Jonathan joined the independent bar in April 2026 having practised as a litigation lawyer since 1993. He initially worked as a criminal defence lawyer and in a common law practice before practising and studying in the UK in the mid-late 1990s.

Jonathan was a litigation partner with Buddle Findlay, Wellington, from 2005 to 2012, and spent four years on the Buddle Findlay Board during that time.

In 2012 Jonathan established Claro, a specialist health sector law firm with offices and lawyers in Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch. Between 2012 and 2024 Jonathan was the managing partner of Claro.

In 2024 Claro merged with Dentons Kensington Swan and Jonathan worked for two years as a consultant to Dentons in that firm’s litigation team.

Jonathan has been lead counsel in well over 200 statutory appeals, judicial reviews, and statutory reviews in the courts and in specialist jurisdictions. He has been senior counsel in first instance and appeal cases in the High Court, and in appeals in the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court. Jonathan has been lead counsel in dozens of professional disciplinary cases before the Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal (prosecution and defence) and in dozens of inquests in the Coroners Court.

Jonathan’s litigation and advisory practice is in the public and private sectors. He has extensive experience representing and advising statutory entities, private companies, insurers and professional indemnity organisations, professional colleges and associations, NGOs, charities, and individuals.

Investigations and reviews
Jonathan has undertaken a number of independent investigations and reviews, including workplace investigations, reviews into statutory decisions, and investigations into protected disclosures.

In 2025 Jonathan undertook and completed the Institute programme of the Association of Workplace Investigators (AWI) in Nashville, USA. He is an AWI Certificate Holder.

Academic interests
Jonathan’s academic interests have been in professional regulation and professional discipline. His PhD thesis considered the regulation of medical practitioners in New Zealand. His masters’ dissertation considered the professional disciplinary jurisdiction of the UK’s General Medical Council, with a particular focus on procedural fairness.

National practice
Jonathan has a national practice and accepts instructions from across the country. In addition to Canterbury Chambers Jonathan is also a member of Britomart Chambers, Auckland.