Barrister – Environmental and Resource Management Law
Having been privileged to work with a very broad range of clients, I have experience across a range of sectors and specialist technical areas. I have been engaged principally by the developers and operators of infrastructure and other major developments, with some work for iwi, councils and environmental groups.
I have extensive Resource Management Act 1991 experience with airports, ports, roads, electricity generation (hydro, wind, geothermal), telecoms, major residential and retail development, landfills (municipal and industrial), heavy industry and mining (both on-shore and off-shore). I also have experience with rail, solar, gas, agriculture, forestry and water supply matters.
I have undertaken policy and planning work, due diligence and site selection, and matters arising under other legislation including the Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga Act 2014, Public Works Act 1981, Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Act 2011, Conservation Act 1987, Wildlife Act 1953 and the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996.
Previously I was a Consultant with Chapman Tripp (2023 -2024), and was a Partner with that firm in the resource management and environmental team (2007 – 2022). Prior to that I worked at Russell McVeagh, with a short stint as in-house counsel for Auckland International Airport Ltd. More recently I have worked as chair of an expert consenting panel under the COVID-19 Recovery (Fast-Track Consenting) Act 2020, and am currently chairing a panel under the Natural and Built Environment Act 2023.
I am recognised as a leading lawyer by Chambers Asia Pacific 2023 and Chambers Global 2020.
Advice to a major generator in respect of their hydro, geothermal and wind electricity generation assets, as their core external environmental legal provider for over a decade. More recently this included obtaining important variations and extension to lapse dates for wind farm consents.
Most recently I have worked as counsel for territorial authorities impacted by the direct referral of major infrastructure projects, including the District Councils relevant to the notice of requirement for the Ōtaki to North of Levin state highway project, heard by the Environment Court at the end of 2023. Ō2NL is the last section of the Wellington Northern Corridor, being a 24km stretch of new, four-lane, State Highway with cost estimates ranging from $800m to over $1b.
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