Simpson Grierson

Projects and resources management (including environment)

Partner

Sarah heads the firm’s South Island Planning and Environment team. She is recognised as a leading environmental and resource management lawyer.

Areas of expertise:

Sarah has an in-depth understanding of all environmental regimes with a particular focus on infrastructure, urban development and energy.

Sarah specialises in advising both private and public sector clients on the consenting of large-scale projects under the RMA and related legal regimes such as the fast-track legislation.

She also has significant experience in strategic planning and policy work, taking a lead role in various high-profile and litigious processes –working with large teams through extensive council hearing processes, to defending subsequent appeals.

Sarah works for both private and public sector clients, in both the consenting and policy space. She advises councils as consent authority including through Environment Court appeals. Her practice covers all RMA matters including enforcement, local government law and due diligence investigations, as well as judicial reviews and regulatory work.

 Recognition

Asia Pacific Legal 500 2026 Projects & Resources Management – Leading Lawyer

Chambers Asia-Pacific 2026 Environment & Resource Management – Leading Lawyer

New Zealand Law Awards 2016 – Young Private Practice Lawyer of the Year

English

BCom LLB