Wilkinson Smith Lawyer - Expert Criminal Defence & Civil Law

Wilkinson Smith is a leading New Zealand criminal defence law firm specialising in serious criminal matters. The firm is headed by Chris Wilkinson-Smith, a highly experienced barrister with over 25 years of experience in criminal defence and prosecution. Having served as a Senior Crown Counsel from 2000 to 2004 before establishing his defence practice, Chris brings unique insights from both prosecution and defence perspectives to his client representation.

The firm handles a comprehensive range of criminal matters including murder and manslaughter cases, sexual offences, drug offences across all classes, fraud and white-collar crime, violence and assault charges, and driving offences. They are particularly renowned for their expertise in criminal appeals, having successfully appeared in New Zealand's highest courts including the Supreme Court on multiple occasions. The firm also provides specialised services in bail applications, name suppression orders, and parole hearings, with a 24-hour service available for urgent matters.

Beyond criminal defence, Wilkinson Smith offers civil legal aid services including prison law and prisoner compensation, consumer law, class actions, and trusts and wills matters. The firm serves clients throughout New Zealand, with Chris Wilkinson-Smith being a former President of the New Zealand Criminal Bar Association and a faculty member of the NZ Law Society Litigation Skills programme. Their track record includes numerous successful outcomes in high-profile cases and appeals across all levels of the New Zealand court system.