Litigation and Arbitration Services

Seagars provides expert witness and valuation services for legal disputes, arbitration proceedings, and court matters throughout New Zealand. Our experienced registered valuers are skilled in providing independent, professional expert evidence that withstands legal scrutiny.

Our Litigation Expertise

Property Disputes

Expert evidence for:

• Property purchase disputes
• Sale and purchase agreement disputes
• Vendor/purchaser claims
• Property condition disputes
• Disclosure issues

Relationship Property

Valuations for:

• Matrimonial property settlements
• Separation and divorce proceedings
• De facto relationship property
• Contracting out agreements
• Variation of settlements

Partnership and Business Disputes

Expert assessment for:

• Partnership dissolutions
• Business valuations
• Shareholding disputes
• Buy-sell agreements
• Breach of contract

Lease Disputes

Professional evidence regarding:

• Rent review disputes
• Market rent determinations
• Lease renewal terms
• Lease surrender values
• Dilapidation claims

Compulsory Acquisition

Expertise in:

• Public Works Act acquisitions
• Motorway and road takings
• Designation impacts
• Compensation assessments
• Injurious affection

Estate and Trust Matters

Valuations for:

• Contested wills
• Estate distributions
• Trust disputes
• Beneficiary claims
• Executor disputes

Construction and Building Disputes

Assessment of:

• Defective building claims
• Weather tightness issues
• Diminution in value
• Remediation costs
• Loss and damage

Rating and Taxation

Expert evidence for:

• Rating objections
• Council valuations challenges
• Taxation disputes
• IRD matters

Why Choose Seagars for Litigation Services?

Experienced Expert Witnesses

Our valuers bring:

• Extensive court experience
• Expert witness training
• Professional qualifications
• Industry credibility
• Clear communication skills

Independence and Objectivity

As independent valuers, we provide:

• Unbiased opinions
• Professional integrity
• Duty to the court
• Balanced assessments
• Robust evidence

Comprehensive Analysis

Detailed evaluation including:

• Thorough research
• Multiple valuation approaches
• Sensitivity analysis
• Alternative scenarios
• Supporting documentation

Professional Presentation

High-quality deliverables including:

• Expertly written reports
• Clear explanations
• Supporting evidence
• Professional appearance
• Court-ready documentation

Expert Witness Services

Expert Reports

Preparation of comprehensive reports including:

• Instructions received
• Property description
• Market analysis
• Valuation methodology
• Detailed reasoning
• Professional qualifications
• Declaration of independence

Conferences of Experts

Participation in:

• Expert witness conferences
• Joint reports
• Area of agreement/disagreement statements
• Mediation discussions

Court Attendance

Professional testimony including:

• Evidence in chief
• Cross-examination
• Re-examination
• Questions from judge
• Expert witness duties

Alternative Dispute Resolution

Support for:

• Mediation proceedings
• Arbitration hearings
• Expert determination
• Settlement negotiations

Types of Litigation Valuations

Retrospective Valuations

Assessment of value at historical dates for:

• Property purchase disputes
• Estate settlements
• Tax matters
• Compensation claims
• Historical transactions

Current Market Valuations

Assessment of present value for:

• Relationship property settlements
• Partnership dissolutions
• Lease disputes
• Current proceedings

Diminution in Value

Assessment of value loss due to:

• Defects and damage
• Stigma and perception
• Functional obsolescence
• Economic factors
• External impacts

Compensation Assessments

Evaluation of:

• Compulsory acquisition compensation
• Severance and injurious affection
• Disturbance costs
• Professional fees
• Business disruption

Factors in Litigation Valuations

Date of Valuation

Careful assessment of:

• Relevant valuation date
• Market conditions at the time
• Comparable evidence from the period
• Economic factors
• Interest rate environment

Hypothetical Scenarios

Analysis of:

• “But for” situations
• Alternative scenarios
• Comparative assessments
• Best and worst case

Evidence Requirements

Comprehensive documentation including:

• Comparable sales evidence
• Market data
• Expert opinions
• Technical reports
• Supporting documentation

Legal Framework

Understanding of:

• Relevant legislation
• Case law precedents
• Legal principles
• Procedural requirements
• Evidence rules

Common Dispute Scenarios

Purchase Price Disputes

Issues such as:

• Misrepresentation claims
• Disclosure failures
• Condition disputes
• Value disagreements
• Deposit forfeiture

Matrimonial Property

Valuation for:

• Family home division
• Investment property splits
• Business interests
• Debt considerations
• Future maintenance

Commercial Lease Disputes

Contentious matters including:

• Rent review disagreements
• Market rent assessment
• Lease terms interpretation
• Make-good requirements
• Holding over disputes

Compulsory Acquisition

Assessment of:

• Land taken value
• Improvements compensation
• Severance damages
• Injurious affection
• Disturbance and disruption
• Professional fee recovery

Construction Defects

Valuation of:

• Pre-defect value
• Defective state value
• Diminution in value
• Stigma impacts
• Remediation alternatives

Expert Witness Responsibilities

Duty to the Court

Primary obligation to:

• Provide independent opinion
• Assist the court
• Not act as advocate
• Present balanced view
• Acknowledge limitations

Professional Standards

Compliance with:

• Code of Conduct for Expert Witnesses
• Property Institute standards
• Professional ethics
• Court protocols
• Procedural rules

Report Requirements

Expert reports must include:

• Qualifications and experience
• Instructions received
• Facts relied upon
• Opinions and reasoning
• Declaration of truth
• Acknowledgment of duty

Our Litigation Process

1. Initial Briefing

Comprehensive discussion of:

• Matter overview
• Parties involved
• Key issues
• Valuation dates
• Timeline and urgency

2. Instructions

Receipt of formal instructions including:

• Letter of engagement
• Background documents
• Court orders (if applicable)
• Specific questions to address
• Reporting requirements

3. Information Gathering

Collection of relevant material:

• Property information
• Legal documents
• Previous valuations
• Technical reports
• Correspondence
• Historical records

4. Property Inspection

Detailed site assessment:

• Current condition
• Features and improvements
• Constraints and issues
• Photographic record
• Measurements if required

5. Market Research

Comprehensive analysis of:

• Comparable sales
• Market conditions
• Economic factors
• Industry data
• Expert opinions

6. Valuation Analysis

Rigorous assessment including:

• Multiple methodologies
• Sensitivity analysis
• Alternative scenarios
• Peer review
• Quality assurance

7. Report Preparation

Expertly written report including:

• Executive summary
• Instructions
• Property description
• Market analysis
• Valuation methodology
• Detailed reasoning
• Supporting evidence
• Professional qualifications
• Declarations

8. Review and Conference

Participation in:

• Report review
• Expert conferences
• Mediation discussions
• Settlement negotiations

9. Court Attendance

If required:

• Evidence preparation
• Brief of evidence
• Court testimony
• Cross-examination
• Supplementary questions

Evidence and Documentation

Comparable Evidence

Rigorous analysis of:

• Sales evidence from relevant period
• Market data and statistics
• Industry reports
• Economic indicators
• Expert opinions

Technical Reports

Consideration of:

• Building reports
• Engineering assessments
• Quantity surveyor reports
• Environmental assessments
• Geotechnical reports

Historical Research

Investigation of:

• Previous valuations
• Historical sales
• Property records
• Council information
• Archive material

Professional Qualifications

Our litigation valuers possess:

• Registered Valuer status
• Property Institute membership
• University qualifications
• Expert witness training
• Extensive court experience
• Professional indemnity insurance

Areas of New Zealand Covered

Litigation services available:

• Throughout New Zealand
• All court jurisdictions
• Arbitration proceedings
• Tribunal hearings
• Alternative dispute resolution

Typical Timeline

Litigation matters vary significantly:

• Standard expert reports: 2-4 weeks
• Urgent court deadlines: Expedited service available
• Complex matters: 4-6 weeks
• Historical research: Additional time may be required

Confidentiality

We maintain strict:

• Client confidentiality
• Privilege protections
• Secure documentation
• Professional discretion

Fees and Costs

Litigation services typically charged:

• Hourly rates for professional time
• Fixed fees for standard reports (if possible)
• Court attendance fees
• Disbursements for research and travel

Contact Us for Litigation Services

For expert witness and litigation support services:

Phone: 09 377 3033 Email: admin@seagars.co.nz

Our experienced litigation team provides professional, independent expert evidence you can rely on in legal proceedings.

The Seagars Difference

With over 40 years of valuation experience, Seagars has provided expert evidence in hundreds of legal proceedings throughout New Zealand. Our independence, professional integrity, and experience in court matters ensure you receive credible, robust expert evidence that withstands legal scrutiny.

When expert witness services matter, choose Seagars.