Blair Keown

Partner, Auckland

Contact

+64 9 916 8796 +64 21 185 0409 blair.keown@bellgully.com View my LinkedIn

Expertise

Blair is one of New Zealand's leading disputes and regulatory enforcement lawyers. He is regularly instructed by corporates, financial institutions and individuals to resolve their most sensitive contentious issues.  

Blair is one the few lawyers in the market who offers civil and criminal trial experience, in-depth knowledge of New Zealand's regulators, and risk and crisis management expertise.

Blair's experience covers the full spectrum of contentious issues including:

  • complex commercial disputes
  • regulatory and criminal investigations and prosecutions
  • compliance and risk management advice, and
  • trial advocacy.

Qualifications

LLB (Hons) / BCom (Finance) University of Auckland
BCL (Distinction) Oxford University​​
2006 Admitted New Zealand
2016 Admitted England & Wales - Higher Rights of Audience (all civil courts in England and Wales)​

Professional experience

​2011-2018 Allen & Overy LLP London​​​, UK

Market recognition

The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2025 Dispute resolution, 'Next Generation Partner'.

Work highlights

FMA enforcement

Acting for a range of institutions in investigations and enforcement action brought by the FMA into suspected breaches of the Financial Markets Conduct Act 2013.

SFO Political Donations Trial

Successfully defending Yikun Zhang in Serious Fraud Office prosecution into donations to the National Party and Labour Party.

Criminal proceedings

Acting for a number of New Zealand companies in criminal proceedings brought by regulators including the Commerce Commission and Ministry of Primary Industries.  

Fair price valuation

Acting for a New Zealand company in an arbitration brought under the minority buy out provisions of the Companies Act.

Bonnard Lawson

Successfully defending a Swiss law firm in High Court proceedings concerning payment of a NZ$13m success fee.

SkyCity

Acting for SkyCity in pecuniary penalty proceedings brought by the Department of Internal Affairs for breaches of the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter Financing of Terrorism Act.

Climate Change litigation

Acting for Genesis Energy in defending climate change related tort claims.

Urgent interim relief

Successfully obtaining urgent interim relief for New Zealand and overseas Corporations, including freezing orders and disclosure orders in support of overseas proceedings.

Cyber breach

Acting for a Trans-Tasman corporation in responding to a cyber breach.

Relevant insights

17 June 2025
The Employment Relations Amendment Bill has landed – and it has the potential to transform employment relations in New Zealand
6 June 2025
Enforcing against joint borrowers: UK Supreme Court raises the bar for banks
21 May 2025
The Big Picture: Class Actions
24 April 2025
Fraud and Scams Update: Banks commit to new protections – and reimbursement - for scam victims
23 April 2025
Government releases guidance for the responsible use and adoption of Generative AI by the public sector
8 April 2025
Health and Safety at Work Act 2015: proposed reform
2 April 2025
CCCFA & COFI update: major reforms offer simplification (and a few new challenges)
31 March 2025
Fraud and scams update: English Court rules on banks’ duties to non-customers
3 March 2025
CBL judgment – CFO found liable as an accessory for continuous disclosure breaches
3 March 2025
High Court overturns Whakaari Management Ltd conviction and addresses scope of key legislative provision
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