Chris Mathieson

Director, Legal, MBIE

New Zealand

About

Public regulatory lawyer with over 20 years experience, primarily in the New Zealand public sector. I am a Director in the Legal Services Branch with a focus on energy and petroleum and minerals regulation. My role involves providing strategic legal advice to the organisation across a wide range of issues Prior to joining MBIE I spent 16 years as Crown Counsel at the Crown Law Office and prior to that private law firms Specialties: Public law, litigation, telecommunications regulation, regulation of Crown-owned minerals and petroleum, dispute resolution

Experience

  • Director Legal at Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment
    Oct 2007 - Present · 18 yrs 9 mos

    Providing in house legal and strategic advice. Operational and strategic advice to New Zealand Petroleum & Minerals, New Zealand's mineral resoruece regulator Legal advice and assistance on policy development and legislative projects including preparation of drafting instructions and appearing in select committees. Statutory interpretation Advice on litigation and legal risks generally. Projects worked on have included: - Reforms to the Crown Minerals Act and the regulatory regime for management of Crown minerals in New Zealand. - The operational separation of Telecom into business units. - Changes to the Part 4 of the Commerce Act relating to the regulation of natural monopolies - The Ultra Fast Broadband development

  • Acting General Manager, Legal and Compliance at Electricity Authority
    Apr 2019 - Jul 2019 · 4 mos

    Managing the legal and compliance functions of the Authority on a secondment from MBIE

  • Crown Counsel at Crown Law Office
    Dec 1991 - Oct 2007 · 15 yrs 11 mos

    Litigation and public law advice, leaky buildings, historic abuse claim, telecommunications. High Court, Court of Appeal, Privy Council

  • Simpson Grierson (4 yrs 1 mo)
    • Associate
      1990 - 1991 · 1 yr

      Banking litigation

    • Associate
      1987 - 1991 · 4 yrs

      Banking law litigation General civil claims in a commerical context

  • Solicitor at Brandon Brookfield
    1989 - 1990 · 1 yr

    Banking and other litigation including some family and criminal/traffic work