Source: https://www.stoutstreet.co.nz/mary-scholtens-qc/
Timestamp: 2019-04-19 01:22:16+00:00

Document:
Mary Scholtens is an experienced Queen's Counsel who has acted predominantly in the commercial public law area since commencing practice in 1982. She spent ten years in the Crown Law Office before joining the independent bar in 1996. She was made a Queen's Counsel in 2002. As well as a very significant number of judicial review proceedings involving central and local government and a broad range of regulators, she has appeared in public law claims in contract, tort and equity, and in appeals from regulatory bodies. There include acting for IRD in significant tax avoidance cases involving cross - border structured finance transactions, and for the Commerce Commission in relation to the Commission’s determinations of ‘input methodologies’ for regulating the airports services, electricity and gas transmission and distribution sectors. Mary also acts in general commercial and civil disputes and is an accredited mediator.
Mary brings to her advice and representation an appreciation of how government works. She has carried out or been involved in a number of inquiries, including Commissions of Inquiry, inquiries by Parliamentary Select Committees, and the District Court on an Electoral Petition. Mary has been appointed as amicus curiae in a number of cases before the High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court. Mary is a member of the New Zealand Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal.
1986 - 1996 Assistant Crown Counsel, Crown Counsel and (from 1991) Team Leader, Public/Commercial Team, Crown Law Office. Member of Crown Law Office Management Board.
Early legal practice was within legal sections of core central government organisations (Education, Customs) and a year in a criminal/human rights private practice in central London.
Counsel for Commerce Commission in appeals from the Commission’s determinations of ‘input methodologies’ for regulating the airports services, electricity and gas transmission and distribution sectors, and related judicial reviews. Wellington International Airport Ltd v Commerce Commission  NZHC 3289, 11 December 2013, Clifford J, Mr R Davey and Mr R Shogren; Wellington International Airport Ltd v Commerce Commission CIV-2011-485-001031, CIV-2011-485-001040, CIV-2011-485-001042, CIV-2011-485-000264, 22 December 2011, Clifford J; Transpower New Zealand Ltd v Commerce Commission CIV-2011-485-001032, 4 November 2011, Clifford J; Vector Ltd v Commerce Commission CIV-2011-485-000536,26 September 2011, Clifford J.
Lead counsel of a team dealing with a significant number of "leaky building" claims in negligence against the Crown/Building Industry Authority (High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court). Attorney-General v Body Corporate 200200 ("Sacramento")  1 NZLR 95 (CA); Ellerslie Park Holdings v Attorney-General  NZSC 44; (2006) 18 PRNZ 376; North Shore City Council v Attorney General (“The Grange”)  1 NZLR 178 (CA); North Shore City Council v Attorney General (“The Grange”)  3 NZLR 341 (SC).
Appointed as Amicus before the Supreme Court in B v M (2006) 18 PRNZ 398, where the question of the confidentiality of partnership information in a matrimonial dispute of one of the partners was to be considered. Hearing aborted at its commencement as information had effectively been published.
Counsel for Hutt City Council in the first electoral petition to challenge the running of the FPP/STV poll under the Local Electoral Act 2001: (District Court): Akuso v Hutt City Council  DCR 322.
Reviewer in a number of public and private inquiries and reviews, including a review of the CAA's Rule-making processes (released February 2003) and a review of the operation of the Protected Disclosures Act 2001 in accordance with that Act, as instructed by the Minister of State Services (tabled in Parliament in December 2003). Both have led to changes.
Counsel for New Zealand Law Society in the first High Court proceeding under the new Legal Services Act 2000 testing the scope of civil legal aid: Legal Services Agency v New Zealand Law Society  3 NZLR 63. Have acted for the Society as intervener, and the Legal Aid Review Panel on appeal by the Agency, in a number of other cases relating to the administration of legal aid under the Act.
Counsel primarily for the Ministry of Health in the Ministerial Inquiry into Matters Relating to Possible Under-Reporting of Adverse Cervical Smear Results in Gisborne (2001). The Ministry held significant historical information relating to the cervical screening programme and was responsible for the programme at the time the misreadings by Dr Bottrill occurred.
Counsel for the Commissioner of Inland Revenue in a number of cases including judicial review proceedings arising out of the reassessment of tax liability for tax avoidance on transactions which appeared in the "Winebox". Second counsel to the Solicitor-General on successful appeal. (High Court, Court of Appeal) NZ Wool Board v. Commissioner of Inland Revenue (1999) 19 NZTC 15,082 (High Court): 15,476 (Court of Appeal). Also junior counsel to the Solicitor-General in judicial review proceedings of the lawfulness of a tax investigation of BIL by Inland Revenue - raising issues of fairness and estoppel (High Court and Court of Appeal): Brierley Investments Ltd v. Bouzaid (1993) 15 NZTC 10,075, (1993) 17 TRNZ 625 (HC);  3 NZLR 655 (CA).
Senior counsel for the Crown in the "West Coast Accord" litigation - proceedings brought by various West Coast interests in contract, tort and equity claiming multi-million dollar damages relating to the 1986 West Coast Accord and Government actions over the level of supply of indigenous timber to local sawmills: West Coast Regional Council & Ors v. Attorney-General (High Court, 1995; Court of Appeal, 1997). Application for interim orders resisted (1994) 8 PRNZ 44. Later instructed by West Coast interests in relation to negotiations for compensation with the Government.
Responsible for the management of litigation challenging to the Government's plans to corporatise Power Boards (13 proceedings, all ultimately resolved in Crown's favour). Counsel for the Minister in a number of unsuccessful challenges to establishment plans approved by the Minister of Energy for corporatising supply authorities pursuant to the Energy Companies Act. Interim orders declined in Auckland case (High Court). Hamilton City Council v. Waikato Electricity Authority & Ors  1 NZLR 741; Auckland City Council v. Auckland Electric Power Board & Ors (High Court, 1993).
Counsel in judicial review of the award by the Minister to the Crown of a mining licence over Ngaere oilfield in Taranaki in High Court, Court of Appeal and Privy Council): Minister of Energy v. Petrocorp Exploration Ltd  1 NZLR 1 (HC, CA), 641 (PC) Included the influential interlocutory issue of cross-examination of Ministers;  1 NZLR 348 (CA).
Judicial review of (inter alia) valuation of Wellington Airport as part of corporatisation by the Ministers of Transport and Finance; and implications for landing charges (High Court): Air New Zealand & Ors v. WIAL and Attorney-General (1991) (High Court). Issue of cross-examination of Ministers in High Court and Court of Appeal: (1991) 4 PRNZ 1.
Counsel for Governor-General in judicial review of the power of Governor-General as Commander in Chief of New Zealand Defence Forces to reopen a complaint (High Court) Bradley v. Governor-General and Commander in Chief of NZ (High Court, 1991).
Co-author, "The Judge Over Your Shoulder" (Crown Law Office, 1990) - a guide to the principles of decision-making for officials and Ministers.

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