Senior Associate - Auckland
Milan Djurich
About
Milan specialises in financial markets regulation, acting for the Department of Internal Affairs, Financial Markets Authority and the Reserve Bank of New Zealand. He has particular expertise in civil proceedings and criminal prosecutions brought under the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Act 2009, having acted in a number of significant cases decided under that legislation. He has also advised on, and acted in, cases brought under the Financial Markets Conduct Act 2013.
Milan also acts for a number of professional disciplinary regulators such as the New Zealand Law Society, Real Estate Authority and Teaching Council. In this capacity, he has prosecuted a number of disciplinary matters involving strike-off or cancellation of professional registration. He has also advised on professional disciplinary policy development.
In addition to his regulatory work, Milan frequently undertakes criminal prosecutions and appeals on behalf of the Crown. He has also acted for the Commissioner of Police, the Department of Corrections, and the New Zealand Customs Service, and has provided advice to the Police and other government agencies.
Before joining MC, Milan prosecuted serious crime on behalf of the Crown Solicitor at Manukau in the Manukau District Court and Auckland High Court. He began his career clerking for Justice Doogue in her capacity as Chief District Court Judge, and following her appointment to the High Court.
Recent Cases & Achievements
Reserve Bank of New Zealand v ASB Bank Ltd [2026] NZHC 1537
Acted for the Reserve Bank in civil pecuniary penalty proceedings brought against ASB Bank, which resulted in the largest fine imposed under the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Act 2009.
Department of Internal Affairs v Foster & Milroy 2026 (NZDC)
Acted for the Department of Internal Affairs in the first criminal prosecution of a law firm for breaches of the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Act 2009.
Re Financial Markets Authority [2025] NZHC 2723
Acted for the Financial Markets Authority in a case stated concerning the interpretation of the rules qualifying “eligible investors” as wholesale investors under the Financial Markets Conduct Act 2013.
Department of Internal Affairs v Christchurch Casinos Ltd [2025] NZHC 2933
Department of Internal Affairs v SkyCity Casino Management Ltd [2024] 2781
Acted for the Department of Internal Affairs in civil pecuniary penalty proceedings brought against SkyCity Casino Management Ltd and Christchurch Casinos Ltd under the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Act 2009. Both proceedings resulted in multi-million dollar penalties for multiple contraventions of the Act.
Financial Markets Authority v Rockfort Markets Ltd [2023] NZHC 3210
Acted for the Financial Markets Authority in the first appeal against the cancellation of a derivatives issuer licence.
Financial Markets Authority v Tiger Brokers (NZ) Ltd [2022] NZHC 1625
Acted for the Financial Markets Authority in civil pecuniary penalty proceedings brought against Tiger Brokers (New Zealand) Ltd under the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Act 2009.
Credentials
LLB(Hons)/BCom/DipLang, University of Auckland