Suzanne is a partner focusing on environment, planning & resource management and public law.
Suzanne regularly advises private and public clients on a broad range of environmental issues and has extensive litigation experience, both at council and various court levels. She has particular expertise in obtaining consents and/or designations for large-scale infrastructure projects, and regularly advises on energy, transport, dairy farming, retail, property development and telecommunications issues relating to land use and development.
Suzanne worked for six years as a litigation attorney with Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP, a major USA and international law firm in San Francisco, where she regularly appeared before state and federal courts. She is a trustee of the Sir Edmund Hillary Outdoor Pursuits Centre and assisted with the 2006 establishment of the new OPC marine facility on Great Barrier Island.
She has been described by ALB Guide: Environmental Law 2008 as "invaluable for [her] environmental advice to the telecommunications industry".
Recent experience
Suzanne has advised:
- Fonterra Co-operative Group in relation to consenting and discharge issues at various sites in New Zealand and advising on regional and district planning reviews focused on water allocation and protection
- the NZ Transport Agency (formerly Transit New Zealand) on numerous major roading projects including SH20 Waterview Connection, Wynyard Quarter Plan changes, Waitemata Harbour Crossing, Newmarket Viaduct, Victoria Park Tunnel, Waiouru Peninsula Connection, SH20 Manukau Link, ALPURT Sector B2, and SH20 Mt Roskill, and representing Transit at council, Environment Court and High Court hearings
- The Warehouse on development proposals in the North Island and plan reviews
- clients on environmental due diligences (both purchaser and vendor), including coordinating environmental audits and reviewing relevant contract and warranty provisions, and
- clients on major property developments and pursuing resource consents and plan changes at council and court hearings.