The Best Criminal
Lawyers In Christchurch

Rupert Ward Barrister

Rupert is happily married with a family of five children. A New Zealand and Dutch citizen, Mr Ward was educated in Christchurch, New Zealand. He loves Skiing, Tennis and the beach and has developed a 4 acre Historic Canterbury garden. A great grandson of Sir Joseph Ward, a past New Zealand Prime Minister, and a great(x2) nephew of Sir Patrick Jennings, past Premier of New South Wales, Australia, Mr Ward has an abiding interest in New Zealand and Australian history.

In addition to Rupert’s specialisation as one of New Zealand’s most experienced Immigration Lawyers, he uses his business and investment experience to help his clients achieve their objectives in the commercial arena and in family property disputes. Rupert is an active civil and criminal Legal aid provider. Rupert’s criminal practice demonstrates a particular interest in young offenders. Rupert also holds a practicing certificate as a Barrister in Queensland, Australia and is available for instruction regarding New Zealanders facing deportation risk in Queensland*. Possessing a keen social conscience Rupert was a Trustee of the Ka Wahine Trust, which was the only half-way home for freshly released woman prisoners in Canterbury to assist in their reintegration into society.

In addition to his native English, Rupert also speaks Dutch (conversational), French (basic conversational) and German (basic comprehension) languages.

Rupert lived in the United Kingdom, France and the Netherlands whilst living in Europe for over 11 years where he worked in cooperation with Immigration New Zealand and as a trade development officer for the State Government of Queensland. He has worked in various European countries including Germany, Poland, Belgium and Switzerland.

Rupert has travelled to many Asian countries including Malaysia, Singapore, Japan, Thailand, China, Indonesia, India and the Middle East and Fiji.

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Andrew Bailey Barrister

Andrew Bailey (LLB, BCom) is a dedicated independent barrister with an innovative, strategic and effective practice focused on court related litigation. Andrew appears regularly in various courts and statutory bodies and has extensive experience in appellate litigation.

As a criminal defence lawyer, Andrew has represented clients who have found themselves charged with all manner of offences from minor traffic offences to serious offences including class A drug dealing, sexual offences and murder.

Andrew has established himself as a reputable appellate lawyer and regularly appears in all appellate courts. Andrew’s appeal success has extended to having criminal convictions overturned in New Zealand’s highest court the Supreme Court.

Andrew is an experienced, strategic and results driven Barrister specialising in criminal defence work and related areas of practice.

Criminal matters
– Including applications for a discharge without conviction and name suppression.

Criminal appeals
– In all appellate jurisdictions including the Supreme Court.

Extended Supervision Orders
– Applications brought by the Department of Corrections.

Mental Health
– Including applications to be discharged from hospital and representation for applications made for compulsory treatment orders.

Parole Board
– Applications for parole and special conditions relating to extended supervision orders (ESO’s) and variations of release conditions.

Traffic matters
– Including careless driving charges, drink driving, applications to avoid a disqualification and applications for limited/work licences.

Tenancy Tribunal
– Representation for both landlords and tenants.

Judicial Review
– In a variety of areas.

Protection Orders
– Both application for and opposition to.

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Saunders & Co Lawyers

Our Christchurch law firm office is divided into teams.

The Property and Commercial teams deal with residential and commercial land transactions, family trusts, wills and estate planning, tax law, company law, mergers and acquisitions, intellectual property, commercial financing, and complex land development projects.

Our Litigation team deals with proceedings in all Courts and Tribunals, including insolvency, employment law, insurance law, criminal and family law, traffic offences, complex contractual and liability litigation. We also have specialists in family law, relationship property, and immigration.

Our main CBD office is situated at 131 Victoria Street, Christchurch and we also have fully staffed offices at Bishopdale, Ferrymead and Wigram In August 2017 the Ferrymead office relocated to 987 Ferry Road. The majority of the partners practise from the main office and partners are also located at each of the branches.

Saunders & Co has a broad range of clients, ranging from private individuals and families through to large companies, statutory bodies and local iwi.

Saunders & Co is mindful of allowing community and not for profit organisations to access quality advice and skills that would otherwise be unaffordable or a significant drain on their resources.

We support the following organisations in a number of ways including pro bono or discounted legal advice, board representation, and advocacy:

– Nurse Maude Association
– Christchurch Football Club Inc
– Waimari Tennis Club Inc
– Bowel & Liver Trust
– Tug Lyttelton Preservation Society Inc
– Repertory Theatre Society
– Malthouse Theatre Trust
– Christchurch Music Theatre Education Trust
– Christchurch Early Intervention Trust
– NZ Mathematics Enrichment Trust
– Bevan Werry Memorial Trust
– Burnside Park Tennis Club
– Christchurch Golf Club
– Crockfords Bridge Club
– Windsor Golf Club
– Just Dollars Trust
– Southern Centre Trust
– Southern Ballet Foundation

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Prime Legal

Prime Legal Limited is an established law firm with five experienced and highly skilled lawyers to assist and represent you in Criminal, Family and Employment Law. We also have Kate our experienced assistant leading our administrative staff. We operate a client-centered model – key to that is taking the worry and stress off you.

Prime Legal Ltd is an established family friendly law firm. Our team is made up of 5 lawyers- not forgetting the office pooches, Olaf and Josie. Our team has a wide skill base so we can cater for your legal needs from cradle to grave. Our legal team are experienced and highly skilled. Because we work as a team, our clients have the benefit of the combined legal experience and knowledge of the whole team. We are client centered- our job is to take the worry and stress off you so you can focus on the good things in life. We are located at 54 Oxford Terrace, Christchurch across the road from the Earthquake Memorial wall along the River Avon. There is parking available down Oxford Terrace.

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Dr Thomas Harré

Thomas Harré is a barrister based in Christchurch, New Zealand. Thomas is a trial and appeals lawyer who can provide representation on the basis of private instructions, or in some cases, legal aid.

Thomas is a specialist in transnational criminal law, particularly in the area of human trafficking. Thomas combines practice with research, and has published and presented widely. He has given advice on issues of forced labour and human trafficking in a number of cases in Southeast Asia, and has consulted to the United Nations.

Thomas is a member of the New Zealand Law Society’s Human Rights and Privacy law reform committee.

Beginning in 2011, Indonesian fishermen from several South Korean foreign charter vessels (FCVs) operating in New Zealand’s waters walked off their vessels citing labour and human rights abuses, as well as illegal fishing practices. This article argues that the level of these abuses meets the criteria for human trafficking for forced labour under domestic and international law.

This paper arises from the observation that in certain Southeast Asian states, governments have failed to harmonise their politico-legal responses to human trafficking as required under the United Nations Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, Arts 6, 9 and 10 and its parent instrument, the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, Arts 7, 13, 26 and 27.

Indonesia has enacted laws which provide mandatory protection for victims of human trafficking. It also has mandatory drug laws which, in some cases, lead to the death penalty. This legislative conflict together with investigative and prosecutorial failure risks the execution of human trafficked victims who are used as drug mules in organized crime.

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Community Law Canterbury

We have a number of ways for you to get free initial legal advice on your situation. Read on to find which best suits you.

At CLC we give advice on a variety of issues every day. We often advise on tenancy issues, family violence, criminal charges, consumer and civil disputes. If you’re unsure if you have a legal issue please get in contact with us, if we can’t help we will direct you to those who can.

Community Law Canterbury is a not-for-profit organisation that works to reduce and remove barriers to the law. We provide accessible, quality legal help to people in Canterbury and the West Coast, who face barriers in accessing justice. Community Law Canterbury offers a general legal advice service, information services, specialist advice, and education services.

We have some services where you can get advice from a lawyer who is experienced in particular areas of law. Including family, employment, ACC, voluntary sector & youth.

The Voluntary Sector Service supports local charities and not-for-profits with their legal needs. Thanks to the support of The Rātā Foundation and donations from clients, the service is able to provide information, education, advice and/or assistance on legal issues relevant to community groups.

We have a team of trained volunteers who can attend Board of Trustee suspension meetings who can go as support to ensure the student has a voice. If you or a child you know has a meeting with the Board of Trustees please call our office as soon as you can.

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Walker Street Chambers

Walker Street Chambers is a leading set of independent barristers located in Christchurch, New Zealand.

Barristers at walker street chambers provide specialist legal services in criminal defence, civil, family, employment, privacy law, resource management, local government and environmental law.

Members are leading lawyers in their fields and represent clients in court proceedings at all levels throughout the country.

Associate members of chambers are new zealand’s pre-eminent forensic and investigative experts, supporting all aspects of legal work.

Dr Anna Sandiford has been a forensic science consultant in New Zealand and the UK for more than two decades. Her company operates by using its extensive national and international networks of experts. She also has extensive case management and review experience and provides guidance across a broad range of forensic expert witness topics.

Through providing advice on a daily basis regarding criminal cases heading to trial and appeal, Anna has gained extensive knowledge in complex, historical and expert-rich cases, having been involved in some of the highest profile cases in New Zealand. She is a member of relevant professional bodies and is therefore governed by Codes of Conduct and Ethics; the duty of the expert witness is to assist the court in an impartial manner with understanding a specialist area of expertise, including the limitations of that expertise. Anna is an author on forensic science including Forensic Science and the Law: a guide for police, lawyers and expert witnesses (2nd ed, 2019).

Anna was a founding Trustee of the New Zealand Public Interest Project and was an invited member of the Expert Advisory Group (EAG) to the Criminal Cases Review Commission and the EAG to the Law Commission’s review into the Criminal Investigations (Bodily Samples) Act 1995. She lectures and presents on forensic science issues throughout the country.

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Ethan Huda Barrister

The focus of my practice is criminal trials and appeals.

I act for people who are about to be or have been charged with violent, sexual and drug offences.

I also act for those who have been convicted and want to appeal against conviction and sentence.

Sometimes, I act for people who want to oppose the making of extended supervision orders (ESOs).

You should instruct me to act for you if you want a lawyer who will focus on the end result and provide a service that will satisfy your individual needs and not a one-size-fits-all service.

I have successfully acted for clients in criminal cases in every court in the country: District Court, High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court.

Notable Cases

X was charged with an offence alleging unlawful sexual connection nearly a decade ago arising from a complaint made a family member. Successfully defended my client in a jury trial.

X was charged with offences alleging that he indecently assaulted a young person arising from complaints made by a family member. Successfully defended my client in a jury trial.

H was charged with murder. The High Court declined to suppression H’s name, address, occupation or identifying particulars.

Successfully appealed the High Court’s decision and ensured my client’s details remained suppressed until the jury’s verdict.

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Oxford Chambers

Welcome to Oxford Chambers, a distinguished hub for barristers located in the heart of Christchurch, New Zealand.

Our close-knit team consists of seven experienced barristers who specialise in criminal and family law. We’re all about working together to offer you the best possible legal support. Passion drives us and our focus is on getting the best outcomes for you.

In criminal law, we have represented clients in all levels of Courts across New Zealand, including the Supreme Court. Our barristers are committed to defending our client’s rights and ensuring they receive a fair trial.

Our experience runs deep, covering a wide range of criminal matters from everyday traffic issues to more serious offences such as drug offences, kidnapping, aggravated robbery, sexual offences, serious violence and beyond.

When it comes to Family Law, we are well-versed in everything from resolving parenting disagreements to navigating Protection Orders and Oranga Tamariki proceedings.

We are proud to mention that three of our members are appointed as Lawyer for Child in the Family Court – a significant role that speaks to our expertise.

Our barristers are skilled negotiators but also have extensive experience in litigation and jury trial work.

At Oxford Chambers, we believe in providing our clients with a high level of service and legal expertise.

Our barristers are available to take instructions nationwide and are committed to providing our clients with practical, cost effective solutions to their legal problems.

If you are looking for expert legal representation in criminal or family law matters, please do not hesitate to contact Antigua Chambers.

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