Career highlights
Advising banks, traders, investors, insurers, and freight companies on economic and financial sanctions-related matters often relating to Russia, Iran, China, Cuba, Myanmar, North Korea, Syria, or Venezuela). We conduct compliance assessments, develop compliance policies, conduct due diligence, help structure low risk transactions and draft law reform submissions. We also represent clients in contentious sanctions cases including Banking Ombudsman Scheme disputes, Human Rights Commission mediations, investigations conducted by the United Nations and the New Zealand, United Kingdom and United States governments, and litigation (including representing the Respondent in Targa Capital Limited v Westpac New Zealand Limited [2023] NZHC 230 and the Defendant in New Zealand Customs Service v Pacific Aerospace Ltd [2018] NZDC 5034).
Advising clients on the regulatory requirements applicable to manufacturers, traders and retailers of various food and feed products, forestry products, medicines and medical devices, natural health products and supplements, chemicals, hazardous substances and waste, fuels, technology electrical and radio equipment. Also advising on the regulatory requirements applicable to providers of sea, air and land transportation and freight services. Assisting clients to obtain regulatory approvals, licensing and registrations. Also assisting them to participate in regulatory investigations conducted by various agencies, including (the Ministry for Primary Industries, New Zealand Food Safety, Environmental Protection Authority and WorkSafe).
Advising traders and trade facilitators on complex customs matters. We are currently assisting four multinationals to bring their cutting-edge technologies to New Zealand by resolving queries relating to: tariff classifications, customs valuations, rules of origin, import restrictions, export controls, refunds and drawbacks, customs administration, bonded warehouses, free trade zones, customs controlled areas, customs broker and freight forwarder relationships. We also represent clients in contentious customs cases before the Customs Service, the Ministry for Primary Industries, and the Environmental Protection Authority.
Securing favourable law and policy reforms for clients. Secured passage of an Amendment Order permitting hazardous waste exports to the United States. Also provided wide-ranging legal, technical, and strategic advice to a telecommunications company seeking Government approval to participate in the development of New Zealand’s 5G network.
Leading a team of five lawyers providing a dairy company with comprehensive advice relating to the procedural, substantive and reputational aspects of a Ministerial Inquiry into a food safety incident. Sarah has been on the Public Service Commission’s Panel of Lead Inquirors since 2020.
Representing manufacturers, exporters, importers and retailers in more than 20 anti-dumping and countervailing duty investigations conducted by the New Zealand, European Union, and United States governments. Also advising clients on related judicial review proceedings. Most recently assisted Lamb Weston and Lamb Weston Meijer to secure the successful termination of New Zealand’s dumping investigation into frozen potato fries and wedges from Belgium and the Netherlands and Roof Tile Group to secure the temporary suspension of anti-dumping duties on aluminium–zinc coated steel from the Republic of Korea.
Advising the United Kingdom Department for International Trade on the UK-New Zealand free trade agreement negotiations and the UK’s negotiations to accede to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership. These ongoing appointments are for three years each and resulted from two separate competitive tender processes. Also assisting two New Zealand export industries to secure improved market access to the European Union and India via tariff concessions.
Affiliations
- Director, AmCham New Zealand
- Board Member, New Zealand International Business Forum
- Member, New Zealand Food and Grocery Council
- Member, Association of Certified Sanctions Specialists
- Member, Customs and International Trade Bar Association
- Member, Law and Economics Association of New Zealand, Inc
- Member, TradeExperettes
- Member, Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists (ACAMS)
Achievements and recognition
- Winner, Asia Pacific International Trade Lawyer of the Year, Women in Business Awards Asia Pacific, 2023
- Recognised, Public Law, Chambers Asia-Pacific
- Recognised, Elite Women List, NZ Lawyer, 2023
- Recognised, Trade Law, Best Lawyers
- Recognised, Government Practice, Best Lawyers
- Recognised, Public Law, Best Lawyers
- Finalist, Asia Pacific International Trade Lawyer of the Year, Women in Business Awards Asia Pacific, 2020, 2021
- Finalist, Asia Pacific Shipping and Maritime Lawyer of the Year, Women in Business Awards Asia Pacific, 2021
- Finalist, Asia Pacific Offshore Lawyer of the Year, Women in Business Awards Asia Pacific, 2020