Albany Lawyers – Five Unusual Types of Cases

Law firms in Albany are hired for a wide range of cases. Common ones are property transactions, family law issues like separation or child custody, commercial work, disputes, and litigation. These are the bread and butter of legal life on the North Shore of Auckland. However, there are frequently more unusual cases that they encounter. Below we look at five types of unusual cases that Albany lawyers might handle.

 

1. Digital Assets and Cryptocurrencies

As cryptocurrencies become more widely held, there is inevitably an increase in disputes about them. Some of these will be relationship related for example, in a divorce, who owns them? Inheritance is another increasingly common issue. How are they divided or are they liquidated into the estate?

 

Another issue with inheritance is how to access digital wallets.

 

Inevitably, fraud is a growing problem. Even experienced crypto traders can be caught in scams or fraud.

 

These can be extremely difficult needing an understanding of both technology and the evolving legal landscape around digital assets. However, some Albany lawyers are adding crypto experience to their service roster.

 

2. Tikanga Māori Customary Law Cases

Maori customer law cases are a difficult aspect of the legal field. They require lawyers who have specialist knowledge of tikanga Māori (customary law), and an understanding of various Treaty issues.

 

Some examples of cases might be about land disputes, not just between iwi and council or other would-be owners, but also between different iwi.

 

Matters concerning guardianship (Kaitiakitanga) are common. These can involve companies wanting to develop land for commercial purposes which the iwi feels is damaging to the environment. As awareness of environmental issues continues to grow, more cases of this nature occur.

 

Succession is another matter that comes up from time-to-time. These issues are governed by Māori traditions and also New Zealand statutes like Te Ture Whenua Māori Act.

 

Working on this type of case requires cultural sensitivity as well as a deep understanding f the laws, and traditions. It is easy to see why it is a specialised aspect of law.

3. Animal Law – Disputes About Pets

While animal law is a small, niche legal field but is increasingly common.

 

A common problem is animal welfare. Here, a lawyer may be advocating for or defending against animal abuse allegations. These cases can be either criminal or civil law.

 

An increasingly common example is when a couple separates. Who has custody of the pet? This can be a fraught issue between the couple.

 

Other topics include dangerous animals, or livestock trespassing on suburban properties.

4. Neighbourhood Drone Disputes

Drones have become more popular in recent times, for both recreational and commercial use. A number of different legal issues can arise.

 

For example, one party may seek remedy for privacy infringement, trespass, or unauthorised aerial photography. A drone operator might fly over private property without consent.

 

Given the newness of these issues, they are often test cases, or at least on the boundary of privacy and property law which can make them more interesting cases for lawyers in the Albany area.

5. Cross-Border Family Law: International Child Abduction

Auckland has a population from a diverse range of cultures and nationalities. This can lead to various challenges under both New Zealand law, and international legal systems.

 

Cross-border family law cases, such as international child abduction can arise.

 

Whilst these cases are under the Hague Convention, they are inevitably emotionally charged which requires special skills and understanding by the lawyers. However, there is also the legally complexity, requiring coordination with overseas authorities, and lawyers, with the concomitant language barriers. Any Albany lawyer working on such cases requires a thorough understanding of both New Zealand and international law.

 

Summary

These examples demonstrate the diverse and often unconventional nature of legal work for Albany lawyers.

 

They demand that the lawyers involved are adaptable, and are open to learning new legal issues, sometimes at the cutting edge of case law.

 

One law firm that has teams of lawyers will skills across a wide range of different legal issues is McVeagh Fleming. They are in the centre of Albany.