Senior Associate - Auckland
Alec Dawson
About
Alec advises local government and a range of central government departments and agencies on litigation, resource management, criminal, civil and public law matters, and advises private clients on resource management and local government matters. He has appeared on regulatory and criminal matters in the District Court and High Court, at resource consent hearings before Local Authorities, and before the Parole Board for the Department of Corrections. He also acts for the Crown in criminal proceedings.
Before joining MC, Alec worked as a campaigner for an Environmental NGO (the Environmental Investigation Agency) in London, specialising in monitoring and exposing the illegal timber trade. He has also previously worked as a judges’ clerk in the New Zealand Supreme Court and at the New Zealand Law Commission. He graduated with an LLM in Environmental and Energy Law from New York University in 2018.
Recent Cases & Achievements
QLDC v Skyline Enterprises Ltd & others
Advised and appeared for Queenstown Lakes District Council in prosecution of three companies for breaches of the Resource Management Act. Advised on investigation, charging and sentencing.
Coronial Inquest into the Auckland Anniversary Floods and Cyclone Gabrielle
Advised and appeared for Auckland Council in their role assisting the Cornoner on the inquiry following deaths that occured during the extreme weather events in Auckland in early 2023. Assisted in briefing of witnesses and preparing legal submissions.
R v DDL Homes Limited [2023] NZDC 23612
Successful Crown prosecution of building company for violations of the Resource Management Act
Department of Corrections
Advised and appeared for the Department on nationwide review of residential and programme conditions for high risk offenders subject to Parole, Extended Supervision Orders and Returning Offender Orders
Credentials
LLM, New York University (NYU)
LLB/BA/DipGrad, University of Otago