Walker Street Chambers

23/12/2024

Meri Kirihimete 🎄
Our office is closed until Monday 6 January 2025. Barristers can be contacted directly via their contact details on our website at

A leading set of independent barristers chambers located in Christchurch, New Zealand. MEMBERS PROVIDE SPECIALIST LEGAL SERVICES IN CRIMINAL LAW, CIVIL LAW, EMPLOYMENT LAW, FAMILY LAW AND PRIVACY LAW. ITS BARRISTERS ARE EXPERIENCED CRIMINAL LAWYERS AND CIVIL LAWYERS WITH EXPERTISE IN DISPUTE RESOLU

23/04/2024

Walker Street Chambers has two offices available to lease to barristers looking to join a well established and collegial chambers in Christchurch. Our members are specialists in criminal, civil, family, employment, privacy, resource management and environmental law, with a strong focus on access to justice for clients. All inquiries to [email protected] or contact Kerryn Beaton KC or Anselm Williams.

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01/03/2024

Our new receptionist.

15/03/2023

Walker Street Chambers congratulates our colleague and door tenant Ruth Thomas on her recent appointment as a Relief Coroner sitting in Palmerston North. Go well Coroner Thomas.

22/12/2022

Meri Kirihimete from everyone at Walker Street Chambers.

01/10/2022

Members of Walker Street Chambers looking good at the 2022 Criminal Bar Association conference dinner.

23/12/2021

Meri kirihimete to all our clients, friends and supporters in 2021. Walker Street Chambers will be closed from 23 December and reopen on 5 January 2022. Please contact your lawyer directly if you need assistance over that period.

29/07/2021

The 22 barristers at Walker Street Chambers are feeling pretty pleased 16 of us are no longer expected to introduce ourselves in court defined by our marital status 😊

While male counsel have traditionally introduced themselves by surname only, female practitioners have in the past been instructed effectively to make known their marital status.

23/12/2020

15/12/2020

Walker Street is very pleased to welcome two new barristers into chambers, Nicola Pointer and Paddy Brand.

Nicola Pointer is a barrister sole specialising in criminal defence. Nicola brings with her many years of experience in criminal law having previously worked as a senior defence lawyer for the Public Defence Service and a Crown prosecutor for Raymond Donnelly & Co. Prior to that she worked in the civil litigation team at Corcoran French. Nicola is a PAL4 criminal legal aid provider and acts for clients facing the most serious offences. She is committed to ensuring her clients receive thorough and effective legal representation.

Paddy Brand was admitted to the bar in September 2020 after graduating from the University of Canterbury. After working as a law clerk in chambers for two years, Paddy now joins Walker Street as an employed barrister supervised in the areas of family and criminal law. Prior to law Paddy worked as a High School teacher for eight years both in New Zealand and overseas, so this is his second career. Paddy considers everyone has the right to be represented well by their lawyer and to understand the process that they are a part of.

Welcome to Chambers Nicola and Paddy.

09/04/2020

Two years ago today Walker Street Chambers was founded by two barristers with a vision. We are now home to 15 barristers, a forensic scientist, a private investigator, 2 law clerks and 4 support staff.

We have appeared in the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal; High, District, Family, Youth, Employment and Environment courts; the ERA and the Coroners Court. Our barristers have been appointed Amicus Curie, Counsel Assisting a Royal Commission, Lawyer for Child and as Youth Advocates.

We are particularly proud that

* 11 of our 15 Barristers are women. That’s 73%

* We have supported four law students to become lawyers by providing paid employment and meaningful work

* Four members attended the second Kura Reo run by Te Hunga Rōia Māori O Aotearoa

* Members wrote books and articles, presented at courses and conferences and to parliamentary select committees

* A member was appointed to the Criminal Cases Review Commission Establishment Advisory Group

* Members trained as fi****ms experts

* Three of our members increased their legal aid provider approvals from PAL 1 – PAL 2

In year 3 we will continue our commitment to excellence, expertise, access to justice and training and diversity at the Bar. But today we celebrated in lockdown - in and with some bubbles.