Geoff Sharp is a commercial mediator working in New Zealand, United Kingdom and the Asia Pacific.
Geoff divides his time between his London and New Zealand mediation practices as well as mediating in Asia.
In 2016/17 he has mediated a number of high-profile London matters including a multibillion-pound class-action and one of the most significant pieces of litigation in the UK for 2016; a five party country to country commercial dispute of political and historical significance, co-mediated with a retired UK Court of Appeal judge; a multimillion pound insolvency litigation; a large fraud case between 13 parties and a Southeast Asian energy infrastructure claim set against a backdrop of litigation and arbitration in Manila, Singapore and London.
Known as a mediator who can connect with parties in conflict, Geoff has been engaged by many of the world’s leading law firms dealing with contentious matters as well as government agencies, including the UK and NZ Governments in 2016.
He mediates across a range of commercial conflicts including infrastructure, construction, intellectual property, technology/telecom/energy sectors, financial, insurance, contractual, shareholder, joint-venture and public sector/governmental matters.
In 2013, 2014 and again in 2015/16, Geoff is included in Who’s Who Legal Global Top 10 Mediators with selection based on independent survey of both general counsel and private practice lawyers worldwide. In 2017 he was named as a Who’s Who Mediation Thought Leader.
As well as being named APAC Insider’s ‘Best Commercial Mediator in the Asia-Pacific’ for 2016 and 2017, he is one of New Zealand’s leading commercial mediators being voted by the legal profession New Zealand Mediator of the Year in the New Zealand Law Awards.
He is honoured to be a past LEADR Fellow and the first Australasian mediator to be elected a Distinguished Fellow of the International Academy of Mediators (USA).
Geoff has been a member of ICC’s Mediation Rules Task Force and for many years on the faculty of the ICC International Commercial Mediation Competition devoted to international commercial mediation and held in Paris every year. He was honoured to mediate the competition final in 2012 (video here).
He is appointed to CEDR’s International Mediator Panel as well as Singapore Mediation Centre’s International Panel of Mediators and is a member of the National Electricity Market of Singapore Dispute Resolution and Compensation Panel.
Prior to committing to a full-time mediation practice a decade ago, Geoff was a litigation partner at Bell Gully, one of New Zealand’s largest national commercial law firms. Before that his early career was in Australia at Mallesons.
He is admitted to the Bar in New Zealand and Australia (Supreme Court of Victoria, High Court of Australia and the Australian Federal Court).
Updated March 2017
Read more and access mediation resources including Geoff’s standard documentation and engagement information here.
Contact Geoff Sharp
Level 1 Solnet House
70 The Terrace
Wellington 6011
Phone: +64 4 499 5395
Mobile: +64 21 629 561
Web: www.geoffsharp.co.nz
geoff.sharp@cliftonchambers.co.nz
International recognition
Top Ten; Who’s Who Global Mediation Thought Leader 2017
Who’s Who Legal 2017
Winner: Best Commercial Mediator in the Asia Pacific Region
APAC Insider Legal Awards in both 2016 and 2017
Geoff is regularly included in Who’s Who Global Top 10 Mediators and is “in high demand for his practice covering the Asia-Pacific region” and “is one of New Zealand’s pre-eminent mediators” possessing “vast experience mediating in Asia and the Middle East”
Who’s Who Legal 2015/16
Clients would go to Geoff Sharp “10 times out of 10”. He has conducted over a thousand mediations in New Zealand and worldwide, and is one of the most highly rated individuals on our international research
Who’s Who Legal 2014
Geoff is “the leading mediator in New Zealand” for many of our respondents. He enjoys an “exceptional reputation” all over the world. Sharp is one of our most highly recommended practitioners
Who’s Who Legal 2013