Associate - Auckland
Courtney Rutledge
Expertise
About
Courtney is a civil litigator with a focus on estate, relationship property, and trust claims.
Courtney has experience in disputes concerning probate, undue influence, testamentary capacity, validity of wills, Family Protection Act claims, division of relationship property, trusts and the appointment of welfare guardians and property managers under the Protection of Personal and Property Rights Act.
Prior to joining MC, Courtney worked as an employed barrister at a well-regarded High Street chambers. She has appeared in the Family Court, District Court and High Court, and has acted as lead counsel in mediations for estate and relationship property matters.
Alongside her law degree, Courtney has a bachelor of commerce with majors in both accounting and finance. She leverages these skills in disputes with complex financial dimensions.
Recent Cases & Achievements
Mackinnon-Johnson v Clark [2023] NZHC 3819
Appeared as junior counsel successfully defending applications to strike out the plaintiffs’ claims against a solicitor and the administrators of an estate for breach of various duties, solicitor’s negligence, dishonest assistance, and breach of the Fair Trading Act 1986.
Middlemiss v Middlemiss [2023] NZHC 2051
Successful application for the sale of a property under the Property Law Act in circumstances where the plaintiff had been denied access to (and any benefit from) a property that he and his siblings had inherited over 20 years prior.
Kato v Matthes [2018] NZAR 1916
Appeared as junior counsel successfully defending an application to recall grant of letters of administration and to validate a will instruction document.
Credentials
BCom/LLB, University of Auckland