Regulatory &
Prosecutions

Wynn Williams act as both prosecution and defence in all manner of regulatory, professional disciplinary and criminal offences. The combination of our seasoned advocacy skills and our deep understanding of regulatory law has delivered an impressive track record of successful outcomes for our clients, no matter what side of the ledger they fall on.

Our team have long acted for regulatory bodies, including the Commerce Commission, Serious Fraud Office, the Financial Markets Authority, MBIE, various Regional Councils and other local authorities, the Environmental Protection Authority and other specialist regulatory bodies. We have led hundreds of prosecutions against organisations and individuals, and also undertake investigations on behalf of regulators – or provide support and advice to their in-house teams. We lead proceedings on behalf of professional disciplinary bodies, including the New Zealand Law Society, and are regularly involved in significant coronial inquiries. The team is also well known for expertly defending all manner of criminal cases, either by trial or negotiation with prosecuting authorities. We appear regularly in courts and specialist tribunals at all levels within the judicial system.

In these sorts of cases there is often significant public interest, and the reputational stakes can be high. We take particular care in navigating all of our clients through proceedings with sensitivity, pragmatism and determined advocacy.

How we can help

Our team can confidently and effectively advise on matters relating to the following:

  • Regulatory enforcement
  • Investigations
  • Statutory liability
  • Judicial review
  • Disciplinary proceedings
  • Coronial inquiries
  • Criminal offences
  • We have successfully undertaken numerous prosecutions on behalf of local authorities under the Resource Management Act 1991, the Biosecurity Act 1993 and local bylaws, including conducting appellate work in the High Court and Court of Appeal.
  • We have worked with local authorities by providing strategic advice on a broad range of compliance, monitoring and enforcement issues to improve the quality of regulation in line with their specific priorities, whilst maintaining confidence in public communities.
  • We have acted on behalf of the New Zealand Law Society in disciplinary proceedings brought against practitioners in the Lawyers & Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal, including matters of significant public interest.
  • We have represented and advised private clients who have been the subject of regulatory investigations by the Serious Fraud Office, the Financial Markets Authority, the Department of Internal Affairs, the Ministry for Primary Industries and WorkSafe New Zealand.
  • We have acted for institutional clients in various proceedings brought before the Human Rights Review Tribunal and in addressing allegations of historical abuse by employees or agents.
  • We have been appointed to act in numerous coronial inquiries, including those relating to the Christchurch Mosque shootings and the Whakaari / White Island fatalities.
  • We have been appointed as counsel to assist the High Court, Employment Court, Family Court, and Coroner’s Court.
  • We have acted for private clients subject to the full range of criminal charges.

Key Contacts

Joshua Shaw

Partner

Tim McGuigan

Partner

Emma Pairman

Senior Associate

Jasper Fawcett

Senior Associate