Richard Wells

Practice Areas

Richard is a commercial lawyer with broad experience gained from both in-house and private practice roles in several jurisdictions.

He is sought after to help clients establish new ventures, commercialise technology, assess risk, and resolve issues. His experience spans the technology, media and telecommunications, health, privacy, consumer, charitable, and sport sectors.

An expert legal draftsperson and trouble-shooter, Richard assists with issues arising at all stages in a product lifecycle. His wide commercial contracting experience includes procurement, licensing arrangements, research agreements, and commercialisation of new technology and intellectual property both in New Zealand and overseas.

He has helped manage some of the most high-profile data breach and cyber security episodes in New Zealand. He is experienced in all areas of privacy and data protection law and regularly deals with complaints and regulator enquiries, including those brought by the Office of the New Zealand Privacy Commissioner.

Richard’s clients include media organisations including state broadcaster Television New Zealand, the Radio Broadcasters Association, MediaWorks, and leading digital agencies. He advises not-for-profit organisations such as the SPCA and The Lion Foundation. He is also a trusted adviser to several national sporting organisations and is highly regarded for his expertise in relation to Major Events.