Helen has practiced environmental law since her admission to the bar in 1999, and has experience in advising a variety of clients on a wide range of strategic environmental and resource management matters. Her practice has a particular focus on the consenting of major projects across several industries, including minerals prospecting, renewable energy generation, pulp and paper manufacture and retailing activities. She also has extensive experience in obtaining designations and associated resource consents for large infrastructure developments.

Helen has considerable involvement in undertaking due diligence investigations for complex acquisition and divestment transactions, and in advising clients on environmental aspects of Overseas Investment Act compliance. She regularly represents clients before local authorities, the Environment Court and High Court on resource management issues, as well as at Court-assisted mediations.

NOTABLE EXPERIENCE

• Assisting a large iwi in its negotiations with the Crown regarding the future management of a major North Island river

• Acting for a State-owned enterprise in respect of the establishment of a significant renewable energy development in the lower North Island

• Advising a joint venture (between two major electricity generators) on resource management, hazardous substances and Overseas Investment Act aspects of a novel and large scale energy development in New Plymouth

• Assisting a major multi-national company in relation to a proposed central Auckland residential development, in order to protect the ongoing operation of New Zealand's most significant communications facility

• Advising a New Zealand-owned greenwaste collector in respect of various resource managment and environmental issues relevant to the operation of its business, including preparing submissions regarding the Waste Minimisation Act 2008

• Acting for a major supermarket operator before the Council, Environment Court and High Court in respect of two unique large format retail developments in Auckland

• Advising various parties in respect of, and appearing at the Board of Inquiry hearing regarding, the proposed New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement 2008

• Providing strategic advice to a major national property investor in relation to the structure plan process for the establishment of a new urban community

• Advising a goldmining company in relation to obtaining resource management, Crown Minerals and Continental Shelf Act approvals for a novel off-shore minerals prospecting project off the South Island

• Assisting a major national corporate with the re-consenting of its pulp mill and associated discharges in an environmentally sensitive area

• Advising a national electricity generator in respect of enhancements to two of its existing hydro-electric power schemes in the South Island

• Acting for an international pulp and paper manufacturer on environmental issues in respect of its effluent treatment plant and associated paper mill/processing sites

• Advising an international bank on planning and Overseas Investment Act issues relating to a major new head office development in Auckland

• Advising a national waste treatment company in relation to consenting of air discharges from its Auckland site

• Advising a national retirement village operator in respect of resource consent and Overseas Investment Act issues arising from the development of several new villages

• Acting for a national telecommunications operator in respect of the roll-out of its CDMA technology

• Undertaking due diligence investigations for clients in the forestry, tourism, manufacturing and other sectors, in the mergers/acquisitions context

• Advising a variety of major national companies and network utilities on environmental, planning and Overseas Investment Act issues, including preparing applications, submissions, appeals and other statutory Court documents under a range of environmental and other legislation including the Local Government Acts 1974 and 2002, and the Land Transport Management Act 2003