Thomas Newman

I’m one of solicitors on the litigation team here at Steindle Williams. I have a background in criminal defence and a special interest the “speech related” issues including Defamation, Privacy, Confidentiality, Harmful Digital Communications and Harassment. I strive to combine technical skill with straight talking and emotional intelligence to achieve the best outcomes in my professional relationships and for my clients.

I started my professional life in 2017 at a firm specialising in Public and Administrative Law, before a stint working as a Deputy Registrar in the District Court, followed by 5 and a half years of dedicated criminal defence work. I have regularly appeared in the District and High Courts for several years now and have appeared as both lead and junior counsel in the Court of Appeal for serious criminal appeals.

“Speech related” issues form a large part of my personal case load. I have helped people successfully defend defamation claims at trial, settle disputes about “digital harm”, negotiate corrections of defamatory online publications in mainstream media, and prevent cases from getting to court through careful communication and advocacy.

My criminal defence experience spans the whole spectrum of criminal prosecutions, from traffic prosecutions for drink driving all the way to murder and serious drug dealing, including bail, trials, sentencing, name suppression and applications for discharge without conviction.  

My civil experience ranges from acting in debt recovery, and liquidation insolvency matters, breaches of contract, claims for unlawful conspiracies, intentional infliction of emotional distress, unlawful interference in economic interests to fencing disputes and applications for limited licences.

Outside of work I have been involved in the governance of major civil liberties organisations and appeared before various Parliamentary Select Committees including the Regulations Review Committee (complaint against regulations making “tikanga” a compulsory subject in legal education), the Education and Workforce Committee and the Justice Committee (in support of the Treaty Principles Bill).

If you need assistance, give me a call and we can have a confidential conversation about how I can help.