Stephen Franks is a nationally known lawyer, expert in company and securities law, and law reform.
After early general practice he spent two years in the Office of the Ombudsmen then joined Chapman Tripp in 1979, became a partner in 1981 and served as Chairman of the firm’s National Board. He had six years in Parliament, then four back as a consultant with Chapman Tripp before establishing in July 2009 a specialty law firm, Franks & Ogilvie (Commercial and Public Law Limited) to focus on the intersection of government and commerce.
Stephen ran a vigorous campaign for election in 2008 as the National Party candidate for Wellington Central but the seat was retained by Labour.
He’s been a member of the Securities Commission, the Council of the IOD, and the NZ Stock Exchange’s Market Surveillance Panel. In 2009/10 he served on the Minister of Energy’s expert advisory group on the electricity market structure.
He advised the New Zealand Dairy Board on the route to the creation of Fonterra, the Ministry of Commerce in drafting the Electricity Industry Reform Act, Telecom New Zealand during its privatisation and initial international public offering and the World Bank on legal aspects of corporatisation and privatisation.
Other current interests include a 2,000ha manuka and grazing block, mountain biking, and kayaking. Stephen is married to Catharine and they have four young adult children.
Principal Stephen Franks has written about the announcement yesterday of Massey University’s new *free speech* policy and rules. To read his blog post, click here.
Principal Stephen Franks joined Heather du Plessis Allan on Newstalk ZB’s Drive last night to talk about the data breach of the Police’s firearm notification system. You can listen here.
Principal Stephen Franks, writes on his blog about why voter turnout looks to be so low for this year’s local body elections including the lack of news coverage and the role of Parliament. Read it here.
