Sarah Salmond

Advising banks, traders, investors, insurers, and freight companies on economic and financial sanctions-related matters often relating to Russia, Iran, China, Cuba, Myanmar, North Korea, Syria, or Venezuela). We conduct compliance assessments, develop compliance policies, conduct counterparty due diligence, help structure low risk transactions, prepare suspicious activity reports and voluntary disclosures, assist with regulator engagement and draft law reform submissions. We also represent clients in contentious sanctions cases including Banking Ombudsman Scheme disputes, Human Rights Commission mediations, investigations conducted by the United Nations and the New Zealand, United Kingdom and United States governments, and litigation (including representing the Respondent in Targa Capital Limited v Westpac New Zealand Limited [2023] NZHC 230 and the Defendant in New Zealand Customs Service v Pacific Aerospace Ltd [2018] NZDC 5034).

Providing comprehensive regulatory advice for producers, manufacturers, distributors and retailers of goods and services. This support spans all aspects of a product's "life span", including product standards, regulatory approvals, packaging, labelling, advertising, fair trading laws, consumer guarantee laws, exporting and recalls.

Assisting clients with incident responses, conducting internal investigations, identifying remedial actions, and providing strategic counsel and representation during regulatory investigations. We have considerable experience of participating in regulatory investigations conducted by the Customs Service, the Environmental Protection Authority, the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment, the Ministry for Primary Industries, and WorkSafe. Sarah recently led a team of five lawyers providing a dairy company with comprehensive advice relating to the procedural, substantive and reputational aspects of a Ministerial Inquiry into a food safety incident. She has been on the Public Service Commission’s Panel of Lead Inquirors since 2020.

Advising traders and trade facilitators on complex customs matters. We routinely resolve queries relating to: importer and sponsor obligations, tariff classifications, customs valuations, rules of origin, import restrictions, export controls, refunds and drawbacks, customs administration, bonded warehouses, free trade zones, customs controlled areas, and customs broker and freight forwarder relationships. We also represent clients in contentious customs cases before the Customs Service, the Customs Appeal Authority, the Ministry for Primary Industries, and the Environmental Protection Authority.

Providing product safety advice and assisting clients to instigate, carry out and notify product recalls. We recently represented a manufacturer involved in New Zealand’s largest-ever food recall, which attracted significant media and supply chain partner attention. Our work involved conducting an internal investigation, assisting the client to participate effectively in the Ministry for Primary Industries’ related investigation, engaging with retailers and the client’s insurer, engaging technical advisors to assist with remedial actions and process improvements, and responding to customer claims for compensation. The recall was a success and MPI’s investigation was terminated without penalty.

Assisting four multinationals to bring their cutting-edge technologies to New Zealand. This work has involved helping our clients to navigate New Zealand’s regulatory frameworks governing radio equipment, electronic products, cloud computing, and the ophthalmology sector. We are also assisting three New Zealand export industries to secure improved market access for their goods or services to the European Union, India and Singapore.

Securing favourable law and policy reforms for clients. Secured passage of an Amendment Order permitting hazardous waste exports to the United States. Also provided wide-ranging legal, technical, and strategic advice to a telecommunications company seeking Government approval to participate in the development of New Zealand’s 5G network.

Advising the United Kingdom Department for International Trade on the UK-New Zealand free trade agreement negotiations and the UK’s negotiations to accede to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership. These appointments were for three years each and resulted from two separate competitive tender processes. We routinely assist traders with cross-border contractual matters.