Linda Clark
Linda is the kind of advocate you want on your side. She is a strategic thinker, a skilful communicator and an expert litigator specialising in public law, civil litigation and defamation.
Formerly a litigation and public law partner at Dentons Kensington Swan, Linda has appeared in the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, High Court, District Court, Human Rights Review Tribunal, the Canterbury Earthquakes Insurance Tribunal and Coroners Court.
She is also a trained mediator, and regularly represents clients in mediations.
In addition to litigation and general advisory work, Linda is an experienced investigator and reviewer, working on inquiries for both public sector and private sector clients. She also assists clients who find themselves the subject of an inquiry or review.
Before Linda launched her legal career she was an award winning political journalist and broadcaster.
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Injunctions, non-publication orders and defamation
Lead counsel for Julia Phillips in obtaining ex parte suppression orders relating to expectation of privacy: Phillips v NZ Police and Oranga Tamariki and Stuff Limited and NZME Holdings Ltd and Radio New Zealand and Television New Zealand [2025] CIV-2025-485-658
Lead counsel for Jevon McSkimming in obtaining an interim injunction suppression publication of certain information and obtaining a super-injunction about the non-publication orders: McSkimming v Stuff Ltd [2025] NZHC 1891
Junior counsel for Rt. Hon. Trevor Mallard in defamation proceedings: PQW v Mallard [2021] NZHC 269, [2021] NZHC 126
Junior counsel for Rachel MacGregor in defamation proceedings: Craig v MacGregor [2021] NZSC 112, [2021] NZCA 156, [2019] NZHC 2247
Acted for a range of prominent individuals to secure public retractions and apologies of defamatory statements published widely online or in mainstream media
Public law, judicial review
Lead counsel for Julia Phillips in opposing an application for judicial review of Family Court non-publication orders: NZME Publishing Ltd and Stuff Digital Ltd v the Family Court and Chief Executive of Oranga Tamariki and Julia Phillips [2026] NZHC 63.
Lead counsel for Institution of Professional Engineers (IPENZ) in defending a disciplinary process considering a complaint against Dr Alan Reay relating to the design of the CTV Building which collapsed in the Canterbury earthquake: Reay v Institution of Professional Engineers NZ Incorporated [2025] NZHC 2002, [2023] NZHC 2750.
Lead counsel for Te Runanga O Toa Rangatira Inc (third respondent) in defending a judicial review of the Ministry of Māori Development awarding contracts to certain parties for the commissioning of whanau ora services: Te Pou Matakana Ltd v Secretary for Māori Development [2025] NZCA 124, [2025] NZHC 848, [2025] NZHC 781.
Lead counsel for NZ Forest Owners Association in a judicial review of a ratings decision by a local authority: New Zealand Forest Owners Association Inc v Wairoa District Council [2022] NZHC 761.
Lead counsel for Tourism New Zealand in defending a decision about the classification of an accredited Chinese tour operator: ANZ Sky Tours Ltd v New Zealand Tourism Board [2019] NZHC 925.
Civil litigation
Senior counsel for a primary health organisation in a contentious contractual dispute: Public Health Action Ltd v Tu Ora Compass Health [2025] NZHC 1351, [2025] NZHC 1891, [2025] 2523.
Lead counsel for Natural Hazards Commission in a proceeding referred to the High Court by the Canterbury Earthquake Insurance Tribunal for a declaration on a question of law relating to the application of the Limitation Act to earthquake insurance: Pearce v Toka Tῡ Ake Natural Hazards Commission [2025] NZHC 623.
Junior counsel in a successful restraint of trade claim brought by a major real estate firm: Team Group Realty Ltd v Cardno [2024] NZHC 553.
Reviews and investigations
Counsel for former Ministers of the Crown responding to Royal Commission of Inquiry into Covid-19 Phase 2, 2025
Independent reviewer engaged by Oranga Tamariki to conduct a review of privacy compliance at the agency following a series of privacy breaches and the intervention of the Privacy Commissioner. The report was completed in 2024.
Conducted an investigation into a Code of Conduct complaint against Invercargill Mayor Nobby Clark. The report was published in June 2024.
Conducted an investigation into a Code of Conduct complaint made against five councillors at Wellington City Council about the leaking of information provided in confidence to councillors. The report was published in December 2023.
Independent reviewer engaged by the Upper Hutt City Council to review how the Council had managed a series of complaints about a local factory. The report was published in March 2023.
Member of independent panel commissioned by the Board of Radio New Zealand to review the editorial independence of the RNZ news following the broadcasting of allegedly pro-Russian editorial on RNZ’s website. The report was published in 2023.
Independent reviewer engaged by the Board of ACC to review ACC’s compliance with the Privacy Act following a series of notifiable privacy breaches. The report was published in March 2022.
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Member, New Zealand Bar Association
Member, New Zealand Law Society
Member, Institute of Directors
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Board member, Mary Potter Hospise Foundation (2026-)
Board member, Television New Zealand (2023-2025)
Chair, Advisory Panel on implementation of military style academy pilot, Oranga Tamariki (2025)
Board member, New Zealand on Air (2018-2023)
Member NZ Police Assurance and Risk Committee (2018-2023)
Board member, NZORD, New Zealand Organisation for Rare Diseases (2008-2012)
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Linda has a BA from University of Canterbury, a LLB from Victoria University
She also holds a Diploma in Journalism from University of Canterbury
