Key People

Chris Morris

Partner

Chris has over 35 years’ experience as a litigation lawyer, predominately practising in Auckland.  Chris started his career at Bell Gully before becoming a prosecutor in Auckland and later a solicitor at Crown Law and then a barrister sole.  He was one of the founding partners of Cook Morris Quinn, a firm he was a partner of for 16 years.

Chris has particularly relevant recent experience in advising clients, including corporates, directors, company officers, employers, and others who deal with the increasing number of active regulatory authorities in New Zealand including the Commerce Commission, Financial Markets Authority, Serious Fraud Office, and other agencies. The advice has been provided from an early stage of an inquiry, or investigation, and continued through subsequent litigation of either a civil or criminal nature.

For many years Chris was a senior member of the panel of prosecutors called upon to prosecute serious criminal and regulatory matters on behalf of the Crown in Auckland, and elsewhere.

In addition, Chris is often called upon to advise a range of commercial clients on litigious matters including enforcement of contractual or other obligations owed to companies, joint ventures and other entities, in the health, transport, aviation, construction, and finance sectors.

Chris has considerable experience in acting for and advising professionals including lawyers and medical practitioners who are facing complaints based investigation, and/or disciplinary proceedings arising from professional practice. Chris formerly conducted prosecutions on behalf of the New Zealand Law Society for a number of years when such were conducted on a panel basis.

In the sports law field, Chris was, until recently, a long-standing member of the World Rugby, SANZAAR and NZRU Judicial Officer panels and in that capacity dealt with disciplinary issues arising on and off the sports field for international rugby, national, and our local provincial rugby competitions. Chris acts for players and sporting organisations of other sports in relation to disciplinary matters, contractual disputes and sponsorship issues.

Chris maintains significant and important relationships with a number of highly experienced King’s Counsel and frequently appears with them in litigation cases.

+64 27 496 8036

chris.morris@cameronmorris.co.nz  

PO Box 1295,
Shortland Street,
Auckland 1140

Level 5, General Building,
29 Shortland Street,
Auckland 1010 

Beth Smith

Senior Associate

Beth began her career as a litigator at a boutique litigation firm in Auckland, and worked in litigation roles both in New Zealand and in Ireland for a number of years before specialising in employment law for a period. Beth advises on a range of commercial disputes and assists on matters involving investigations by regulatory agencies and related proceedings.

In the employment law field, Beth advises on a full range of employment matters for both employers and employees. This includes advising on disciplinary processes and investigations, performance management, medical incapacity issues, personal grievances, and representing clients in matters before the Employment Relations Authority and Employment Court, as well as matters before professional disciplinary tribunals. Her approach emphasises pragmatic, commercially viable solutions tailored to each client's needs.

With a unique background in sport, Beth also works with sports organisations and athletes in an advisory capacity, and in relation to employment matters and disputes, leveraging her firsthand experience as a two-time Olympian and Commonwealth Games athlete with the Black Sticks women’s hockey team, together with her experience on various governance and quasi-governance roles in regional sport and with the International Hockey Federation.

+64 21 746 429

beth.smith@cameronmorris.co.nz

PO Box 1295,
Shortland Street,
Auckland 1140

Level 5, General Building,
29 Shortland Street,
Auckland 1010