Meet the Team

  • Director

    Email - helen@telawyers.co.nz

    Phone - 021 929 334

    Helen has more than 20 years’ experience in all aspects of Environmental and Resource Management Law. She initially worked at two of Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest law firms before moving to boutique environmental practices in late 2007.

    Helen’s practice focuses on providing strategic advice for, and consenting of, major projects across all industries from urban development, renewable energy generation, roading and retailing activities to oil and gas exploration, mineral prospecting and pulp and paper manufacture.

    Flexible and driven, Helen is equally comfortable acting for applicants, submitters, iwi/tangata whenua or government. Helen was involved in a number of the Boards of Inquiry that were specifically established under the RMA for the processing of projects of national significance. She is now acting on a number of fast-track applications under the COVID-19 fast-track legislation.

    Helen currently sits on the NZLS Environmental and Resource Management Law Committee and has completed her Hearings Commissioner certification. She regularly contributes to a number of publications in the resource management and environment area, including Planning Quarterly, The Property Lawyer, The Resource Management Bulletin, Resource Management Journal and Law News.

  • Director

    Email - andrew@telawyers.co.nz

    Mobile - 021 662 249

    Andrew is an Environmental and Resource Management Specialist with over 20 years’ experience. Over his career Andrew has worked in-house for major corporates, engineering firms, councils and the Government which has given him a broad experience across all areas of resource management and local government law, including specialist areas such as alcohol licensing, public works, valuation and bylaws.

    More recently, Andrew has focused on private sector development and has had strong success in getting projects referred under the COVID-19 Fast-Tracking legislation and then granted consent. Recent successes include Nola Estate, Brickfields and Melia Place. Other recent successes include various water take consents, including a notified consent for 75ha (canopy) of kiwifruit in Waiau Pa.

    Andrew’s work has extended to undertaking detailed negotiations with key utility providers such as Watercare, Auckland Transport, Healthy Waters and agreeing private development agreements. Infrastructure constraints are becoming a greater constraint on development than zoning limitations and Andrew has the skills and experience to unlock those constraints.

    Andrew’s private development work includes being the lead environmental advisor on a range of major due diligence projects in conjunction with other boutique practices, and he has strong connections with a range of other specialist firms who can be brought in as and when needed.

    Andrew regularly appears as lead counsel at hearings before councils, district licensing committees, the Environment Court, the Alcohol Regulatory and Licensing Authority and the High Court.

  • Consultant

    Email - don@telawyers.co.nz

    Mobile - 021 064 5611

    Don Turley has over 40 years experience in environmental planning law and dispute resolution including 15 years as a partner of a major New Zealand law firm. His work has included assisting clients in obtaining appropriate consents for wind farms and hydro energy projects and remediation measures for contaminated sites.

    Don has provided skilled counsel for clients in a wide range of hearings before local authorities and the Environment Court and High Court and Court of Appeal.

    He is an experienced qualified RMA commissioner and a certified mediator. Don has also had success in acting for local authorities as a facilitator for caucusing of expert witnesses in complex district plan changes. Qualifications and certifications

    • Barrister & Solicitor with LLB

    • RMA commissioner

    • Certified mediator

  • Solicitor

    Email - jeannine@telawyers.co.nz

    Mobile- 021 090 73726

    Jeannine joined The Environmental Lawyers in May 2023. Prior to joining TEL, Jeannine worked in professional services for several years, providing specialist tax advice, and later as a junior barrister specialising in environmental and public law. As a junior barrister, she worked on a range of resource management matters, including judicial reviews, enforcement proceedings and plan changes. Jeannine completed a Master of Laws specialising in Environmental Law at the University of Auckland in August 2023.

    Jeannine grew up in Singapore before moving to Auckland to study a conjoint LLB/BSc degree (majoring in Environmental Science and Geography) at the University of Auckland. She also interned at law firms and environmental organisations across both Singapore and Auckland.

    On weekends, Jeannine likes going away to hike and camp, but on weeknights she enjoys just watching her favourite sitcoms and films with good food.
    Jeannine is also a member of the NZLS Climate Change Law Committee.

  • Solicitor

    Email - alex@telawyers.co.nz

    Mobile- 021 0907 9084

    Alex completed her studies at the University of Canterbury, where she graduated with a double degree in Law and Biological Science (Ecology).

    Following her admission to the bar, she embarked on a year-long adventure abroad where she was based in Austria. Alex continued her legal research work for Dr Elizabeth Macpherson. She has been actively involved in compiling research on a broad range of natural resource matters, with a specific focus on indigenous rights, the rights of nature, and climate change governance.

    Before heading overseas, Alex was a graduate with the Public Defence Service, where she helped senior lawyers draft legal submissions on criminal law matters in the District and High Court. As part of an internship programme with the Department of Conservation, she also co-authored an overview of conservation issues in the Hawke’s Bay region for policymakers. Throughout these experiences, Alex developed a strong ability to communicate effectively with a diverse range of community members, including local landowners, councils, post-settlement government entities (PSGEs), iwi, whānau, and other community stakeholders.

    Alex’s strong desire to help others drives her to deliver high-quality services to her clients. She is eager to combine her knowledge in law and science with The Environmental Lawyers and assist clients navigating developing environmental legislation. Alex is also a member of the NZLS Climate Change Law Committee.

  • Solicitor

    Email - rebekah@telawyers.co.nz

    Rebekah graduated from Victoria University of Wellington with a conjoint degree in Law and Science, majoring in Environmental Studies. She was admitted as a solicitor in 2021.

    Rebekah worked at the Ministry for the Environment in the Resource Management Reform and Climate Change directorates for 9 months before becoming a solicitor. She has now been working as an environmental lawyer for over a year.

    Prior to joining The Environmental Lawyers, Rebekah worked at a boutique environmental law firm in Auckland and has experience on a range of resource management matters including judicial reviews, consent applications, preparing for hearings and plan changes. She has enjoyed working in both public and private environmental areas at such a transformative point in time for legislative and policy reform.

    Growing up on dairy farms in Taranaki and Canterbury, Rebekah was drawn to environmental issues from a young age. This also stems from being an uri of Taranaki iwi. In her spare time, Rebekah enjoys learning Te Reo Māori and New Zealand Sign Language and being outdoors in any capacity. She has recently moved to Edinburgh and is very excited to be studying an LLM in Global Environment and Climate Change Law at the University of Edinburgh.

  • Law Clerk

    Email - amelia@telawyers.co.nz

    Phone - 021 090 52382

    Amelia joined The Environmental Lawyers in November as a Summer Clerk. Amelia has just completed her fourth year studying a conjoint Bachelor of Laws and Arts (majoring in Philosophy) at the University of Otago.

    Prior to joining the Environmental Lawyers, Amelia spent six months studying Law and Philosophy in the United Kingdom at the University of Exeter. Through this, she discovered her passion of travelling and the importance of protecting the Environment.

    Amelia is a highly driven and motivated individual who is eager to learn and contribute to Environmental Law. Outside of work, Amelia is passionate about getting outdoors and enjoying all the beauty New Zealand has to offer.