Partner, Auckland
National Chair
Jennifer Caldwell

Contact
- Auckland office
- DDI +64 9 358 7034
- M +64 21 624 162
Profile
Jennifer specialises in resource management, environmental and local government law, with extensive experience as a strategic adviser and specialist litigator in the Environment Court, High Court and higher courts. She is a leading New Zealand lawyer advising on consent and designation projects and strategic planning processes.
In October 2017, Jennifer was instrumental in Buddle Findlay's appointment to the Supporting Growth Alliance, a five year programme of route protection for transport infrastructure to support Auckland's growth over the next three decades.
In February 2017, Jennifer was appointed Alliance Manager on the East West Link project in Auckland for the NZ Transport Agency. This role involved reporting to the Programme Alliance Board, leading the alliance management team (including performance management of discipline leads), monitoring and managing the project team against the budget, reviewing team performance against Key Result Areas (KRA) and Key Performance Indicators (KPI) and leading the various alliance culture activities.
Before her appointment to the East West Link project, Jennifer provided extensive support to Auckland Council through the preparation of, consultation on and notification of the Proposed Auckland Unitary Plan from 2013 to 2016 and led a legal team that was allocated principal responsibility for a range of topics through the Independent Hearings Panel process. She then represented Auckland Council on a range of High Court and Environment Court appeals.
Jennifer returned to Buddle Findlay in 2013, after five years as Legal Director with ALDAR Properties PJSC, the largest publicly listed property and infrastructure developer in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Her experience in-house and in private practice gives her unique insights into the efficient and effective provision of legal services to complex clients.
Jennifer "has extensive experience before the Environment Court, acting for local government bodies, and health and energy sector entities."
Legal 500
- National Executive Committee Member of the Resource Management Law Association (RMLA)
Work highlights
Acting as Legal Manager
on the Supporting Growth Alliance for the NZ Transport Agency and Auckland Transport
Acting as Alliance Manager
for the NZ Transport Agency on the East West Link project in Auckland
Establishing and participating in
the legal review team for the Proposed Plan and Independent Hearings Panel (IHP) process, comprising representatives of all Auckland Council legal services panel firms, including set up of collaborative case teams and weekly meetings to ensure consistency of Council position across multiple workstreams
Representing Auckland Council
on a range of IHP hearing workstreams including RPS, Infrastructure, Mana Whenua, Biodiversity and SEAs, Trees and Vegetation, Public Open Space, Social Facilities, Designations, Noise, Lighting and Vibration
Representing Auckland Council
on 12 Auckland Unitary Plan appeals in the High Court and Environment Court arising out of the Independent Hearings Panel process on the Proposed Auckland Unitary Plan
Advising Western Bay of Plenty District Council
on various resource consent and regional plan appeals including in relation to non-complying land uses in the rural zone and the Proposed Regional Environmental Coastal Plan (BOPRC) overlays for Matakana Island
Alternate contacts
Vanessa Evitt
Partner, Auckland
Vanessa specialises in resource management, environmental and local government law. She has acted…
- DDI +64 9 363 0584
- M +64 21 754 503
Mathew Gribben
Senior Associate, Auckland
Mathew specialises in environmental and resource management law and advises on a wide range of resource management, environmental and…
- DDI +64 9 363 0635
- M +64 21 150 0231