CITY CHAMBERS - Key Persons

Don is one of New Zealand's leading employment lawyers and has practised in this area for approximately 30 years. He was a partner at Simpson Grierson for 10 years (the last 3 years as Head of Litigation) and then co-founded boutique employment law firm SBM Legal, where he served as Managing Partner for 12 years. He joined City Chambers at the start of 2020. Don studied at Auckland University and completed his LLM at the University of London in 1990. He has appeared many times before the Employment Relations Authority and Employment Court, as well as attending countless mediations. However in recent times, much of his time has been spent conducting independent investigations and serving as a private mediator. He also is heavily involved in collective bargaining. Don is also one of New Zealand's leading sports lawyers and directors. He currently Chair's the super rugby club The Blues, he is a long serving director of NZ Cricket (and Chair of its High Performance Committee) and he is also Chair of the Integrity Vetting Panel of World Athletics based in Monaco. He has previously served as a director of Sport NZ, High Performance Sport NZ and was Chair of Netball NZ. Don has also conducted several significant independent reviews on sports related matters. He has also been a director of various commercial entities Don is able to take direct instructions on certain files.

Frances graduated in 2009 from the University of Otago with an LLB / BCom. She was admitted to the bar in the High Court at New Plymouth. Frances began her career in general litigation in Taranaki appearing on a variety of civil, family and criminal law matters. Since 2012 she has focused her practice on criminal law. Frances appears in the District Court and High Courts representing clients on a range of criminal charges. She also represents clients making applications before the Parole Board. In addition to her own client base, Frances appears together with senior counsel where their clients are facing serious charges, particularly allegations of Class A and B drug offending. Frances has a firm but friendly approach with her clients and they appreciate her pragmatic advice. She brings a calm, measured and meticulous approach to every case.

After graduating with a BA, LLB (Hons) from the University of Otago in 2000, Katie worked at Russell McVeagh in Auckland as a civil litigator for three years before travelling and working overseas. After her return to New Zealand, and following a short contract with LeeSalmonLong, Katie joined Meredith Connell in January 2006. There she undertook jury trial work, achieving senior classification in 2009 and becoming an Associate of the firm in 2012. In 2015 Katie and her young family moved to Samoa where Katie was employed as a legal consultant to the Samoan Attorney-General. At the same time Katie was part of the team that successfully bid for the new Manukau Crown Solicitor's warrant. She returned to New Zealand and began working for Kayes Fletcher Walker as a senior Crown prosecutor in October 2015. Katie joined the Independent Bar and became a member of City Chambers in October 2018. Katie specialises in criminal proceeds and money laundering litigation and undertakes criminal and civil litigation at all levels. She has significant experience with criminal and departmental prosecutions, coronial proceedings, non-court investigations and proceedings, judicial reviews and extradition cases. She is a leading litigator in the areas of criminal proceeds, financial crime and pecuniary penalties under the AML/CFT regime. Katie is an approved criminal legal aid lawyer (all levels) and civil legal aid lawyer. She serves on the NZ Bar Association Criminal Committee. She is a member of the Serious Fraud Office prosecution panel.

Tracey acts in criminal and civil cases, specialising in defending clients against criminal and regulatory investigations and prosecutions. Prior to joining the independent bar in 2022, she worked at a top tier boutique litigation firm where she defended clients facing regulatory proceedings involving allegations of complex fraud, breaches of securities legislation, and professional disciplinary issues. She has also acted in a broad range of civil litigation. Tracey began her career as a Judges' Clerk at the High Court, then as a prosecutor in the Crown Specialist Team at Meredith Connell. She led prosecutions on behalf of regulatory bodies such as the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, the New Zealand Customs Service, and Auckland Council. She has also prosecuted a wide range of core criminal offending. Tracey holds a BA/LLB(Hons) from the University of Auckland, graduating as a Senior Scholar from the Faculty of Law, and with Senior Prizes from the Faculty of Arts. She also holds a LLM from Columbia University (specialising in criminal procedure, evidence and constitutional law subjects), graduating as James Kent Scholar (first class honours equivalent). She serves as a member of the ADLS Criminal Law Committee, and speaks conversational Mandarin.