Specialist litigation firm LeeSalmonLong in New Zealand has a history of providing pro-bono and low-cost plaintiff-side representation in connection with a range of public interest environmental and climate change cases. The firm also frequently advises environmental NGOs including Greenpeace and the Environmental Law initiative on non-contentious matters.

Its high-profile climate change work includes two major Supreme Court decisions on climate change and the Resource Management Act 1991 in Zealand, among various other internationally recognised cases. In other areas of environmental law, the firm has assisted clients, including non-profits, environmental protestors and other individuals, with matters such as a challenge of offshore oil drilling activities and a challenge to government policy on the exportation of indigenous timber.

Most recently, the firm acted pro-bono on two climate change claims brought by Michael Smith, an indigenous leader in New Zealand. The claims concerned greenhouse gas emissions, and the client alleged that the defendants (including the Government of New Zealand) had breached common law rights and obligations owed to him, other indigenous people, and future generations. David Bullock, who regularly publishes and presents on environmental law matters, and other key contact Michael Heard, also recently acted for two NGOs, Kiwis Against Seabed Mining and Greenpeace Aotearoa, in a successful challenge to consents for a world-first seabed mining operation in New Zealand’s exclusive economic zone.

Notable is aso the firm’s advice to environmental organisation Te Ipukarea Society and representatives of the indigenous leaders of the Cook Islands in a judicial review over the issue of fishing licenses to foreign tuna fishers.