Tim Clarke

Partner

Wellington

Public Law and Regulation

+64 4 819 7532 DDI tim.clarke@russellmcveagh.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-clarke-21702511

Profile

Tim leads the firm’s Government Public Law & Policy practice and has over 30 years’ experience providing public law and policy advice to major national and international corporates, key government departments, state owned enterprises and crown entities.

He is also a leading advisor on regulatory law matters (including economic regulation) across a range of industry sectors including finance, transportation, health, fisheries, food, water, ports, airports and energy.

Tim’s understanding of the political context and the machinery of government has made him a highly respected strategic adviser on all matters of policy, regulatory and legislative reform. Tim brings both a breadth of knowledge and an appreciation of complex detail to deliver durable solutions for his clients.

Tim has served on the Russell McVeagh board. Prior to joining Russell McVeagh in 2005, he established and led the Public Law & Policy practice of another major New Zealand law firm.

Related expertise

Public Law & Regulation

Regulatory

International Trade & Investment

Infrastructure & Projects

Agribusiness & Food

Transportation, Shipping & Logistics

Climate Change

Trusts

Local Government

Experience

Tim has advised a long list of major public entities during his career, including: Auckland Airport, Vector, Port of Auckland, Spark, Meridian Energy, Westpac New Zealand, Watercare Services, BusinessNZ, Guardians of NZ Superfund, and the International Rugby Board to name a few.

His recent work includes advising:

The Auckland Transition Agency on a range of legislative issues through its creation and operation.
Watercare Services on a range of regulatory, legislative and policy issues, including the reforms to local government in Auckland arising from the Royal Commission, and the recent Three Waters and Local Water Done Well reforms.
Ministerial Review into the electricity sector and the associated industry and regulatory reforms, and from the Mixed Ownership Model process.
Mr and Mrs Allan Hubbard on a range of issues arising from their statutory management from 2010.
Drafting Bills for various Members of Parliament and Political Parties.
Crown entities such as NZTE, the Guardians of the NZ Super Fund, Creative NZ, Land Transport NZ, Lotteries Commission, ACC, LTNZ and Tourism NZ on a range of issues including; legislative design framework and interpretation; governance and conflicts of interest; preparation of policy and cabinet papers.
ONTRACK/NZ Railways Corporation on a range of public law, legislative framework and SOE issues.
The Ministry of Fisheries on a number of policy and legal issues around the cost-recovery mechanism for the quota system and the aquaculture settlement process.
Land Information NZ on a range of public law and policy issues including the land tenure review process, and preparation of associated cabinet papers.

An off-shore private equity entity in relation to major investments in New Zealand and associated regulatory issues.
Auckland International Airport on a range of policy, regulatory, legislative and government relations issues.
GPG plc on a Government relations strategy in relation to taxation reforms to the treatment of offshore investment income.
Turners & Growers on a law reform initiative for the de-regulation of the kiwifruit industry.
AIG, IAG, ING, Combined Insurance and ACE Insurance on the Insurance (Prudential Supervision) Bill.
The New Zealand Banker’s Association (and various trading banks) on the policy, regulatory and legislative issues around the regulation of the financial services industry and the Anti-Money Laundering regime.
Exxon Mobil on a range of climate change, bio-fuels and other policy, regulatory and legislative issues; including various issues with the Crown Minerals Act and the Great South Basin.
Healthcare of NZ Ltd on a range of issues arising from allegations of conflict of interest at the Hawke’s Bay District Health Board including a Director-General’s Inquiry, Auditor-General’s inquiry and Serious Fraud Office investigation.
On the OAG Inquiry into the Hon Shane Jones.
Voco Limited on conflict of interest issues and on SSC inquiry led by Sir Neil Walter and associated issues.
The Retirement Villages Association of New Zealand on a range of strategic and regulatory issues, including a successful judicial review proceeding against the Crown on the Code of Practice.

Insights

Publication

Watching Brief - Budget 2025: No fertiliser, but aimed at Growth

22/05/2025

In our special edition of Watching Brief - 'Budget 2025: No fertiliser, but aimed at Growth', we take a look at what today's budget means in terms of tax, infrastructure, overseas investment, KiwiSaver changes, energy sector, science and innovation, social investment, media and more.

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Publication

Private Client: Year in Review 2024

12/12/2024

Our Private Client Year in Review covers all the key developments in this space over the last 12 months.

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Publication

Social investment – a stitch in time, saves nine!

28/11/2024

We discuss the history of social investment in New Zealand, the current Government's "Social Investment 2.0" approach, and opportunities for the private and NGO sector to work with this systemic policy framework.

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Publication

Who regulates the regulators? – Hon David Seymour follows in the footsteps of Cicero

21/11/2024

As foreshadowed in the National-ACT coalition agreement, reform of regulations and regulatory processes is seen as fundamental to rebuilding the economy and improving productivity. Now a significant new measure has been announced by Hon David Seymour – a proposed Regulatory Standards Bill.

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Publication

The Eye of Sauron: A Crown Observer for Wellington

23/10/2024

Local Government Minister Hon Simeon Brown has announced his intention to appoint a Crown Observer to Wellington City Council. In this article we examine the role of a Crown Observer and how they are appointed.

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Publication

Budget 2024 - Election commitments to the squeezed middle, and a laser focus on returning to surplus

30/05/2024

Nicola Willis today delivered the much anticipated first budget of the National-ACT-NZ First coalition government. Budget 2024 represents a transition year between Grant Robertson's "Wellbeing Budgets" and today's announcements where Ms Willis delivers on election commitments and looks to re-set the political narrative.

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Publication

Watching Brief - Coalition Government Policy Priority Matrix

14/12/2023

The stardust from the Governor-General appointing Ministers, opening Parliament, and confirming a Speaker has long settled. The National-ACT-New Zealand First coalition government is now in the trenches with the House under urgency to implement its 100 Day plan.

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Publication

Watching Brief - Post-Coalition Agreement

24/11/2023

Find out what the new Government has on its priority list now that the new coalition has signed and released its agreements.

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Recognition

Tim is ranked Band 1 for Public Law by Chambers and Partners Asia-Pacific 2025 Guide and was named New Zealand's Most Influential Lawyer for Government, Non-profits and Associations in the NZ Lawyer Most Influential Lawyers List 2023.

He was recognised on Wellington's Most Powerful List 2023 by The Post, and named 'Lawyer of the Year' (New Zealand) for Public Law, Government Practice by Best Lawyers® 2022 and 2025, and Public Lawyer of the Year by the ILO Client Choice Awards 2013 and 2014.

Tim is described by one of his clients as being "one of the most connected lawyers in Wellington’s government and bureaucratic circles."