Profile

Belinda is a respected medical law specialist. She has spent most of her 25 year legal career honing her expertise in our unique health care sector, appearing regularly before specialist tribunals and courts throughout New Zealand.

Belinda is privileged to work with and support those at the cutting edge of medicine and clinical practice, often dealing with human nature at its rawest and in the face of serious complaints and investigations. Belinda relishes working with experts at the top of their field, inevitably to understand the specific area of medicine involved. Risk management, strategic advice, and sound judgement are the pillars of her legal practice. Exemplary advocacy on behalf of her clients is her modus operandi.

Belinda is a senior member of the panel of lawyers appointed to act for the Accident Compensation Corporation. She prosecutes and defends health professionals before the Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal. She routinely appears in the High Court, at coronial inquests and before the Human Rights Review Tribunal.

Belinda has been listed in ‘Best Lawyers in New Zealand’ in the practice area of Health Care Law since 2020. She presents seminars to legal and medical leaders in the field. Without question a successful appeal to the Privy Council on the issue of medical negligence remains a career highlight.

Practice Areas

  • Medical law
  • Professional discipline
  • ACC
  • Privacy
  • Civil litigation

    Professional history

    2024Barrister, Quay Chambers
    2016-2024Special counsel, Claro
    2006-2015Litigation contractor to senior barristers; 'Profs' litigation skills instructor
    1998-2005Senior Associate, Brookfields
    1998Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand

    Professional associations

    • New Zealand Law Society
    • New Zealand Bar Association
    • Auckland Women Lawyers’ Association

    Selection of decisions

    • Professional Conduct Committee of the Medical Council of New Zealand v Dr Hanne HPDT 1330/Med 20/499P 10 July 2023 (liability decision)
    • C v Te Whatu Ora [2023] NZHC 2632 (urgent treatment order for 15 year old due to parents refusing consent on religious grounds)
    • YZ v Accident Compensation Corporation [2021] NZHC 344 (special leave to appeal declined)
    • Professional Conduct Committee of the Dental Council of New Zealand v Dr Beer HPDT 1025/Den18/428P 5 February 2020 (penalty decision); unsuccessful appeal on name suppression to High Court ([2020] NZHC 2828)
    • Wanoa v Counties Manukau District Health Board [2019] NZHC 2420; RCL v Counties Manukau District Health Board [2019] NZHC 2483 (Habeas Corpus)
    • Dr Williams v Professional Conduct Committee of the Medical Council of New Zealand [2018] NZHC 2472 (appeal on liability and penalty dismissed)
    • Re Lee [2018] 2 NZLR 731 (urgent order to harvest sperm from dead body)
    • A v Bottrill [2003] 2 NZLR 721 (Privy Council, medical negligence/exemplary damages)

    Contact Belinda

    Quay Chambers is located on the corner of Quay Street and Commerce Street in the Britomart precinct. We are a short walk from Britomart Train Station, Britomart Car Park and Downtown Car Park. There are also pay and display car parks nearby.

    Physical Address:
    Level 7, 2 Commerce Street, Auckland 1010

    Postal Address:
    PO Box 106215, Auckland 1143
    DX: CP 18023

    Telephone:
    +64 21 103 1617

    Facsimile:
    +64 9 377 5071

    Email