Bankside Chambers
Our chambers was founded in 1990 when a group of barristers took up tenancies at 9 Princes Street, Auckland. In 2005, the founding members moved to the current premises on Shortland Street and renamed their set Bankside Chambers – a reference to nearby Bankside Street, which intersects with Shortland Street.
Bankside has built a distinguished record. Our members are recognised for their legal ability, client-focused approach, depth of experience, and skilled advocacy.
Many of our barristers are leading silks, and a number of former members have gone on to serve as Justices of the High Court and Court of Appeal, as well as judges in overseas jurisdictions including Samoa and the Cook Islands.
Current and former members also sit on important tribunals and public bodies in Aotearoa New Zealand and abroad.
Bankside has premises in Maxwell Chambers, Singapore. Bankside Singapore members sit as arbitrators or appear as counsel in international arbitrations.
Legal Information
Instructing a member of Bankside Chambers is straight forward. All members receive and manage their own instructions, so please contact them directly using the details provided on their individual pages. Those pages also contain information about their professional background, experience and practice areas.
Our members can be instructed by law firms, in-house counsel and overseas’ lawyers. Whilst some members are able to accept direct instructions from clients, due to professional regulations that is not always possible and an instructing solicitor may be required. Members can advise you on this.
Practice Management
Bankside members practise separately and independently as barristers sole. We are not a law firm or a partnership but, instead, a collection of independent professionals.
All members adhere strictly to their professional duties to treat client matters as confidential and to avoid conflicts of interest.
Members share certain common resources within chambers, but each has a self-contained office with separate computer systems, secure storage, email addresses and contact numbers, enabling them to practise independently of their colleagues.
Social Responsibility
Social responsibility, including the adoption of sustainable work practices, is an important part of Bankside Chambers. Many of our barristers regularly act pro bono, and others undertake legal aid work.
Our members also contribute their time and expertise to the legal profession and the wider community. They serve in voluntary roles across numerous professional bodies and committees, including the New Zealand Bar Association, the New Zealand Law Society, the Arbitrators’ and Mediators’ Institute of New Zealand, and the Auckland District Law Society.
Bankside supports a range of community initiatives and charities. We established the Bankside Chambers Student Support Fund at the University of Auckland to assist law students facing financial or personal hardship. The Fund has supported a variety of initiatives, including the provision of additional counselling services.
We are also proud to be 2026 Silver Sponsors of PILSA, the Pacific Island Law Student Association, helping provide Pacific law students with social, academic, and cultural support networks.
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