Māori Law Society co-president commences with Thorndon Chambers

Māori Law Society | Te Hunga Roia Māori Co-President Natalie Coates has commenced with Thorndon Chambers, reported the NZ Law Society.

Coates comes from Kāhui Legal, where she was a partner. Her practice focuses on public and administrative law, Te Tiriti o Waitangi, Māori legal issues, human rights, land (whenua), multi-party negotiations in Treaty of Waitangi settlements, trust and governance matters.

She has expertise in issues related to the intersection of tikanga and the common law. She has taken the lead on precedent-setting cases related to this intersect in all senior courts.

Coates has appeared as counsel in the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, High Court, Environment Court, Māori Land Court, and the Waitangi Tribunal. She is currently acting for an iwi in a current Supreme Court case related to the interpretation and application of the Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Act 2017. She is also involved in Smith v Fonterra Co-operative Group Limited [2022] NZSC 35, which is examining a tort law claim against seven major companies in relation to their emissions and is looking into the relevance and application of tikanga.

In addition, she recorded a stint as a law lecturer at the University of Auckland and is part of the NZ Council of Legal Education as well as the NZ Council of Law Reporting. She was named one of NZ Lawyer’s Rising Stars in 2020.