Senior Solicitor / Senior Associate - Public law, Regulatory and International Trade

Sarah Salmond's public law, regulatory and international trade team at MinterEllisonRuddWatts is looking for a talented and driven Senior Solicitor or Senior Associate to join our Auckland practice.

You’ll advise leading New Zealand and international clients on complex regulatory, public law and trade matters. The work spans regulatory and enforcement investigations, government decision-making, sanctions, export controls, compliance and risk management, and strategic government engagement. Our clients include organisations in the technology, defence, aerospace, healthcare, telecommunications, food and beverage, consumer goods, transport, manufacturing and infrastructure sectors. The practice has a strong international focus, with a significant proportion of work involving overseas clients and cross-border regulatory issues.

About our firm

MinterEllisonRuddWatts is one of New Zealand’s leading commercial law firms, named New Zealand Law Firm of the Year at the Beaton Client Choice Awards (2026) and the Chambers Asia-Pacific Awards (2024, 2020 and 2017).

Known for our technical excellence and commercial approach, we partner with leading clients to deliver practical solutions to complex challenges. Guided by our value of Waka Eke Noa, we foster an inclusive, collaborative culture where our people are empowered to thrive.

With offices in Auckland and Wellington and strong Asia-Pacific connections through the MinterEllison Legal Group, we offer the best of a top-tier New Zealand firm with the reach of an international network.

About the team

The team is ranked Band 1 by Chambers Asia-Pacific for Public Law and is led by Sarah Salmond, named Best Lawyers Lawyer of the Year for Public Law (2026). The practice advises corporates, industry bodies, government agencies and multinational organisations on complex regulatory, public law and trade issues, with specialist expertise in sanctions, export controls, customs, trade remedies, compliance and investigations. The team is increasingly called on by clients operating in highly regulated and geopolitically sensitive environments.

The work is intellectually challenging, commercially significant and often high-profile. You will work directly with Sarah and the wider team and will have significant client contact from the outset. The team works closely with senior decision-makers across government and industry on some of New Zealand's most complex regulatory challenges.

About you

As the ideal candidate, you will have at least 5 years’ PQE in public law, regulatory law, commercial litigation, investigations, trade law, competition law, white-collar crime or a related area. You will bring strong analytical, drafting and communication skills, a commercial approach to solving client problems, and a keen interest in regulation, government decision-making and international trade.

We are particularly interested in candidates with experience in sanctions, export controls, compliance or complex cross-border regulatory matters. Given the international nature of the practice, we also welcome applications from lawyers admitted in the United Kingdom or the United States.

This role offers a rare opportunity in the New Zealand market to develop a specialist practice in sanctions, export controls and other cross-border regulatory issues.

How to Apply

To apply, please click 'Apply' to register your profile. To discuss the role informally, please contact Donna Douglas, HR Manager, at ***email_hidden***. All applications are treated in confidence.

For further information please contact Donna Douglas, HR Manager on ***email_hidden***.