RaChAel Jones

He uri nō Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairoa, Ngāti Rakaipaaka.

Rachael is an experienced litigation lawyer with particular expertise in Māori legal issues and public and administrative law. Rachael has appeared in the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, High Court and Māori Land Court.

With her special interest in Māori legal issues, Rachael has represented clients in precedent cases relating to tikanga Māori in the law of Aotearoa in the senior courts. She has also acted in alternative dispute resolution forums for iwi and hapū clients, as well as for entities who engage with Māori groups.

Rachael also provides advice and advocacy in matters relating to:

• Māori land;
• Trusts and governance, in particular for post-settlement governance entities;
• Law reform;
• Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) proceedings;
• Intellectual property;
• Contract and commercial issues;
• Environmental and resource management instructions.‍

Rachael’s work is recognised in the Legal 500 Asia Pacific Dispute Resolution directory for 2022. She was also recognised as a Rising Star by NZ Lawyer in 2024. She also received the inaugural Te Pae Tata Award for her contribution to a project that significantly advanced indigenous interests, awarded by Te Hunga Rōia Māori o Aotearoa in 2018.

Rachael is available to accept instructions as sole or junior counsel at any stage of a proceeding. Rachael has particular expertise in briefing expert evidence for trial.

Prior to joining the independent bar in January 2025, Rachael was a Senior Associate at Chapman Tripp in Auckland, where she worked for nine years in the firm’s litigation and Te Waka Ture teams. Rachael began her career as a Judges’ Clerk in the Wellington High Court, assisting Justice Joe Williams and Justice Brendan Brown.

In 2018 Rachael studied towards a Master of Laws (LLM) at Columbia Law School in New York City, which she attended as a Fulbright (Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga) Scholar. She also received scholarships from the Yvonne A M Smith Trust, the Spencer Mason Trust and Ngāti Kahungunu Incorporated to support her studies. Rachael graduated from Columbia with academic honours in 2019, before returning to Chapman Tripp.