Media Insider: Top lawyer and former TVNZ political editor Linda Clark’s big legal career move

She was essentially becoming a “gun for hire” on her own terms, a legal source told Media Insider. Barristers operate with more independence and autonomy, having greater choice over what cases they take on and setting their own hours and fees.

Clark told the Herald in a statement today that she had “thoroughly enjoyed” her time at Dentons, describing it as a “great” firm.

“I have been very lucky to work with some brilliant clients on some tricky issues. None of it would have been possible without the support of a fantastic team of lawyers, and I look forward to continuing to work with them, albeit in a different capacity.

“The move to the bar is something I have been considering for some time. It is a natural progression for litigators. I am a great believer in staying curious and continuing to challenge yourself. It was simply time to take my own advice.”

Dentons chair Hayden Wilson said the firm was “excited” for Clark.

“It is a credit to Linda that she has grown and developed the next generation of senior lawyers in our team, and in our firm – as evidenced by our promotion of four new litigation partners over the course of the last year.”

Thorndon Chambers, established in 1994, describes itself as a group of leading barristers, specialising in public, commercial and international law.

“Thorndon Chambers has a proud tradition of having female barristers who have become leaders in the profession, taking silk, being appointed to the [judicial] bench, or going on to distinguished careers in the public service,” says its website.

Clark said it was a privilege to join a “group of barristers I very much admire”.

Clark has been involved in some of the country’s biggest media/legal cases in the past 12 months, including representing former police deputy commissioner Jevon McSkimming early in his employment case, as well as the mother of fugitive Tom Phillips in an ongoing injunction.

Clark will be best known to a generation of politicians, television viewers and radio listeners as the political editor of TVNZ and, later, the host of RNZ’s weekday Nine to Noon show.

Linda Clark, then and now: As TVNZ political editor (left), and more recently as a partner at Dentons. Photos / TVNZ

Her successful career in journalism has been matched by an equally rapid rise in the legal industry.

She qualified as a lawyer in 2012 and, by the end of the decade, she was made partner at Kensington Swan – now Dentons.

She has, in a short time, acquired several high-profile cases. Aside from the current Phillips injunction, she has:

Represented McSkimming on some of his legal matters since his departure from the police. At one stage, she was granted an injunction that prevented media from publishing new details about the criminal investigation he faced;Represented Clarke Gayford, the husband of former Prime Minister Dame Jacinda Ardern, in a defamation threat against NZME’s then-fledgling Kick youth platform;Represented Rachel MacGregor in the defamation case brought against her by former Conservative Party leader Colin Craig;Represented high-profile media personalities in contract negotiations, including Duncan Garner for a role on the AM TV show;Been a part of the independent panel that reviewed RNZ editorial practices after the broadcaster published stories about the Ukraine war with pro-Russian edits;Represented Parliament’s then Speaker, Trevor Mallard, when he was defending a defamation claim.

Clark has also been a board member of TVNZ and NZ on Air, among other public sector roles.

Her time on the TVNZ board was short, just under two years, as it turned out. She was appointed in July 2023 for a two-year term, but took temporary leave in May last year because of her work on the McSkimming case.

TVNZ’s board had “complete confidence in Linda’s professional judgment and capabilities”, but a “potential for a conflict existed” between the two responsibilities, TVNZ’s then chairman Alastair Carruthers said at the time.

The Government did not reappoint Clark last year, when her tenure came up for renewal.

Dentons, meanwhile, represents a wide range of clients and Clark has always been clear that the high-profile cases are only a glimpse of the work her team carries out.

Nevertheless, Dentons’ own website says Clark has “acted on a range of sensitive matters for high-profile clients, including for a senior police leader who was the subject of a year-long investigation by the Independent Police Conduct Authority into allegations of bullying and inappropriate conduct; for a law partner of a major law firm facing allegations of sexual harassment; and for one of the five summer clerks who, in the summer of 2015-16, was sexually assaulted by (former) Russell McVeagh partner James Gardiner-Hopkins”.

Labour leader Chris Hipkins revealed last year that Dentons had advised him, former Prime Minister Dame Jacinda Ardern, Grant Robertson and Ayesha Verrall on whether the quartet should appear publicly before the latest Royal Commission inquiry into the handling of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Phillips injunction

In the High Court at Wellington in recent months, Clark has been facing off against NZME, Stuff, TVNZ, RNZ and Newsroom in the Phillips injunction case.

In September, Justice Helen Cull suppressed the arguments heard in court, but allowed the media to report that procedural matters were discussed.

The suppression order was extended until further order of the court.

Phillips was killed in September after a shootout with police.

The High Court granted an injunction on that Monday evening after an urgent oral application from Clark on behalf of Phillips’ mother, Julia Phillips.

An earlier version of this story said staff at Dentons were told about Clark’s move today; Clark says the wider team was told last week.

Editor-at-Large Shayne Currie is one of New Zealand’s most experienced senior journalists and media leaders. He has held executive and senior editorial roles at NZME including Managing Editor, NZ Herald Editor and Herald on Sunday Editor and has a small shareholding in NZME.