Partner - Auckland
Jessica Blythe
Jessica is trusted by government departments with some of their most complex prosecutions and other litigation.
Jessica is trusted by government departments with some of their most complex prosecutions and other litigation.
About
Jessica is an expert in regulatory processes and enforcement, fraud investigation and prosecution, and health and safety law.
A partner in Regulatory Compliance, Jessica leads a highly effective team of trusted and reliable litigators acting mainly for government agencies.
These include the Ministry of Social Development (MSD), the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment, WorkSafe New Zealand, the New Zealand Customs Service, the Department of Corrections , the Department of Internal Affairs and the Ministry for Primary Industries.
Jessica conducts civil litigation and criminal prosecutions in the District and High Courts, and has experience before the Court of Appeal.
Recent Cases & Achievements
R v Golden Grand Trading & Anor
Acted for the Crown in a prosecution brought by MPI against a liquor importer/distributor for importing and selling alcohol without lot codes in breach of the Food Act.
Smith v MSD and NZ Police [2024] NZHC 696
Acted for MSD and NZ Police for the prosecution/sentencing of Smith for a host of fraud offences, including Covid-19 wage subsidy fraud, prosecuted under the Crimes Act.
R v Gill (2024)
Prosecution of a former police officer in the country’s first jury trial for Covid-19 wage subsidy fraud.
R v Anihana [2022] NZDC 6857
Acted for NZ Companies Office and NZ Police in the prosecution and sentencing of Anihana for numerous breaches of the Companies Act 1993 and dishonesty offences under the Crimes Act 1961.
High risk offenders
Regularly advising the Department of Corrections and appearing before the High Court, District Court and Parole Board in respect of some of the country’s most high-risk offenders.
Credentials
Admitted as NZ Barrister and Solicitor, 2008
LLM, University of Toronto
LLB(Hons)/BA, University of Auckland