Michael Heron KC
Michael Heron KC is a leading KC in commercial and regulatory litigation and arbitrations. He is one of New Zealand’s leading KCs and is a trusted legal advisor to New Zealand businesses, government entities, and public bodies.
Michael Heron KC has appeared as lead counsel in all New Zealand Courts and many tribunals.
He was formerly New Zealand’s Solicitor General, CEO of the Crown Law Office and responsible for advice to all arms of government. Before that he was a partner at law firms Russell McVeagh and Meredith Connell. He worked in London and Tokyo as a solicitor for Allen & Overy and is admitted as a solicitor in England and Wales.
His focus is on matters involving all arms of Government and its regulators; conducting independent inquiries, reviews and investigations (and providing advice on them); and sporting matters. He is chair of Immediation New Zealand Limited, an online dispute resolution service. He is a board member of NZ RegCo, the independent regulatory body for the New Zealand Stock Exchange (NZX).
Michael is National Commissioner for New Zealand Cricket and a member of the International Cricket Council Code of Conduct Commission and Disputes Resolution Committee. He is a judicial officer for New Zealand Rugby and SANZAAR. He acts for a range of sport participants and is a member of the panel of mediators for Immediation’s Sport NZ mediation panel.
Working with Michael Heron KC
Michael has a vast range of expertise and can help with a wide variety of legal issues including regulatory, commercial, civil, and criminal law matters. As a barrister, he can be directly instructed in some matters, but in others he is required to act on the instructions of a solicitor who, in turn, takes his or her instructions from you, the client.
Michael can assist with:
- Solving disputes both in and out of court;
- helping entities and individuals work with regulators in a way that safeguards long-term relationships;
- advising on a vast range of legal issues, with a keen eye for pragmatic solutions and real results;
- assisting clients facing criminal charges, including navigating the criminal justice system and defending charges; and
- advocating for and on behalf of clients, including in administrative or public law contexts.
The type of work for which Michael can take direct instructions includes:
- Acting as an arbitrator or mediator;
- representing a person charged with an offence (other than in a prosecution by the Serious Fraud Office, the Financial Markets Authority, or the Commerce Commission);
- civil matters that are not proceedings before certain courts;
- the provision of a legal opinion or advice; and
- providing assistance or advice to a non-profit or on a pro bono basis.
Please make an enquiry and we will let you know whether Michael can accept your instructions directly. If an instructing solicitor is required, Michael can work with you, drawing on existing relationships with solicitors throughout New Zealand, to secure the best possible advisors.
PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITY
2012 – 2016
Solicitor-General of New Zealand
2012
Queen’s Counsel
2007 – 2012
Partner, Russel McVeagh
1995 – 2007
Solicitor and Partner, Meredith Connell
1991 – 1994
Solicitor, Allen & Overy, London and Tokyo
1991
LLM (HONS), Cambridge University
1990
BCA, LLB (HONS), Victoria University
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