Grant Nicholson
Partner
|
Auckland
Bio
Widely regarded as one of New Zealand’s leading health and safety lawyers, Grant Nicholson has extensive experience in all aspects of health and safety law. His style is warm and collaborative, and he enjoys getting out to see his clients “in the real world”. Doyle’s Guide describes him as “pre-eminent” in health and safety and he is also ranked by Chambers & Partners. Legal 500 says Grant “has excellent knowledge in aspects of health and safety law, and the behaviours of regulators during their enquiry”.
Clients include construction and infrastructure companies, Crown entities, distributors, insurance companies, logistics providers, manufacturers, not-for-profits, ports, territorial authorities, tourism operators and others on their health and safety needs.
Grant’s work includes “front end” legal compliance, risk management, and leadership and culture development, and “back end” work on serious incident investigations, and representation during interactions with regulators, coroners, and the courts. He also has extensive experience in insurance and commercial litigation. Relentlessly pragmatic and commercial in approach, Grant combines expert technical knowledge with the practical insight gained from many years of experience.
Recognition
- Chambers and Partners, Employment, Ranked, 2010-2024
- Legal 500 Asia-Pacific, Labour and Employment, Recommended Lawyer, 2010-2024
- New Zealand Doyle's Guide, Health and Safety, Preeminent Lawyer 2019-2024
Qualifications
- LLB Hons – University of Auckland
- Admitted in New Zealand – 1994
- Admitted in England and Wales – 2003
Work highlights
- Represented White Island Tours Limited an adventure tourism business that was hosting tourists on live volcano Whakaari/White Island when it erupted in December 2019. Anthony Harper is advising White Island Tours in its defence of charges under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 and in its dealings with the New Zealand Police and the Coroner. The outcomes of this case and the current coronial inquest impact the future regulation and management of adventure tourism operations in New Zealand.
- Represented Flick Anticimex a multi-national fumigation business in an investigation and prosecution by WorkSafe New Zealand after a worker was hospitalised with symptoms arising from exposure to methyl bromide – a controversial industrial fumigant which has been banned in a number of overseas jurisdictions.
- Represented clients in the defence of charges laid by WorkSafe New Zealand for workplace fatalities and serious injuries.
- Advised a District Health Board (DHB) on the health and safety issues arising from completion of facilities management special projects and development work across the public health hospital and out-patient network.
- Advised a listed international property syndicator and manager with a commercial portfolio across New Zealand on the health and safety duties and essential responsibilities and liabilities of a new syndicated property joint venture.
