Genevieve Taylor
Genevieve specialises in civil litigation, public law and international law. She has extensive experience providing advice and representation on matters involving judicial review, human rights, extradition, torts and privacy. She has appeared as counsel at all levels of the New Zealand court hierarchy, including as lead counsel in several judicial review hearings, civil trials, and interlocutory hearings.
Her international law experience includes time spent working in international arbitration in London and Germany, and as a lawyer at New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Her academic interests are in the application of international law in domestic courts, and she has been counsel in several judicial review claims involving international law issues.
Genevieve completed a LLB(Hons)/BA at Victoria University of Wellington and an LLM at Columbia Law School in New York. Immediately prior to joining the independent bar she worked at the Crown Law Office for 7 years.
-
Judicial review and public law
Counsel for the Commissioner of Police in Dotcom v Minister of Justice and anor [2026] NZCA 284 and [2025] NZHC 2634, [2025] 3 NZLR 486 (judicial review of a decision not to charge Mr Dotcom with New Zealand offences instead of extradition).
Counsel for Corrections in Browne v Chief Executive of the Department of Corrections (judgment reserved) (judicial review of a decision to reduce prisoners’ telephone time).
Junior counsel to the Solicitor-General in Minister of Justice v Kim [2021] NZSC 57; [2021] 1 NZLR 338 (judicial review of a decision to extradite to the People’s Republic of China on the basis of diplomatic assurances) (and Kim v Minister of Justice [2017] NZHC 2109, [2017] 3 NZLR 823, and Kim v Minister of Justice of New Zealand [2019] NZCA 209, [2019] 3 NZLR 173).
Counsel for the Attorney-General in the Court of Appeal in Kiwi Party Incorporated v Attorney-General [2020] NZCA 80; [2020] 2 NZLR 224 (An application to strike out a claim challenging legislation restricting military style semi-automatic weapons)
Counsel for the Attorney-General in Vincent v New Zealand Parole Board [2020] NZHC 3316 (a judicial review of the Parole Board’s decision to decline parole to an elderly prisoner).
Counsel for Corrections in Smith v Chief Executive of the Department of Corrections [2019] NZHC 2472 (a judicial review of a decision to decline a journalist’s request to interview a prisoner)
Junior counsel for the Crown in Ngaronoa v Attorney-General [2017] NZCA 351, [2017] 3 NZLR 643 (a challenge to prisoner disenfranchisement legislation as being contrary to the manner and form provisions in the Electoral Act 1993)
General civil litigation
Counsel for the Crown in Cuttance v Attorney-General (District Court trial of a medical negligence and right to life claim).
Counsel for Police in King v Commissioner of Police [2023] NZHRRT 19 (disability discrimination claim based on treatment in custody).
Junior counsel for the Crown in Wallace v Attorney-General [2021] NZHC 1963 (right to life claim including a novel duty to investigate following a Police shooting).
Declarations of inconsistency
Junior counsel to the Solicitor-General in Attorney-General v Taylor [2018] NZSC 104; [2019] 1 NZLR 213 (Supreme Court decision which established the remedial jurisdiction of a declaration of inconsistency under the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990)
Junior counsel for the Crown in New Zealand Health Professionals Alliance v Attorney-General [2021] NZHC 2510 (declaration of inconsistency claim challenging the conscientious objection provisions of the Abortion Legislation Act 2020).
Counsel for the Crown in the Human Rights Review Tribunal in Hoban v Attorney-General [2022] NZHRRT 16 (challenging hate speech legislation)
-
LLM, Columbia University (James Kent Scholar)
LLB (Hons), Victoria University of Wellington
BA (International Relations), Victoria University of Wellington