Understanding the role of the Prosecutor (CPD 1.5 hr)

Richard Marchant

Richard Marchant is an Auckland based barrister who has extensive experience in prosecuting regulatory cases and cases as a Crown Prosecutor. Richard began his career at Meredith Connell before travelling overseas where he prosecuted local body and regulatory offences in London. After returning to New Zealand he re-joined Meredith Connell, prosecuting serious crime primarily in the High Court. He became a partner of the firm in 1995 and was chairman of the firm's board from 2008 until 2013. He left the firm in September 2014 and set up Regent Chambers with Aaron Perkins KC and Kieran Raftery KC (who were also former partners of Meredith Connell). They were later joined by Merren Keil, Jasper Rhodes and Elish O’Connor.

Since being at the bar Richard has prosecuted cases on behalf of New Zealand law society, Auckland Council, Tauranga Council and Worksafe. He also regularly prosecutes serious cases for the Crown Solicitors at Manukau and Tauranga and is also on the Crown prosecution panel for the Crown Solicitor at Palmerston North. He has prosecuted over 30 murder trials as a lead counsel for the Crown. He has prosecuted over 100 sexual violation cases in his career to date.

Charlotte Brook 

Charlotte is Senior Crown Counsel in the Criminal Group at the Crown Law Office, where she has been conducting appeals on behalf of the Crown in the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court since 2010. Prior to that she worked as a Crown Prosecutor in both Palmerston North and Wellington conducting jury trials in the District and High Courts. She has also lectured in criminal law at Te Herenga Waka | Victoria University of Wellington.

Iswari (Ish) Jayanandan (Chair)

Ish is of Sri Lankan descent, and worked in criminal law for the past 23 years, and as a Barrister Sole since 2010.  Her trial work is varied in nature and includes Judge Alone and Jury Trials in both the High Court and District Court. She also undertakes Court of Appeal and Supreme Court work. Ish is a Legal Aid PAL 4 & Court of Appeal and Supreme Court Legal Aid provider and is on the Duty Lawyer, and PDLA rosters.

Ish is on the Bar Council of the NZBA. She is also President of the SABA as well as a member of the TLA, AWLA, IAWJ, IBA and CLA. Ish co-chairs both the NZBA Criminal Committee and its Diversity and Inclusion Committee.