Briony Davies

Partner Kaiurungi

Tēnā koutou katoa
Ko Mauao te maunga
Ko Tauranga te moana
Ko Mataatua te waka
Ko Ngai te Rangi te Iwi
Ko Ngati He te hapu
Ko Maungatapu te marae
E noho ana au ki Te Whanga-nui-a-Tara
He poutoko ture ahau
E mahi ana au ki te MinterEllisonRuddWatts
Ko Briony Davies taku ingoa
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Briony is an experienced adviser and advocate in public law and regulatory matters. Her expertise lies in the development and application of regulatory frameworks, public law litigation and dispute resolution, privacy and data protection, regulatory compliance and enforcement, and crisis management.

Briony provides a wide range of strategic, legal and litigation advice to both government sector and corporate clients. Her clients operate across the electricity, local government, disaster response, film and media, tourism, transport, and health sectors. She is the go-to public law adviser for a wide range of Crown entities seeking to successfully operate, and mitigate risk, in complex regulatory environments.

Briony is a strategic thinker who approaches problems in a methodical and rational manner. She is also a skilled communicator, who has a reputation for managing interpersonal relationships with diplomacy, authenticity, and respect.

Trusted by her clients to navigate their most challenging issues with integrity and care, Briony focuses on achieving successful outcomes for those she represents. She assists clients to manage the complex intersections between government, business growth, and regulation. This includes advising extensively on the scope and exercise of statutory functions and powers, regulatory compliance and risk, public sector governance and delegations, Te Tiriti o Waitangi/Treaty of Waitangi obligations, utility price and access control, transport and maritime safety regulation, and official information.

An experienced litigator, Briony represents clients in significant litigation including judicial reviews, declaratory proceedings, and merits appeals across the arts, lifeline utilities, local government, and transport sectors.

New Zealand and overseas based entities across a range of sectors also seek Briony’s help with their privacy, confidentiality, and data protection obligations. Her expertise includes privacy risk management, resolution of privacy complaints and disputes, and cyber security risk management. She is regularly called upon to help clients navigate new and emerging privacy compliance issues, such as those which have emerged in the COVID-19 response in New Zealand.

Recognised as a leading lawyer in legal directory Chambers Asia-Pacific, Briony is praised by clients for her “extensive public law expertise” and her “significant experience.” She is described as “very astute politically,” “practical and solution-focused,” and “exceptional in her field” – Chambers Asia-Pacific 2022.

Career highlights

Advising Manawa Energy on the Electricity Authority’s review of the transmission pricing methodology (TPM) guidelines. This includes judicial review proceedings relating to the 2020 TPM Guidelines and a previous 2016 judicial review of the TPM guidelines process undertaken by the Authority.

Acting for TVNZ in its successful defence of an urgent application for interim orders in the lead up to New Zealand’s 2020 general election.

Engaged by Crown agencies across the environmental, media, transport, emergency response, and health sectors on their public law decision making and governance functions and powers, privacy obligations, and public law dispute resolution and strategic issues.

Advising the Earthquake Commission (EQC) on a range of strategic public law and risk management issues.

Appointed by The Treasury to assist with the Business Finance Guarantee Scheme. This project is one of the key components of the Government’s COVID-19 support package.

Achievements and recognition
  • Recognised, Public Law , Chambers Asia-Pacific
  • Band 1 team, Public Law, Chambers Asia-Pacific
  • Tier 1 team, Dispute Resolution, The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific