David Chisnall

Practice Areas

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​David has a wealth of negotiating experience, including in the highly political Te Tiriti o Waitangi/the Treaty of Waitangi settlement area, and is also the trusted direct New Zealand negotiator for international clients such as Host Hotels & Resorts, the largest hotel accommodation company in the US.

David's strength is to contribute his negotiating and legal experience in a straight forward way to facilitate transactions and obtain commercially valuable outcomes for clients. This is recognised by Asia Law Business who has described him as "client-focused, outcome focused and having vast experience in projects."

David has led external legal teams advising public and private sector clients on many nationally significant projects and joint ventures across various industries, including infrastructure (roading, rail, ports and hydro-schemes), tourism and hospitality, forestry and large-scale development and construction projects.

He is also an expert in Te Tiriti o Waitangi/the Treaty of Waitangi issues, having acted for Ngāi Tahu on its historic Treaty Settlement and as legal advisor to the Government on the "Treelords" Central North Island Forests Settlement.​​