Partner - Wellington

Sean Kinsler

Sean is a trusted advisor and litigator. He has a stellar reputation for his expert handling of large proceedings and his focussed, practical advice.

Sean is a trusted advisor and litigator. He has a stellar reputation for his expert handling of large proceedings and his focussed, practical advice.

Sean Kinsler

About

Sean has provided advice and advocacy in negotiations and proceedings at all levels of New Zealand’s courts and tribunals and in alternative dispute resolution settings, including judicial review, commercial disputes, Bill of Rights Act 1990 and tort claims against the Crown, disputes involving environment and resource management, and litigation arising from the Crown’s Treaty of Waitangi obligations.

He is a member of the Royal Society of New Zealand, and a former deputy convenor of the New Zealand Law Society’s law reform committee and the Legislation Design Advisory Committee.

Prior to joining MC, Sean was Crown counsel across the tax, commercial and human rights teams at Crown Law. He also worked for the New Zealand Treasury’s commercial transactions group and was the legal advisor to the Cabinet Office in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

Recent Cases & Achievements

Counsel in arbitration proceedings concerning valuation of business losses.

Defence of wide-ranging breach of fiduciary duty proceedings relating to claims for return of former customary Maori land in Auckland.

Defence of proceedings alleging breaches of contract by the Crown.

Defence of JR proceedings challenging central government decision-making in health and law enforcement contexts.

Acted in numerous civil proceedings (tort, BORA, defamation, medico-legal, tax and commercial claims) on behalf of government.

Credentials

Admitted as NZ Barrister and Solicitor, 2008

MA/LLB(Hons), University of Auckland