Members of Harbour Chambers have an extensive background in information and media law, including defamation, privacy, and protection of confidential information. Members regularly advise individuals and institutions in both the public and private sector, and are familiar with the information management principles of the Privacy Act 1993 and the Official Information Act 1982. They have a particular expertise in defamation proceedings.

Members of Harbour Chambers have significant expertise in the law surrounding the regulation and discipline of professions such as the medical profession, veterinarians, teachers and engineers. They regularly act for individual professionals as well as institutions and professional registration authorities. They can advise on statutory and regulatory compliance, scopes of practice, registration, competency and complaints. Members are familiar with the requirements of the Education Act 1989 and its Rules, the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003, and similar legislation. Two members have particular expertise in armed forces law and serve as the Chief Judge and Deputy Chief Judge of the Court Martial and Judge Advocate General and Deputy Judge Advocate General of the Armed Forces.

Members of Harbour Chambers have comprehensive experience in the practice of public law, including all aspects of administrative, constitutional, electoral and Parliamentary law. They regularly advise public and private sector clients on legal and strategic issues surrounding the development and implementation of legislation, the scope and exercise of public powers, and official reviews and inquiries. They are familiar with the full range of public law avenues including judicial review, Ombudsmen complaints, the Regulation Review Committee, and submissions to Select Committees. They also advise on issues relating to incorporated societies, clubs and other non-commercial associations. Members have conducted public inquiries and reviews and both advised and appeared before Commissions of Inquiry. 

Members of Harbour Chambers have comprehensive expertise in the law relating to the sustainable management of New Zealand’s environment and resources. They advise clients in all aspects of the Resource Management Act 1991, including both planning and resource consent processes. Members appear before Councils, Boards of Inquiry and the Environment Court as well as providing policy and strategic advice. They regularly act for industry and interest groups in relation to a wide-range of renewable energy, infrastructure, water management and mining projects. Members have particular expertise with respect to the rules surrounding off-shore activities under the Exclusive Economic Zone and Continental Shelf (Environmental Effects) Act 2012.

Members of Harbour Chambers have extensive experience in all aspects of commercial and property litigation, as well as the proper administration of trusts and exercise of trustees’ duties. They represent clients across a range of sectors, with particular experience in relation to aviation, banking and securities, insolvency, misrepresentation and fraud, and insurance. Members are experienced litigators, appearing in all of New Zealand’s higher courts, and also regularly act as arbitrators and mediators.

One of the members of Harbour Chambers has expertise in all aspects of criminal law, both at first instance and at the appellate level. He is regularly instructed to represent both the Crown and private clients in relation to criminal investigations and prosecutions. He has experience at all stages of a criminal prosecution.

Not all disputes need to go to court.  Some complaints and disputes can be resolved at the complaint stage or by negotiation and mediation.  All the members of Harbour Chambers are adept at helping clients resolve complaints and disputes before court proceedings are required.

In addition, Adam Lewis is a trained and experienced mediator and a Fellow of the Arbitrators and Mediator Institute of New Zealand. Rebecca Scott is also a trained mediator.