As the owner of Kathmandu and Rip Curl battles a major $414 million loss, its legal fees have surged more than 1,400 per cent with Chapman Tripp pocketing the massive law fees' surge as KMD Brands bleed money.
Two directors have connections to its longstanding legal adviser, raising questions about corporate governance and the management of potential conflicts.
Chapman Tripp received NZ$1.192 million in legal fees from the troubled retailer during the financial year ended July 2026, compared with just $79,000 the previous year, according to financial records from KMD and reported in the Australian Financial Review.
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