Sarah Salmond

Advising banks, traders, investors, insurers, and freight companies on export controls and sanctions-related matters (and notably those relating to Russia, Iran, China, Cuba, Myanmar, North Korea, Syria, and Venezuela). Also representing clients in contentious sanctions matters including Banking Ombudsman Scheme disputes, Human Rights Commission mediations, investigations conducted by the United Nations and the New Zealand, United Kingdom and United States governments, and litigation (including representing the Respondent in Targa Capital Limited v Westpac New Zealand Limited [2023] NZHC 230 and the Defendant in New Zealand Customs Service v Pacific Aerospace Ltd [2018] NZDC 5034).

Advising clients on the regulatory requirements applicable to manufacturers, traders and retailers of various food products, forestry products, pharmaceuticals, medicines and medical devices, body scanners, drones, hazardous substances and goods, fuels, IT and radio equipment. Also advising on the regulatory requirements applicable to providers of sea, air and land transportation and freight services. Assisting clients to obtain regulatory approvals and participate in regulatory investigations (and notably Ministry for Primary Industries, New Zealand Food Safety, Environmental Protection Authority and WorkSafe investigations).

Advising traders and trade facilitators on complex customs and excise matters and representing them in contentious cases before the Customs Service, the Ministry for Primary Industries, and the Environmental Protection Authority. Recently advised a freight forwarder on the potential implications of breaching rules governing the importation of fire extinguishers containing an ozone depleting substance, without the necessary licence. Conducted an internal investigation, drafted a voluntary disclosure to the Customs Service and the Environmental Protection Authority, and settled the matter with the Government without penalty.

Securing favourable law and policy reforms for clients. Secured passage of an Amendment Order permitting hazardous waste exports to the United States. Also provided wide-ranging legal, technical, and strategic advice to a telecommunications company seeking Government approval to participate in the development of New Zealand’s 5G network.

Representing manufacturers, exporters, importers and retailers in more than 20 anti-dumping and countervailing duty investigations conducted by the New Zealand, European Union, and United States governments. Also advising clients on related judicial review proceedings. Most recently assisted Lamb Weston and Lamb Weston Meijer to secure the successful termination of New Zealand’s dumping investigation into frozen potato fries and wedges from Belgium and the Netherlands and Roof Tile Group to secure the temporary suspension of anti-dumping duties on aluminium–zinc coated steel from the Republic of Korea.

Leading a team of five lawyers providing a dairy company with comprehensive advice relating to the procedural, substantive and reputational aspects of a Ministerial Inquiry into a food safety incident.

Advising the United Kingdom Department for International Trade on the UK-New Zealand free trade agreement negotiations and the UK’s negotiations to accede to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership. These ongoing appointments are for three years each and resulted from two separate competitive tender processes.