Richard McLeod – Partner
Richard holds a Bachelor’s degree in Law from the University of Otago and a Masters degree in Law from Victoria University, Wellington. After working with Amnesty International in London, Richard commenced a PhD scholarship researching international refugee law at Kobe University, Japan, before moving to Hong Kong in 1997 where he worked as a legal advocate with Pam Baker & Associates, representing hundreds of Vietnamese refugees in legal battles against the Hong Kong Government. His experiences affirmed for Richard that his future lay in the world of migration, putting him in good stead for a career advocating for migrants from all corners of the world, with a particular interest in refugee and asylum cases.
After returning to New Zealand in 1999, Richard won thousands of immigration and asylum cases at departmental, appellate and court levels. Since founding McLeod & Associates in 2002, he has been involved in a number of high profile immigration cases including the Ahmed Zaoui case – which was fought and won at the High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court levels. He is regularly instructed to act for both individuals and large corporations in a variety of immigration disputes and litigation proceedings, and regularly works with Queens Counsel and other senior practitioners on complex immigration, human rights and refugee cases.
Richard has appeared on TV and National Radio as an immigration expert and is a regular contributor to Law Society seminars and Continuing Legal Education. Having lived and travelled so extensively abroad, Richard has a particular affinity and respect for migrants to New Zealand and is frequently moved by the goodwill, decency and tenacity that he observes in so many of his clients. Outside the office, Richard loves travelling abroad, spending time with friends, boating, playing tennis, skiing, dancing, and fishing in the world’s greatest country. His best getaway spot is to Hahei, Coromandel and his favourite slice of New Zealand paradise is right next door – at Cathedral Cove, Coromandel.