million. 

Lead and Jr counsel on numerous aviation disasters including loss of Ansett New Zealand Dash-8, Southern Air fatality, Whanganui Aeroworks fatality. 

As Mediator  

Property Joint Venture - This matter involved a significant property development joint venture involving three large scale residential developments.  

Government Department and Commercial Supplier - This dispute involved a government department who regularly engages with commercial suppliers.  

Shareholders Disputes - I have worked on numerous shareholder disputes  

Transborder Public Company Dispute - This dispute involved a publicly listed company in New Zealand and a publicly listed company in California.  

• Independent Arbitrator and Mediator.  
• Commercial Barrister (since 2004). 
• AMINZ Deputy Director of Professional Studies (Mediation). 
• AMINZ Deputy Director of Professional Studies (Arbitration).
• Chairman of the Registered Master Builders Association of New Zealand Code of Conduct Committee. 
• New Zealand Regional Councils – Investigations and determinations on complaints concerning the conduct of elected officials. 
• Resolution Institute Determinative Committee. 
• Resolution Institute Arbitration Subcommittee. 
• Resolution Institute Diversity, Equality and Inclusion Committee. 
• Arbitrators and Mediators Institute of New Zealand – Mediation, Arbitration and Farm Debt Mediation Panels 
• Netball New Zealand disciplinary committee Chairperson. 
• Ministry of Justice Landlord/Tenant Dispute Scheme – Mediation and Arbitration Panels. 
• New Zealand Sport and Recreation Complaints & Mediation Service – Mediation Panel. 
• Maritime Mediation Centre (Athens) – Panel member. 
• Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) - Mediation Panel member. 
• Shanghai Arbitration Commission (SHAC) - Arbitration Panel member.
• London Maritime Arbitration Association (LMAA) - Supporting Member.
• Asian International Arbitration Centre (AIAC) – Panel of Arbitrators & Mediators.
• Independent Director. 

Previous: 

• 2020 - International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), Mediation Competition Adjudicator (Paris).  
• 2019 – International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), Mediation Competition Adjudicator (Melbourne). 
• 2008 – 2018: Company Receiver under the New Zealand Receiverships Act 1993. 
• 2006 – 2008: Managing Director & CEO – Sensation Yachts Group. 
• 1993 – 2004: Litigation Solicitor. 
• 1983 – 1991: Navigator Royal New Zealand Air Force. 
• 2020 - Arbitrators & Mediators Institute of New Zealand (AMINZ) Fellowship – arbitration. 
• 2020 - Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb) Fellowship. 
• 2019 - Arbitrators & Mediators Institute of New Zealand (AMINZ) Fellowship - mediation. 
• 2018 - Harvard Program on Negotiation Advanced Mediation Course - Mediating Complex and Multi- party Disputes. 
• 1995 - University of Auckland, LLB (Hons).  
• 1984 - Queens Commission – Royal New Zealand Air Force. 

• Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, U.K (CIArb) – Fellow.  
• Civil and Commercial - CMC Mediator.
• Arbitrators and Mediators Institute of New Zealand (AMINZ) – Fellow Arbitration & Mediation.  
• Distinguished fellow with International Academy of Mediators (IAM)
• Member of the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA)
• Member of the Dispute Resolution Board Foundation (DRBF)
• Member of International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA)
• Member of Arbitration Ireland 
• Member of the International Bar Association (IBA)
• International Academy of Mediators – Fellow. 
• Resolution Institute – Australasia – Fellow. 
• Prime Disputes London - Fellow. 
• Malaysian Institute of Arbitrators - Fellow. 
• Appointed to Maldives International Arbitration Centre List of Arbitrators. 
• New Zealand Law Society. 
• New Zealand Bar Association. 
• Admitted to practice at the AFIC Court – Kazakhstan.  
• Previously admitted to practice in Fiji - acting on behalf of the Solicitor General. 
• 2021 – NZ Lawyer Most Influential Lawyer Award (change maker category) 
• 2020 - New Zealand Law Awards: Mediator of the Year. 
• 2020 – Prime Dispute “Equality and Diversity Leader Award in Dispute Resolution”. 
• 2019 – Arbitrators and Mediators Institute of New Zealand (AMINZ), Anne Edge Memorial Award for Excellence in Fellowship Examinations.  
• 2019 - Arbitrators and Mediators Institute of New Zealand (AMINZ), Fellowship Mediation Prize for Top marks in Written Examinations. 
• 2019 – New Zealand Awards: Mediator of the Year Finalist. 
• 2019 – LawFuel New Zealand’s 10 Leading Mediators. 
• 1995 – New Zealand Law Society Bar Examinations, First place in Auckland.  
• 1994 – New Zealand National Champion University Witness Examination 

• Author of the country chapter on  Arbitration for New Zealand, Lexology - 2022
• Assistant editor at the Kluwer Mediation Blog.
• 2021 Lexology Getting the Deal Through (Mediation Edition) – New Zealand Chapter. 
• Paul Sills ‘Cognitive Bias in Mediation’ Kluwer Mediation Blog 10 May 2020. 
• Paul Sills, ‘Cognitive Bias in Ethical Decision making’ (2020) 9 JOFOI 1. https://www.fsprivatewealth.com.au/article/cognitive-biases-in-ethical-decision-making-158322443  
• Legalwise Seminars, (New Zealand & Australia). 
• New Zealand Law Society, ‘LawTalk’, (New Zealand Law Society, 2016 - present). Have published a monthly article on ADR in LawTalk since 2016. 
• 2021 - Legalwise Mediation Masterclass – both New Zealand and Australia 
• 2020 – CIArb Mediation Symposium (London) – Workshop on the Evolving Mediator and Cognitive Biases (Plus Plenary Session) 
• 2020 – Paul Sills, ‘Mediation Best Practice Masterclass’ (Presentation for Legalwise Australasia Seminars, April 2020).  
• 2019 - Paul Sills, ‘Mediation Best Practice Masterclass’ (Presentation for Legalwise Australasia Seminars, November 2019).  
• 2019 – Paul Sills, ‘Cognitive Bias in Ethical Decision Making’ (Presentation for the Arbitrators & Mediators Association New Zealand, September 2019).  
• 2019 – Paul Sills, ‘The Influence of the Law regarding Mediation’ (Presentation for the Arbitrators & Mediators Association New Zealand, July 2019).  
• 2019 – Paul Sills, ‘Cognitive Bias in Ethical Decision Making’ (Presentation for Legalwise Australasia Seminars, June 2019).  
• 2018 - Paul Sills, ‘How to get the Best out of the Opportunity’ (Presentation for Lowndes Corporate & Commercial Lawyers, July 2018). 
• 2018 - Paul Sills, ‘Negotiation, Mediation and Dispute Resolution’ (Lecture to the University of Auckland Law School, May 2018).  
• 2016 – Paul Sills, ‘Alternative Dispute Resolution’ (presentation for the Australian National Mediation Conference). 
• 2014 - Paul Sills, ‘Diversity’ (presentation for the Australian National Mediation Conference).