Sunday, 03 December 2023
KaitaiaWhangareiDargavilleAucklandThamesTaurangaHamiltonWhakataneRotoruaTokoroaTe KuitiTaumarunuiTaupoGisborneNew PlymouthNapierHastingsDannevirkeWhanganuiPalmerston NorthLevinParaparaumuMastertonWellingtonMotuekaNelsonBlenheimWestportReeftonKaikouraGreymouthHokitikaChristchurchAshburtonTimaruWanakaOamaruQueenstownDunedinGoreInvercargill
NZ HeraldThe Northern AdvocateThe Northland AgeThe AucklanderWaikato HeraldBay Of Plenty TimesRotorua Daily PostHawke's Bay TodayWhanganui ChronicleThe Stratford PressManawatu GuardianKapiti NewsHorowhenua ChronicleTe Awamutu CourierVivaEat WellOneRoofDRIVEN Car GuideThe CountryPhoto SalesiHeart RadioRestaurant Hub
Voyager 2023 media awards
Subscribe

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.
Home / Business

Kim Dotcom loses his NZ lawyers

NZ Herald
13 Nov, 2014 01:44 AM3 mins to read
Saveshare

Share this article

facebookcopy linktwitterlinkedinredditemail
Kim Dotcom is looking for new lawyers after a Paul Davison QC and the Simpson Grierson law firm have stepped down from the case. Photo / Getty Images

Kim Dotcom is looking for new lawyers after a Paul Davison QC and the Simpson Grierson law firm have stepped down from the case. Photo / Getty Images

A high profile Queen's Counsel and one of the country's biggest law firms are stepping down from Kim Dotcom's legal team, according to the entrepreneur's United States attorney.

Paul Davison, QC, has been representing Dotcom during attempts by United States authorities to extradite him to face trial on what is alleged be a conspiracy to commit the biggest-ever breach of copyright.

Simpson Grierson partner William Akel has also been acting on the case and fellow partner Tracey Walker was representing Dotcom in a lawsuit he is facing from Hollywood studios.

The firm - one of the biggest in New Zealand which will soon employ former health minister Tony Ryall as head of public policy - were recorded as solicitors for Dotcom in both cases.

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

But the Megaupload founder's US lawyer, Ira Rothken, has tweeted that both Davison and Simpson Grierson are stepping down from Dotcom's legal team.

"They did world class legal work & were great colleagues," Rothken also said in the tweet.

Davison said he was unwilling to comment "beyond that which has already been reported".

Radio New Zealand has reported that Davison confirmed the legal team would seek leave from the courts to withdraw from the case.

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

Davison said to the next hearing in the case was this coming Monday.

A Simpson Grierson spokesman said the firm could not discuss client matters when asked if Rothken's comments were correct.

Rothken followed up by tweeting that he was looking forward to working with "internet guru" Rick Shera from Auckland firm Lowndes Jordan to "help build up the @KimDotcom litigation team in NZ".

He later clarified that Shera was only retained for due diligence to see if the firm could help with the extradition case.

Related articles

New Zealand

Dotcom waits for asset ruling

09 Oct 02:13 AM
New Zealand|Crime

Dotcom must reveal assets

20 Oct 12:03 AM
New Zealand|Crime

No 'air of reality' to claims

21 Oct 04:06 AM
New Zealand

Mona wants ... $23m

24 Oct 04:00 PM

A statement on Lowndes Jordan's website said reports that Shera or the firm was acting for Dotcom were incorrect.

"We do not currently act for Kim Dotcom in any proceedings and nor have we agreed to do so. We filed an affidavit in Mr Dotcom's extradition proceedings last week to this effect and nothing has changed since then," the firm said.

Paul Davison & Simpson Grierson of NZ are stepping down from @KimDotcom legal team. They did world class legal work & were great colleagues.

— Ira Rothken (@rothken) November 12, 2014

We look forward to working with internet law guru @lawgeeknz of Lowndes Jordan to help build up the @KimDotcom litigation team in NZ

— Ira Rothken (@rothken) November 12, 2014

Clarification: @lawgeeknz at Lowndes was retained to do due diligence to see if they can assist and staff the @KimDotcom NZ extradition case

— Ira Rothken (@rothken) November 12, 2014
Saveshare

Share this article

facebookcopy linktwitterlinkedinredditemail

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Business

Premium
Business

Christopher Niesche: Wannabe Aussie first home buyers sailing in troubled waters

03 Dec 03:00 AM
Premium
Business

Sasha Borissenko: Who needs an economy if we burn to the ground?

03 Dec 02:00 AM
Business

KiwiSaver: Early withdrawals double as purses put under strain

03 Dec 01:03 AM
Premium
Business

Ex-Files: 'I've been left off the will'

02 Dec 10:52 PM

Navigating the ‘decade of uncertainty’

sponsored

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Business

Premium
Christopher Niesche: Wannabe Aussie first home buyers sailing in troubled waters

Christopher Niesche: Wannabe Aussie first home buyers sailing in troubled waters

03 Dec 03:00 AM

OPINION: Why home ownership will increasingly be determined by who one's parents are.

Premium
Sasha Borissenko: Who needs an economy if we burn to the ground?

Sasha Borissenko: Who needs an economy if we burn to the ground?

03 Dec 02:00 AM
KiwiSaver: Early withdrawals double as purses put under strain

KiwiSaver: Early withdrawals double as purses put under strain

03 Dec 01:03 AM
Premium
Ex-Files: 'I've been left off the will'

Ex-Files: 'I've been left off the will'

02 Dec 10:52 PM
How to make a win-win-win from waste
sponsored

How to make a win-win-win from waste

About NZMEHelp & SupportContact UsSubscribe to NZ HeraldHouse Rules
Manage Your Print SubscriptionNZ Herald E-EditionAdvertise with NZMEBook Your AdPrivacy Policy
Terms of UseCompetition Terms & ConditionsSubscriptions Terms & Conditions
© Copyright 2023 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP