Mai Chen

New Zealand constitutional lawyer

Mai Chen

Mai Chen in 2023

Personal details
Born| Taipei, Taiwan
Spouse| Dr John Sinclair
Children| 1
Occupation| Lawyer, Managing Law Partner and Non-Executive Director.

Mai Chen is a New Zealand lawyer with a professional and specialist focus in constitutional and administrative law, Waitangi Tribunal and courts, human rights, white collar fraud and regulatory defence, judicial review, regulatory issues, education law, and public policy and law reform.[1] She was educated at Otago University and Harvard University. She is an adjunct professor at the University of Auckland School of Law.[2]

Chen has featured in Forbes[3] magazine, TEDx[4] talks and the National Business Review[5] (NBR) and was a finalist for the New Zealander of the year award.[6]

## Early life

[edit]

Born in Taipei, Taiwan, Chen immigrated to New Zealand with her family at the age of six in 1970, and did not speak English.[7] The family immigrated so her father, an Olympic gymnastics coach, could train the national team.[8] She attended Otago Girls' High School, where she became a head girl and dux.[9]

## Education

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Chen attended the University of Otago (New Zealand) and graduated with a Bachelor of Laws Honours degree (first class) in 1986.[10] She graduated with a Master of Laws from Harvard Law School in 1988 and won a prize for the best Human Rights thesis.[11] Otago University awarded Chen an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree in December 2023 and she delivered the graduation address.[9]

## Career

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Chen interned at the United Nations' International Labour Office in Geneva in 1988.[12] In 1989, she returned to New Zealand to become a lecturer at the law school at Victoria University of Wellington.[12] That year she wrote her first book on the discrimination against women under the UN Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women.[13]

In 1993, she co-authored Public Law in New Zealand with former Prime Minister Sir Geoffrey Palmer, which was published by Oxford University Press.[14] In 1994, Chen became a lawyer at Russell McVeagh.

In 1995, Chen co-found specialist public law firm Chen Palmer alongside former Palmer.[11] Chen bought out Palmer when he left to head the Law Commission in 2006. Chen Palmer won best boutique law firm in 2010, and best public law firm in the New Zealand Law Awards from 2007 to 2011, and 2013.[10] In 2022, Chen left her role as senior partner of Chen Palmer to go to the Bar.[15]

In 2015, Chen became an adjunct professor at the Faculty of Law at the University of Auckland.[16]

## Voluntary work

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Chen is founder and chair of the Superdiversity Institute,[17] and was the founder and previous chair of New Zealand Asian Leaders,[18] that connects Asian NZ lawyers, CEOs and emerging leaders with New Zealand companies doing business in Asia. She helped to establish the Pacifica Leadership Academy at BEST Pacific Institute of Education, formerly led by Beatrice Faumuina. Chen is also the founder and President of New Zealand Asian Lawyers. Chen is the inaugural chair of Global Women, which is a not for profit charitable organisation for top women leaders in the public, private and not for profit sectors which mentors emerging leaders.

Chen, as part of her pro-bono work, organises and hosts a number of seminars and events across Auckland to bring together the New Zealand's top legal specialists. Chen has done a wide range of pro bono work, including for the Auckland Zoo, New Zealand Endometriosis Foundation and He Huarahi Tamariki (the school for Teenage Parents in Tawa). Chen has also provided pro bono advice to the Bilingual Leo Pacific Coalition.

Chen was President of the Harvard Law School Alumni Association (New Zealand) for ten years[citation needed], and was a trustee of the Royal New Zealand Ballet Board for four and a half years.

From 1982 to 1986 Chen did voluntary work with street kids referred by the Department of Social Welfare, including the establishment of a Modern Dance Group for girls [citation needed].

Chen has previously sat on the Yvonne Smith Scholarship Committee which awards scholarships to women, including those who want to study post-graduate law. She also was a member of the selection panel for the New Zealander of the Year award in 2019.

In 2024, Chen established the Mai Chen Legal Innovation Award, to be granted annually to the Otago University law student who produces the most innovative piece of legal writing.[19]

## Honours and prizes

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2022 | NZL Most Influential Lawyer 2022 [20]

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2017 | Zonta Woman of the Biennium Award for 2016-2018[21]
2016 | Global Diversity List Top 50 Diversity Figures in Public Life[22]
2013 | Awarded the Business Entrepreneur New Zealand Women of Influence Award[23]
2012 | Awarded the Supreme Judges Panel Award and Professional Excellence Award at the New Zealand Chinese Business Elite Awards[24]
2011 | Awarded Next Magazine's Business Woman of the Year[25]
2000 | Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Management[26]
1988 | Irving Oberman Memorial Award: Best Human Rights thesis at Harvard Law School. Topic: Treaty of Waitangi and Māori rights[27]

## Books and publications

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* Culturally, ethnically and linguistically diverse parties in the Courts: a Chinese case study, Superdiversity Institute of Law, Policy and Business, 2019.[28]
* National Culture and its Impact on Workplace Health and Safety and Injury Prevention for Employers and Workers, Superdiversity Institute of Law, Policy and Business, 2019.[29]
* Health and safety regulators in a superdiverse context: Review of challenges and lessons from United Kingdom, Canada and Australia, Superdiversity Institute of Law, Policy and Business, 2018.[30]
* Diverse Thinking Capability Audit of New Zealand Boardrooms 2018, Superdiversity Institute of Law, Policy and Business, 2018.[31]
* Superdiversity Stocktake: Implications for Business, Government and New Zealand, Superdiversity Institute for Law, Policy and Business, 2015.[32]
* Superdiversity, Democracy & New Zealand’s Electoral & Referenda Laws, Superdiversity Institute for Law, Policy and Business, 2015.[33]
* Public Law Toolbox (2 edition) Lexis Nexis, December 2014.[34]
* Transforming Auckland: The Creation of Auckland Council LexisNexis, April 2013.[35]
* Public Law Toolbox LexisNexis, March 2012.[36]
* Women and Discrimination: New Zealand and the UN Convention (Institute of Policy Studies, Wellington, 1989).[13]

## Major articles and papers

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* Susan Glazebrook J & Mai Chen “Tikanga and Culture in the Supreme Court: Ellis and Deng” Amicus Curiae Journal Vol 4, No. 2 (2023): Series 2, published on 6 March 2023.[37]
* David Goddard J & Mai Chen “Article: Putting a Social and Cultural Framework on the Evidence Act” Amicus Curiae Journal Vol. 4 No. 1 (2022): Series 2, published on 2 November 2022.[38]
* “The Supreme Court, Confucianism and Western values and the impact on the law”, LawTalk, Issue 946, June 2021.[39]
* “Lawyers need to do more to ensure CALD clients get equal access to justice in courts”, LawTalk, Issue 935, December 2020.[40]
* “CALD parties before the Employment Relations Authority”, LawTalk, Issue 939, May 2020.[41]
* “Judicial leadership on equal access to justice for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Parties in Courts”, LawTalk, Issue 938, April 2020.[42]
* “Unique issues and challenges faced by culturally, ethnically and linguistically diverse parties in court” [2019] New Zealand Law Journal 393.[43]
* “Ensuring ethnically diverse workers do not suffer greater injury and illness”, LawTalk, Issue 925, February 2019.[44]
* “The Importance of Diverse Thinking for the Legal Profession”, LawTalk, Issue 922, October 2018.[45]
* “Multiple Ground Discrimination: A 21st century necessity” LawTalk, Issue 902, 2 December 2016.[46]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Mai Chen | Chen Palmer". Archived from the original on 3 November 2016.
2. ^ "Mai Chen Annual Address - The University of Auckland". Archived from the original on 9 June 2021.
3. ^ "MAI CHEN - Forbes". 4 November 2020.
4. ^ "Mai Chen | TEDxAuckland". 10 June 2022.
5. ^ "Mai Chen | NBR".
6. ^ "Mai Chen".
7. ^ "Mai Chen". Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 10 July 2025.
8. ^ "Mai Chen". The Law Association of New Zealand. Retrieved 10 July 2025.
9. ^ a b Mark, John (1 May 2024). "Lawyer funds transformational leadership prize to inspire pupils". Otago Daily Times. Retrieved 10 July 2025.
10. ^ a b "The 'Most Influential' Mai Chen receives Otago honour". University of Otago. 29 November 2023. Retrieved 10 July 2025.
11. ^ a b "NZL Most Influential Lawyers 2022 - Mai Chen". premium.thelawyermag.com. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
12. ^ a b "Mai Chen". thelawyermag.com. Retrieved 10 July 2025.
13. ^ a b "Chen, Mai 
 "Women and discrimination: New Zealand and the UN Convention" [1989] VUWIPSStudTaxP 3". www.nzlii.org. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
14. ^ "Book reviews" (PDF). New Zealand Legal Information Institute. Retrieved 10 July 2025.
15. ^ "Mai Chen going to the Bar and starting Public Law Toolbox Chambers". New Zealand Law Society | Te Kāhui Ture o Aotearoa. 1 September 2022. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
16. ^ "Mai Chen becomes Adjunct Professor at the Auckland Law School - The University of Auckland". Archived from the original on 15 January 2015.
17. ^ "New Zealand's boardroom diversity debate 'stuck', says Mai Chen". NZ Herald. 21 August 2018. Retrieved 12 July 2025.
18. ^ "Our People - NZ Asian Leaders". Archived from the original on 15 November 2013.
19. ^ "New award aims to push the boundaries of legal thinking". University of Otago. Retrieved 10 July 2025.
20. ^ "NZL Most Influential Lawyers 2022 - Mai Chen". view.ceros.com. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
21. ^ "Awards and scholarships". Zonta International District 16. Retrieved 12 July 2025.
22. ^ "Top 50 diversity figures in public life". Global Diversity List. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
23. ^ "Alumni". Women of Influence. Archived from the original on 25 November 2020. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
24. ^ Chen, Palmer (18 March 2013). "Mai Chen Wins Supreme Award At NZ Chinese Business Awards". www.scoop.co.nz. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
25. ^ "Lesley Elliott named winner of Next Woman of the Year". www.scoop.co.nz. 6 October 2011. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
26. ^ "Mai Chen". Celebrity Speakers NZ. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
27. ^ Carolino, Bernise (25 September 2024). "Mai Chen establishes innovative legal writing award at Otago University". NZ Lawyer. Retrieved 12 July 2025.
28. ^ "Report: Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Parties in the Courts: A Chinese Case Study | Borrin Foundation". Retrieved 16 March 2023.
29. ^ Chen, Mai (18 November 2021). "National Culture and its Impact on Workplace Health and Safety and Injury prevention for Employers and Workers". SSRN. SSRN 3944307. Retrieved 12 July 2025.
30. ^ Chen, Mai (18 November 2021). "Health and safety regulators in a superdiverse context: Review of challenges and lessons from the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia". SSNR. SSRN 3944310. Retrieved 12 July 2025.
31. ^ Chen, Mai (18 November 2021). "Diverse Thinking Capability Audit of New Zealand Boardrooms 2018". SSRN. SSRN 3944298. Retrieved 12 July 2025.
32. ^ Chen, Mai (18 November 2021). "Superdiversity Stocktake: Implications for Business, Government & New Zealand". SSRN. SSRN 3944306. Retrieved 12 July 2025.
33. ^ Chen, Mai (16 December 2021). "Superdiversity, Democracy & New Zealand's Electoral & Referenda Laws". SSRN. SSRN 3944301. Retrieved 12 July 2025.
34. ^ "Public Law Toolbox, 2nd edition". store.lexisnexis.co.nz. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
35. ^ "Transforming Auckland: Creation of Auckland Council". store.lexisnexis.co.nz. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
36. ^ "Public Law Toolbox - Legal Profession - Law". www.pbookshop.com. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
37. ^ Glazebrook, Susan; Chen, Mai (6 March 2023). "Tikanga and Culture in the Supreme Court: Ellis and Deng". Amicus Curiae. 4 (2): 287–305\. doi:10.14296/ac.v4i2.5583. ISSN 2048-481X. S2CID 257608583.
38. ^ Goddard, David J.; Chen, Mai (2 November 2022). "Putting a Social and Cultural Framework on the Evidence Act: Recent New Zealand Supreme Court Guidance". Amicus Curiae. 4 (1): 224–249\. doi:10.14296/ac.v4i1.5497. ISSN 2048-481X. S2CID 253466831.
39. ^ "The Supreme Court, Confucianism and Western values and the impact on the law". New Zealand Law Society | Te Kāhui Ture o Aotearoa. 25 June 2021. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
40. ^ "Lawyers need to do more to ensure CALD clients get equal access to justice in courts". New Zealand Law Society | Te Kāhui Ture o Aotearoa. 9 January 2020. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
41. ^ "CALD parties before the Employment Relations Authority". New Zealand Law Society | Te Kāhui Ture o Aotearoa. 29 June 2020. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
42. ^ "Judicial leadership on equal access to justice for culturally and linguistically diverse parties in courts". New Zealand Law Society | Te Kāhui Ture o Aotearoa. 28 June 2020. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
43. ^ Chen, Mai (1 December 2019). "Unique issues and challenges faced by culturally, ethnically and linguistically diverse parties in court". New Zealand Law Journal: 393–422.
44. ^ "Ensuring ethnically diverse workers do not suffer greater injury and illness". New Zealand Law Society | Te Kāhui Ture o Aotearoa. 13 November 2019. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
45. ^ "The importance of diverse thinking for the legal profession". New Zealand Law Society | Te Kāhui Ture o Aotearoa. 13 November 2019. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
46. ^ "Multiple ground discrimination". New Zealand Law Society | Te Kāhui Ture o Aotearoa. 14 November 2019. Retrieved 16 March 2023.

## External links

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* Mai Chen Barrister
* New Zealand Asian Leaders website

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI
* VIAF
* WorldCat

National|

* United States
* Netherlands

People|

* Trove

Other|

* Te Papa (New Zealand)