Helen Savage
Senior Associate - Kaiwawao Mātāmua

BA/LLB(Hons), University of Auckland

Contact
hms@lcc.co.nz

 

Helen has experience in criminal and civil litigation, with a particular focus on financial crime and regulatory proceedings.  She has represented government organisations and private clients in respect of criminal and regulatory investigations and prosecutions. Throughout her career, she has appeared in the District and High Courts as counsel for the Crown, Commissioner of Police, and the Serious Fraud Office. 

Helen began her career at Luke Cunningham Clere, where she regularly appeared on behalf of the Crown in criminal prosecutions and acted for regulators and professional bodies.  She also worked for the office of the Auckland Crown Solicitor, with a focus on civil proceedings under the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act 2009, as well as undertaking appeal work in the High Court for the Crown and New Zealand Police.  After working as a Crown prosecutor, Helen then worked as an associate at Gilbert Walker, acting for private clients in relation to investigations, civil enforcement proceedings and prosecutions by regulators.

Helen has returned to the firm following three years working as an in-house lawyer for the Serious Fraud Office, where she gained extensive experience in investigating and prosecuting complex fraud cases.  Her work now includes advising and acting for various government agencies, including the Department of Internal Affairs and the Financial Markets Authority, and as counsel for the Commissioner of Police.

Recent and notable work:

  • Junior counsel for the Crown in a seven-week, multi-defendant prosecution bought by the Serious Fraud Office alleging electoral fraud in relation to political donations made to the National Party and Labour Party (R v Zhang [2022] NZHC 2541; W v R [2024] NZCA 531).

  • Advising and appearing as counsel for the Commissioner of Police in multiple High Court proceedings involving the restraint and forfeiture of criminal proceeds (including Commissioner of Police v Ginty [2025] NZHC 275).

  • Lead counsel for the New Zealand Police and the Department of Corrections in various conviction and sentencing appeals to the High Court (Waite v New Zealand Police [2019] NZHC 213; Stanaway v Police [2019] NZHC 193; Khan v Department of Corrections [2018] NZHC 2897).

  • Acting for the FMA on the Du Val Group proceedings.