Areas of Expertise
Public & Employment Law
Administrative Law
Expert advice on all aspects of the law governing the activities of central and local government and other entities exercising public powers. Experienced representation in judicial review proceedings.
Employment law
Expert advice for employees, employers, and unions on employment relations issues. Assistance with internal reviews, investigations and disputes in the employment context such as personal grievances and collective bargaining.
Government Administration
Preparation and presentation of submissions to Select Committees, representation of entities at Select Committee inquiries and general public sector governance matters.
International law
Expert advice and representation in the fields of private and public international law. Member of the List of Counsel at the International Criminal Court.
Independent Investigations & Reviews
Experience in undertaking independent investigations and reviews of government organisations, companies or other organisations. Provision of an independent, objective and tailored service to the matter at hand.
Local Government Law
Specialist advice on all local government legislation and activities including public works, the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act, council infrastructure projects, council controlled organisations, bylaws and regulatory compliance.
Resource Management Law
Specialist advice for all resource management matters relating to land, freshwater and oceans. Land issues covering land use, development and subdivision. Experienced advice in regional developments affecting freshwater, and advice in marine ecology and aquaculture.
Taxation Law
Specialist advice on the income tax and GST aspects of business and family transactions. Advice for taxpayers on tax investigations by Inland Revenue. Acting on disputes with Inland Revenue. Appearances in court on tax challenges, judicial review, debt recovery, and prosecutions.
Te Tiriti o Waitangi
Advice and representation in respect of customary rights within a common law, statutory and international context.
Private Law
Civil and commercial Litigation
Experienced advice and representation in civil disputes across all courts and tribunals in New Zealand.
Commercial Arbitration
Expertise in private dispute resolution under the Arbitration Act including construction, contract and valuation disputes.
Company Law
Provision of advice on governance, directors' duties and issues arsing from insolvency.
Insolvency Law
Advice and representation in corporate and personal insolvency matters.
Property law
Advice on property transactions, conveyancing disputes, protecting interests in land, removing caveats, cancelling leases and relief against cancellation other remedies under the Property Law Act 2007.
Relationship Property
Expert advice on relationship properties matters after a relationship break down. Experience in settling disputes of both large estates and small family matters. Provision of an objective and supportive service during a time of great personal stress.
Trust law
Advice to settlors, trustees and beneficiaries on the establishment, administration and termination of trusts, including post-settlement governance entities for Māori iwi. Acting in trust disputes and appearing in court.
Specialist Areas
Aviation Law
Expert advice and representation in the field of domestic and international commercial, public and regulatory law governing aircraft, airports and the carriage of goods and passengers by air.
Charity & Not-for-Profit Law
Advice on the establishment, administration and termination of charities as well as other not-for-profit entities. Experienced representation in Charities Act registration and deregistration appeals. Advice on and appearances in relation to charitable schemes under the Charitable Trusts Act for modification and amalgamation of charitable entities.
Coronial inquests
Representation in coronial inquests and advice relating to the jurisdiction.
Criminal Law
Quality counsel and advocacy on all criminal matters. Assistance from the very beginning right through to trial and appeal. Counsel can appear in matters before the District Court, High Court or International Criminal Court.
Crisis management
Resolution of health and safety, Resource Management, and other regulatory issues with Local & Regional Authorities, Crown Agencies and Government Departments.
FireArms Law
Assistance in permit and licensing matters under the Arms Act 1983.
health and safety
Advice regarding all aspects of health and safety risk and compliance, representation in prosecutions or in respect of enforcement action and investigations undertaken by WorkSafe New Zealand, Maritime New Zealand, Civil Aviation, and the New Zealand Police. In addition, advice in respect of the Transport Accident Investigation Commission investigations.
Maritime law
Expert advice and representation in the field of domestic and international commercial, public and regulatory law governing ships, ports, offshore installations and the carriage of goods by sea, including admiralty law and the law of the sea.
Medico Legal & Health Law
Advice to healthcare providers, regulators and consumers in relation to policies, complaints and representation of clients before the Health and Disability Commissioner, DHBs, registration bodies (such as the Medical Council of New Zealand) and other regulatory organisations.
MILITARY LAW
Superior advice and representation on any matter concerning military justice and discipline, including representation in the Court Martial, as well as military employment law and complaints. Consultant to governments on military justice law reform.