Mai Chen Barrister
Mai Chen has expertise in arguing important and groundbreaking human rights and constitutional and administrative law cases. She also specialises in regulatory defence, policy and law reform, and advising on culturally and linguistically diverse parties in the courts. See client testimonials below, and get in touch by calling 021 565 709 or emailing mai.chen@maichen.nz.
Send us a messageTestimonials
Tiffany Tompkins, Chief Executive, Organics Aotearoa New Zealand:
“OANZ has had the privilege of working with Mai Chen as legal counsel during a critical period of advocacy and legislative engagement. Mai brings unparalleled legal expertise in public and administrative law, paired with a deep understanding of the political and regulatory landscape in Aotearoa New Zealand. Her strategic insight and precision have been instrumental in helping OANZ navigate complex legal frameworks and sharpen our positions on issues affecting the organic sector, particularly in relation to the Gene Technology Bill.
Mai operates with rigour, clarity, and integrity. She listens closely, grasps complex sector-specific concerns quickly, and translates them into sharp legal arguments that hold weight with decision-makers. Her ability to anticipate risks and frame proactive legal strategies has strengthened OANZ’s standing with government and enabled us to communicate the sector’s interests with confidence.
Mai is not only a top-tier legal expert but a powerful advocate for fairness and accountability in lawmaking. Her support has been vital to OANZ’s efforts to ensure the organic sector is meaningfully heard in national debates.
We highly recommend Mai Chen to any organisation operating in complex policy environments where the stakes are high and clarity of voice is essential”
Steve Lockwood, Managing Director – APAC Region, Gallagher:
“I have worked with Mai on a number of complicated issues over the last 10 years. Most of these have involved complications and impact of local government and government policy or direction which have a negative effect on commercial outcomes.
Mai’s deep understanding of local body and government department obligations, as well as a wide understanding of business and commerce allow her to get into the very darkest corners of those issues, and achieve outcomes that I don’t think many of her peer group could replicate.
She has a vicious appetite for work, gets things done and is fearless in her approach.”
John Cook, Group Chief Executive, Ka Puta Ka Ora Emerge Aotearoa:
“Mai is a strategic problem solver. Mai’s ability to navigate complex legal and policy challenges is matched by her skill in negotiation and her unwavering focus on achieving effective outcomes for her clients.
Mai’s extensive network of contacts across government, business, and community sectors is a unique asset. She leverages these relationships with integrity and purpose, unlocking opportunities and solutions that others cannot. Her approach is collaborative, insightful, and always client focused.”
Garth Lamb, Chief Development Officer, Re.Group Ltd:
“Mai is a force of nature who in a very short space of time opened doors and helped us forge connections that would have taken years without her assistance.”
Raewyn Tipene, CEO He Puna Marama Trust:
“I have found Mai Chen and her team exceptional in terms of their legal knowledge and experience, appropriate, timely responses and dedication to achieving positive, effective outcomes for the Trust. Highly recommend Mai Chen for legal support and action.”
Ana Maria Rivera, CEO of Yoobee Colleges Ltd, New Zealand School of Tourism, Elite School of Beauty & Spa, Cut Above Academy, Healthcare Academy of NZ:
“I had the privilege of working with Mai and her team, during a particularly sensitive and high-stakes matter. Her expertise and contacts in the New Zealand education regulatory environment is unmatched, and her ability to apply that knowledge with clarity, strategy, and sound judgment was invaluable.
Throughout, she maintained open, honest communication and exercised remarkable tact—ensuring I always felt informed, aligned, and fully supported. Her personal warmth, combined with a direct, no-nonsense approach to problem-solving, meant I always knew I was in safe and highly capable hands.”
Peter O’Connor, CEO National Personnel Limited:
“Mai Chen has advised NPL for a long time and we have always found she is there for us when it really matters. Being in a heavily regulated sector requires us to act carefully and when all doesn’t go to plan, Mai is adept at helping us mitigate the fallout.
She is legally skilled and good at trouble shooting. She moves quickly and decisively, and maintains good relationships with the regulator. We have had good results for NPL from engaging her. Caleb Saunders provides able assistance under her leadership.”
Jim Davis, Managing Director Pharmabroker Sales Ltd:
“Mai’s honesty and integrity was very evident with all the advice she gave our company. Her incredibly high work ethic and ability to investigate every option to facilitate a positive outcome for us resulted in the best results for our company and product. We are fully aware that without Mai we would not have had the same results.”
Tim Kendall, HR Manager of The New Zealand Salvation Army:
“We found the advice and support we got from Mai and Caleb was pivotal in achieving the outcome we wanted (and got). They took the time to understand all the nuances of both our legal and relational position with the entity we were in dispute with and Mai used the relationships she has built up over time to open doors that had been previously closed.”
Peter Johnson JP, Lake Tarawera Sewage Working Group:
“Mai, I just wanted to say a Big Thank You for being our Legal Representation for the Lake Tarawera Sewage working group. It has been a long hard 16 months in fighting the Rotorua Lakes Council for a Fair and Equitable deal for the residents of Lake Tarawera and without your expertise, guidance and networking, we would not achieved this positive outcome.
It is nice to have someone like you to call on to help when you suddenly get yourself in a sticky situation.”
Michael Douglas, Director Addictions and Health, The New Zealand Salvation Army:
“From the moment we engaged Mai and Caleb, the tone of our negotiations shifted. What had felt like an endless, one-sided process quickly transformed into a constructive dialogue grounded in facts and good faith. Thanks to their passion, expertise, and relational influence, we reached a full and fair settlement with confidence and clarity.”
Mai Chen's top areas of expertise
Mai Chen is one of New Zealand’s top public law experts who specialises in:– Administrative law and Judicial Review;
– Public and Constitutional law;
– Regulatory Defence;
– Advising on legislation;
– Inquiries, Investigations and Reviews;
– NZ Bill of Rights and Human Rights;
– Advising on Litigation involving Culturally and Linguistically Diverse parties;
– Treaty of Waitangi; and
– Difficult Employment issues which interface with Public Law.
Caleb Saunders
Working with me is Caleb Saunders, an experienced regulatory and public law barrister, with a sound commercial law background. We are a formidable team and are into our sixth year working together.Caleb is an employed barrister advising across a wide range of public law issues. He has particular expertise at the commercial/regulatory interface with public law.
Caleb also has experience in Te Tiriti o Waitangi, commercial/regulatory advice and disputes, Overseas Investment Act, parliament and law reform, administrative law and judicial review. Caleb has appeared in the High Court on a number of occasions.
My professional career has focused on promoting and upholding the Rule of Law – that we are all equal before the law and should be able to get equal access to the law.
Superdiversity Institute for Law, Policy and Business
The 2023 Census confirms that the New Zealand population is transforming with almost 1 million people identifying as Māori. Aotearoa is heading towards 30% of the population being superdiverse, meaning those not born in New Zealand. More than half of Auckland’s population is superdiverse, comprising Pacific peoples at 16.6 per cent, Asians at 31.3 per cent and Māori at 12.3 per cent of the total population. Auckland has also been named the Polynesian capital of the world.A superdiversity lens needs to be placed on all business, government, regulatory, education and non-for-profit activities. If you need coaching on how to put a superdiversity framework on your enterprise, whether that be in a business, government, regulatory or non-for-profit capacity, Mai Chen has the expertise to assist. The Royal Commission concluded that “there is a lack of cultural and linguistic competence and a poor understanding of the implications of New Zealand’s increasingly diverse demographics in Public sector agencies”.[1] This quote from the Royal Commission could equally apply to the private sector and non-for-profit agencies.
Mai Chen was the Chair of the Superdiversity Institute for Law, Policy and Business and has authored various reports showing her expertise. She also created the CQ Tick for cultural capability and has trained and advised a diverse range of organisations including the Ministry of Transport, Department of Corrections, National Emergency Management Agency, Tenancy Services, nib (health insurer) and more.
[1] Ko tō tātou kāinga tēnei: Report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the terrorist attack on Christchurch masjidain on 15 March 2019 (26 November 2020) at 159.
Superdiversity Institute for Law, Policy and Business: Reports
“Cultural Capability and Business Success Report: 5 top business leaders making cultural capability a cornerstone of their success” (2022) Download PDF (1MB)
“Culturally, ethnically and linguistically diverse parties in the Courts: a Chinese case study” (2019) Download PDF (14MB)
“National Culture and its Impact on Workplace Health and Safety and Injury Prevention for Employers and Workers” (2019) Download PDF (2MB)
“Health and safety regulators in a superdiverse context: Review of challenges and lessons from United Kingdom, Canada and Australia” (2018) Download PDF (1MB)
“Diverse Thinking Capability Audit of New Zealand Boardrooms 2018” (2018) Download PDF (2MB)–
“The Diversity Matrix: Updating What Diversity Means For Discrimination Laws in the 21st Century” (2017) Download PDF (1MB)
“Superdiversity Stocktake: Implications for Business, Government and New Zealand” (2015) Download PDF (5MB)
“Superdiversity, Democracy & New Zealand’s Electoral & Referenda Laws” (2015) Download PDF (19.6MB)
