Please note, I am not a legal aid barrister, however i will consider limited legal aid approval for criminal proceeds and some other civil matters. 


A barrister is a court lawyer 
We appear in all courts/tribunals/authorities in NZ
We conduct hearings, trials, appeals, sentencings
We write legal opinions and do legal research 
We also attend important meetings as support persons

SEARCH AND SURVEILLANCE 

I have conducted litigation in relation to search and surveillance in the context of criminal prosecution, criminal proceeds, trust litigation, and in the context of a police killing. 

CIVIL AND CRIMINAL ISSUES RELATING TO ALLEGATIONS OF CLUBS OR GROUPS BEING INVOLVED IN ORGANISED CRIMINAL ACTIVITY 

I have an interest in rights breaches by public agencies, departments, and Police in relation to members of "Outlaw Motorcycle Clubs", but more so the whanau, aiga, or family of these members. The phrases 'gang' or 'outlaw motorcycle club' are not synonymous with 'organised criminal group'. An example of discrimination arising as a result of an association with an alleged 'outlaw' Motorcycle Club, is when a gang member's child is discriminated against (treated differently than other children in the same position) by a public body because of the parent's membership of a gang. 

CIVIL CLAIMS AGAINST THE POLICE

A favourite area of practice!

- Fatal and non-fatal police shootings
- IPCA assistance 
- Privacy Act and OIA breaches
- Breach of Bill of Rights Act, Human Rights Act, Policing Act
- Negligence 
- Misfeasance 
- Test litigation 

Please note, if you have a merited, evidence based criminal complaint against a police officer, please raise this in the first instance with your local police station. Prosecutions for criminal activity are brought by Police and/or the Crown in New Zealand. On occasion, I receive enquiries requesting a private prosecution of a member of the police or a former member of the police. These types of proceedings are rare and expensive. You will need to have significant funding in order to bring a private prosecution. It is helpful for you to have already made a complaint to the police and waited for an outcome as to whether they will prosecute.

FIREARMS 

Criminal and civil issues 
​Licensing issues

TRUST LITIGATION
FAMILY TRUSTS
CHARITABLE TRUSTS

I have assisted with, and led, complex trust matters relating to charitable trusts (religious purpose) and family trusts. 

HIGH PROFILE AND/OR CONTROVERSIAL FAMILY COURT LITIGATION

There have been numerous media reports of my work in the Family Court and High Court relating to challenges to Oranga Tamariki and its evidence. Please review my test litigation page here. Please note, from mid-2023, I will only act in the Family Court on publicly important or high profile or controversial matters. I am an aggressive litigator for a court like the Family Court, and my advocacy tends to suit hard cases. It is NOT a Court that I enjoy being in. I only work in this Court because of the serious need for a different style of advocacy from time to time. 

WHITE COLLAR CRIME AND REGULATORY OFFENCES

I work with a specialist team when it comes to financial crime, money laundering, fraud, and regulatory offences. The team I use has experience with serious fraud, money laundering, fraud, and regulatory defence. 
I am available to assist with investigations by the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA), Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI), WorkSafe, Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment (MBIE), some Inland Revenue investigations (IRD), and investigations brought by the Employment Inspectorate. 
I have a particular interest in DIA investigations in relation to money remitters and alleged offences in relation to AML and FSPs. I have a strong interest in migrant exploitation defences. 
Picture
Legal Award Winners for the APAC region here during 2022

CRIMINAL PROCEEDS (RECOVERY) ACT 2009

An enjoyable and favourite practice area of mine.

Opposition to restraint
Opposition to forfeiture 
Applications for severance of property interests
Applications for exclusion of property on basis of undue hardship 
Judicial Review of Commissioner of Police's and his officers' powers under the Criminal Proceeds regime
Judicial Review of the Official Assignee's powers under the Criminal Proceeds regime

I have represented and/or advised companies, company directors/shareholders, trusts, trustees, beneficiaries, members of motorcycle clubs, innocent family members related to the respondent who have had their own property interests restrained, and of late, children. 

If you have been advised to "just consent" to restraining orders, please contact me for a free second opinion. This area of law has largely suffered from a lack of proper opposition at both the restraint and forfeiture stage. There is much left to explore under this Act and a new generation of barristers, like myself, will fight for your property. 

CIVIL TEST LITIGATION / REFORMATIVE ADVOCACY / CONTROVERSIAL PUBLIC INTEREST LITIGATION

I have conducted controversial test litigation in the Family Court and High Court. I have conducted test litigation under the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act 2009, the Education and Training Act 2020, and the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989. Test litigation enquiries may be in any practice area except immigration, relationship property, and resource management law. 

PROFESSIONAL PROFILES & MEMBERSHIPS
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PROFILES WITH LAW SOCIETY AND BAR ASSOCIATION
New Zealand Law Society website
profile here
​New Zealand Bar Association website
​profile here
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ALLY TO THE LGBTI+ COMMUNITY 

MEMBERSHIPS

New Zealand Bar Association
​New Zealand Criminal Bar Association 
New Zealand Law Society
Auckland District Law Society 
Pacific Island Lawyers Association 

I have appeared in the following Courts and Tribunals to date:
Mental Health Review Tribunal
Family Court
​Employment Relations Authority
Employment Court
Building Disputes Tribunal
District Court
Environment Court
High Court
​Court of Appeal