L-R: Tim Bain and Emma Ferrier

Tim is a litigation and public law specialist with a broad practice. He is a Senior Crown Prosecutor, routinely conducting jury and Judge-alone trials for the Crown and public bodies – alongside frequent professional disciplinary proceedings. He also is a practiced advocate for public entities whose decisions have been challenged on appeal.

Aside from litigation, Tim’s practice focuses on advising public sector clients on their statutory powers and duties, and assisting with investigations. This includes providing legal and strategic advice on enforcement options, advising on the exercise of statutory powers, and ensuring that clients meet the common law and statutory obligations that govern the exercise of public power.

Tim has a keen academic interest in the law. He has been published multiple times in legal journals and often drafts submissions on law reform issues. He sits on the Courthouse Committee of the New Zealand Law Society and previously held a role on the Law Reform Committee. Prior to joining the firm, he clerked for the then-Chief Justice at the Supreme Court of New Zealand.

Emma leads LCC's local government and environmental practice. She has extensive litigation experience across a range of areas including environmental law, regulatory enforcement and civil litigation. She has a particular interest in acting for local government clients.

Emma is a Senior Crown Prosecutor and has been lead counsel in jury trials prosecuting serious crime.  She has appeared in the Court of Appeal, High Court and District Court.

Across her senior roles at LCC and a large commercial firm, Emma has provided advice on enforcement matters including to a number of councils. She has acted in insurance disputes arising from the Canterbury Earthquake Sequence and other natural disasters, advised on enforcement under the RMA and acted in civil pecuniary penalty proceedings and investigations brought by the Commerce Commission, Financial Markets Authority and the Reserve Bank of New Zealand.