Dr James Farmer, KC, of Auckland, CNZM for services to the law
Dr James Farmer’s legal career has included leading New Zealand’s largest-ever civil case and undertaking negotiations with the government that saved Air New Zealand from insolvency. He represented the Commerce Commission in two major cases, setting precedents which positively affected competition. He was President of the New Zealand Industrial Relations Society, and of the New Zealand Bar Association. He has been a Professor of Law at Auckland University and a Law Lecturer at Cambridge University. He has held sports governance roles in Team New Zealand’s America’s Cup Campaigns, the America’s Cup Race Management Board, and the New Zealand Sports Tribunal. Dr Farmer has volunteered for community law projects, mentored Pacific Island lawyers, and undertaken public-interest briefs in the High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court pro-bono.