Public Law | Asia-Pacific

Simpson Grierson fields a versatile team that can address the full range of issues faced by public sector bodies at all levels, and is particularly well-known for its unrivalled profile in the local government space. The firm maintains a national presence advising city and regional councils across New Zealand, with offices in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. The team has substantial expertise in the Resource Management Act and funding mechanism matters for key areas such as housing, health and utilities. The practice is highly proficient in legislation, infrastructure and governance matters.

Dentons New Zealand is well regarded for its public law offering, with experience covering the public sector, Crown entities, local authorities and councils, as well as the private sector clients and individuals who engage with these. The firm has particular expertise in handling disputes, compliance issues, judicial review and investigations.

The Russell McVeagh team members act as trusted advisers to private and public sector clients on public law issues, providing a notable depth of knowledge in key infrastructure projects, as well as assisting with legislative and regulatory changes. The firm maintains strong relationships with both government ministries and major players in the energy and aviation sectors. The team often advises companies in regulated industries on their negotiations with government authorities concerning pricing. In addition, the practice boasts expertise in assisting corporations with adapting and responding to legislative changes and regulatory reforms, including through government lobbying and judicial reviews.

The DLA Piper New Zealand team is particularly noted for its experience in acting for local government bodies across the country on both contentious and advisory matters. The team possesses strong expertise across a range of regulatory mandates, often involving privacy and information law issues. In addition, the practice handles governance and compliance issues, as well as judicial reviews and declaratory judgment proceedings.