Clare Lenihan (LLB. MusB)

Environmental & Public Law Barrister

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Profile

Clare graduated from Otago University with an LLB degree in 1993 and also has a music degree from Auckland University (MusB). Clare initially worked in private practice doing criminal and civil litigation before heading overseas and working in the Dublin firm McCann Fitzgerald for a year.

On return to New Zealand Clare took up a position with the Department of Conservation as Southland Conservancy Solicitor (this area includes Fiordland and the Subantarctic Islands and she was lucky enough to get to the Subantarctic Islands, along with many other interesting places!). Clare remained with the department for over 15 years advising and representing them on both locally and nationally significant Resource Management and Conservation law matters including:

  • Coastal and District Plans and Policy Statements
  • Major resource consents such as the Cleddau River Flood Protection Scheme (which included accommodation and buildings in Milford village being temporarily relocated while the ground level was raised above flood level, and then the buildings were returned) and many controversial 1080 applications  
  • Significant  concession proposals such as the Milford Dart Tunnel and the Fiordland Link Monorail 

Additionally, Clare has a wealth of experience with public law and general environmental law issues, the Emissions Trading Scheme (forestry), protected areas management and other commercial uses of public conservation lands.

Acting for clients all over New Zealand, including central and local government, NGO’s, private individuals and businesses, Clare advises on a range of resource management, environmental, public and conservation law issues. For further information please see Clare’s CV. 

Currently, Clare is a member of the NZBA, the RMLA and on the Resource Management Journal editorial committee. Clare has presented at an NZLS Intensive on Public Sector Governance and at various RMA seminars and conferences. 

In her spare time Clare is a mother of a very busy daughter, sometime musical director for musical theatre, Trustee for the Outreach Music Trust Aotearoa and walker of an energetic dog.