Claire Hislop 
Principal - Kaihautū

BA LLB (Victoria University of Wellington)

Contact
cth@lcc.co.nz
+64 4 471 6316

 

Claire is a Senior Crown Prosecutor and represents the Crown in prosecuting serious crime.  She regularly appears in the District Court, High Court and has appeared in the Court of Appeal.

Claire has conducted numerous jury trials involving allegations of sexual offending, Class A drug offending, fraud, and serious violence. She regularly appears for the Department of Corrections in related proceedings involving applications for extended supervision orders and before the Parole Board.

In addition to prosecuting serious crime, Claire advises and represents government departments and regulatory bodies such as NZ Police, Waka Kotahi, the Department of Corrections, the Ministry of Heath, District Health Boards, MSD and ACC. Claire specialises in advising public sector clients concerning litigation; their statutory powers and duties; and in assisting with investigations.  This includes providing legal and strategic advice on enforcement options and alternative dispute resolution.

Claire began her career in the public sector working in the areas of criminal justice and public law, advising the Government on criminal justice law reform. This included presenting and advising to select committees and Cabinet.  She then worked as a defence lawyer for several years.

Recent and notable work:

Regulatory and other enforcement

  • Advising the Accident Compensation Corporation on internal processes and policies regarding prosecution and civil debt recovery, including several complex cases in both the Provider and ACC client areas.

  • Providing advice to Waka Kotahi concerning prosecutions involving breaches of transport laws and regulations.

  • Providing advice to MSD in relation to fraud prosecutions.

Resource management

  • Counsel in prosecution and enforcement proceedings involving natural wetlands, forestry harvesting and farming operations.

  • Providing advice to local authorities concerning enforcement orders and abatement notices.

Health and public law

  • Lead counsel for the national forensic services in applications for extensions and cancellations of compulsory care orders for intellectually disabled offenders.

  • Lead counsel for the Ministry of Health in a Family Court proceeding involving a vulnerable child.