Frank McLaughlin Frank McLaughlin

Frank McLaughlin

Consultant
Wellington

Corporate governance
Public law
Regulatory law

With 25 years’ experience, Frank advises clients across regulations, public policy and legislative processes, corporate governance, corporate advisory and transactions.

Frank combines a strong understanding of government processes and policy, along with extensive corporate experience. His government experience reflects a comprehensive engagement record. He has previously held roles within the public service as a Deputy Secretary at the Ministry of Justice and working at the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet.

The combination of Frank's government and private sector experience and skills enables him to operate comfortably and effectively at the interface of the private and public sectors – helping develop, broker and oversee solutions that meet both public policy and commercial objectives. Frank also has a significant Pacific experience working for various Pacific governments on sector reforms and institutional strengthening projects, as well as working closely with key donors and regional organisations including the World Bank, MFAT, and the Pacific Island Forum Fisheries Association.

Recent highlights

  • Working at the interface of the public and private sector on matters of significant reform including:
    • establishing Fonterra and relevant regulatory framework for the dairy industry
    • modernisation of our financial market regulation and demutualisation of the New Zealand Stock Exchange
    • advising Treasury on the implementation and administration of the Crown's Retail Deposit Guarantee Scheme
    • advising Telecom NZ in the successful negotiations with the New Zealand Government on delivery of Ultra-Fast Broadband
    • advising Treasury on Crown support for, restructuring and sale of, AMI Insurance
    • Christchurch City Council on governance structures and the legislative framework for the on-going regeneration of Christchurch post-earthquakes and on-going advice to the Regeneration Authority 2015-2019
    • advising the Ministry of Justice on the development of the Trust law Act 2019 and its application to the capital markets
    • Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency on its 2019 Government bid for design and delivery of the Auckland Light Rail proposal.
  • Advising the private and public sector, both domestically and internationally, on a range of legal, governance, policy and law reform matters including: financial market reform, regulation of financial intermediaries, telecommunications reform, urban development reform and climate change-related reform including on-going support to the governments of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Republic of Palau and the Federated States of Micronesia on reforms of their respective telecommunications markets.
  • Working effectively with a range of stakeholders and decision makers, including direct experience with briefings to Ministers, Cabinet committees, Select Committees, chairing government inter-agency committees and meetings, stakeholder meetings and project management committees.
  • Representing New Zealand internationally at various forums including the UNHRC, OECD and Financial Action Task Force-related meetings.

Frank's insights

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