Lizzy specialises in advising on local government, public law and civil litigation legal issues.

She has expertise in a wide range of local government matters, including Local Government Act 2002 governance, decision-making, planning and reporting, local elections, meetings issues, privacy and official information, funding and financing, and advising on liability issues.  She also advises on local government reform matters, and response and recovery to local and national civil defence emergencies.  Her extensive litigation experience includes acting in judicial review and declaratory judgment proceedings and in complicated rates recovery situations, and in rating valuations proceedings. Lizzy has appeared as junior counsel at all levels of New Zealand’s courts.

Lizzy has a particular interest and specialty in local government funding and financing issues, including rates and development contributions. She has presented at numerous seminars on these issues. She has also provided legal review/peer review of good practice guides for local government on a range of subjects and been engaged to provide advice to representative organisations.

She has strong analysis and writing skills, and is down-to-earth, flexible and collaborative. Clients appreciate Lizzy’s approach to working with them on cases, including seeking to understand their position, providing realistic advice on their options and putting them in the position to give fully informed instructions.

Lizzy is now practising on her own account from Whangārei but is available to clients throughout the country.  Her career background includes nine years at Simpson Grierson in the local government and environment team, nearly four years at Holland Beckett Law practising resource management and civil litigation, and two and a half years as a policy analyst at the Western Bay of Plenty District Council.