Moved to the independent bar in 2015 after ten years of Crown litigation experience.
Curriculum vitae
Employment History and Career Achievements
April 2015 - present • Barrister
Commenced practice at independent bar.
• Acted for WorkSafe New Zealand in prosecution under COVID-19 Public Health Response Act 2020 (December 2021);
• Obtained discharge without conviction for client prosecuted by the Ministry for Primary Industries for offending under the Biosecurity Act 1993 (November 2020);
• Acted for WorkSafe New Zealand in judge alone trial under Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 – WorkSafe New Zealand v Waste Management (NZ) Ltd [2020] NSDC 16319 (July 2020);
• Acted for WorkSafe New Zealand in disputed facts hearing under Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 – WorkSafe New Zealand v Wilson Contractors (2003) Ltd [2020] NZDC 17784 (February 2020);
• Appointed by the High Court as counsel to assist a witness in a murder trial (June 2019);
• Acted for WorkSafe New Zealand in test case on appeal involving novel reparation issues – Oceana Gold (New Zealand) Ltd v WorkSafe New Zealand [2019] NZHC 365, [2019] 3 NZLR 137 (February 2019);
• Obtained discharge without conviction for client prosecuted by the Auckland Council for offending under the Dog Control Act 1996 (August 2018);
• Acted for WorkSafe New Zealand on appeal on question of law – Linfox Logistics (NZ) Ltd v WorkSafe New Zealand [2018] NZHC 2909 (June 2018);
• Obtained discharge without conviction for client prosecuted by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment for offending under the Immigration Act 2009 (March 2018);
• Obtained discharges without conviction for a number of clients prosecuted by the New Zealand Police for offending under the Land Transport Act 1998;
• Acted (as junior counsel to Simon Mount QC) on judicial review proceeding which reached the Supreme Court: Ngai Tai Ki Tamaki Tribal Trust v Minister of Immigration [2017] NZHC 300, [2017] NZAR 485, Ngai Tai Ki Tamaki Tribal Trust v Minister of Conservation [2017] NZCA 613, [2018] 2 NZLR 453, Ngai Tai Ki Tamaki Tribal Trust v Minister of Conservation [2018] NZSC 122, [2019] 1 NZLR 368;
• Acted for WorkSafe New Zealand in judge alone trial under Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992 – WorkSafe New Zealand v Ebert Construction Ltd [2017] NZDC 10880 (May 2017);
• Acted for WorkSafe New Zealand in High Court appeal against conviction for offending under Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992 – Davis v WorkSafe New Zealand [2016] NZHC 348 (February 2016);
• Acted pro bono for Carol Banks against Ports of Auckland Ltd on the controversial extensions to the Bledisloe Wharf into the Waitemata Harbour (May 2015);
• Acted pro bono on an urgent judicial review and interim orders application for two New Zealand representative kayakers against their national sporting body - Quickenden & Fitzgerald v Canoe Racing New Zealand HC Akld CIV 2015-404-939 (May 2015).
March 2005 - 2015 • Meredith Connell
Primary client responsibility for broad range of key Crown clients including Immigration New Zealand, Police (civil matters), Department of Corrections, Department of Internal Affairs, Department of Conservation, Ministry for Primary Industries from 2010-2015
Proven excellence in client management and development along with leadership within the firm was recognised in elevation to partnership in 2013
Experience in significant and important litigation, eg:.
• Junior counsel in the prosecution of Taito Philip Field from 2008 – 2010, strategically project managed this large and difficult file through a 14 week High Court trial and subsequently, the Court of Appeal
• Operation Keppel – had primary responsibility for this murder file where the accused eventually pleaded guilty shortly before trial, following a lengthy and painstaking investigation. Provided urgent advice and assistance to the Police on a regular basis. Received a District Commander’s commendation as part of the Police team.
Comfortable with handling cases with a high level of media interest – for example the sentencing of Evans Mott for assisting suicide in 2012 and the prosecution of Davina Murray for delivering contraband to prisoner Liam Reid in 2013.
Diverse range of litigation experience including leave applications in the Supreme Court, civil and criminal appeals in the Court of Appeal and High Court, High Court and District Court jury trials, substantive judicial review applications, injunction applications, pecuniary penalty order applications, Coroner’s inquests and Tribunal hearings. Over 30 of my cases have been reported (across a wide variety of legal reports including the NZLR, NZAR, DCR, NZELR, FRNZ).
Appointed amicus curiae in High Court judicial review proceedings: K v Family Court at Auckland [2014] NZHC 1076.
Provided litigation training to staff and external parties – faculty at MC litigation skills course and the Court training for DSAC doctors.
Nov 2004 – March 2005 • Shortland Chambers – Junior Barrister
Invited back to Shortland Chambers following a post graduate year undertaking a Bachelor of Civil Law at Oxford University, England.
Nov 2002 – October 2003 • Shortland Chambers – Junior Barrister
Worked closely with a number of barristers including Alan Galbraith QC, Tony Molloy QC, Raynor Asher QC, Bruce Gray QC, Stephen Mills QC, Miriam Dean QC and Matthew Muir QC.
Legal research, drafted pleadings, briefed witnesses, drafted submissions and assisted senior counsel in Court.
Nov 2001 – Dec 2002 • Assistant to Editor of NZ Law Review
Checked articles for accuracy of quotations and references.
August 2002 - December 2002 • Assistant to Editor of New Zealand Journal for Environmental Law
Substantive editing of all articles in the 2003 volume.
Nov 2001 – February 2002 • Chapman Tripp Research Scholarship – Research Assistant
Research Assistant for Lecturers Neil Campbell in Land Law and Peter Sankoff in Criminal Law and Evidence.
Academic Achievements and Awards
2007 • Pegasus Scholar - London
Involved observing and learning from top advocates and Judges – involved sitting with a Judge at the Old Bailey and in the Court of Appeal along with attending the Inner Temple Advocacy Course.
2004 • Oxford University, England – Bachelor of Civil Law (BCL)
Completed masters degree in law – studying evidence, restitution and competition law.
Member of the Oxford University Blue Boat that successfully defeated Cambridge in the Boat Race. Received an Oxford University sporting blue.
2003 • NZ Law Foundation Ethel Benjamin Law Scholarship
2003 • Spencer Mason Travelling Scholarship
2002 • University of Auckland – BSc / LLB (Hons) degree
Awarded the senior prize in Law.