Senior Associate - Auckland
Hannah Macdonald
About
Hannah began her legal career in the Banking and Finance team of a large commercial law firm in Wellington.
Prior to joining MC, Hannah worked in London as a lawyer in the UK Government Legal Department. She spent four years in the Immigration Litigation Division, representing the Secretary of State for the Home Department in judicial reviews and appeals. She then spent a year in the Civil and Family Law team in the Ministry of Justice Legal Advisors where she specialised in private international law, with a focus on Brexit.
Upon joining MC, Hannah specialised in the recovery of the proceeds of crime, conducting civil litigation on behalf of the Commissioner of Police under the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act 2009. She is also a Crown prosecutor, dealing with criminal prosecutions.
Currently, Hannah is working with the Capability and Development team as a subject matter expert, developing cutting-edge training material and resources for the firm.
Recent Cases & Achievements
Commissioner of Police v Gong
Restraint and subsequent forfeiture proceedings brought by the Commissioner of Police against Canada-based respondent Xiaohua Gong, on the basis of allegations that he laundered the proceeds of a Chinese pyramid scheme into accounts and assets in New Zealand. This litigation resulted in the forfeiture of over $70m, the largest forfeiture of proceeds of crime secured in New Zealand at that time.
Hampshire County Council v C.E. and N.E. (C-325/18 PPU and C-375/18 PPU)
Proceedings in the European Court of Justice arising from a request by the Irish Court of Appeal for a preliminary ruling on questions relating to whether the courts of one Member State could impose an injunction directed at a public body of another Member State, purporting to prevent that body from commencing proceedings for the adoption of children in its custody.
R (on the applications of TV (Vietnam) & US (Pakistan) v Secretary of State for the Home Department & Anor
Appeal against the High Court’s finding that although the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal (Fast Track Procedure) Rules 2005 were ultra vires, all appeals heard under those rules did not automatically fall to be quashed.
R (on the application of Khaled Belfken) v the Secretary of State for the Home Department
Judicial review challenging the lawfulness of the claimant’s detention.
Credentials
LLB, Victoria University of Wellington