For your life

Public Sector Legal Advice.

Legal advice tailored to the needs of government agencies

We advise central and local government clients on legal matters ranging from procurement and policy to disputes and governance. Our team is experienced in public sector risk, process, and compliance.

Why Specialist Advice Matters for Government Legal Work

Government legal work requires more than just technical knowledge. It demands a deep understanding of public sector frameworks, transparency obligations, and the operational realities of agency work. We help ensure your decisions and processes meet public scrutiny, comply with legal obligations, and support good governance.

What We Help With

We support agencies with a wide range of legal matters, including:

Procurement processes and AoG compliance
Regulatory and operational legal issues
Decision-making frameworks and risk management
Drafting and reviewing contracts
Managing contract disputes and variations
Employment, property, privacy, and official information
Governance and reporting obligations

Our support includes working alongside internal legal teams, advising on policy implementation, and helping manage legal and reputational risk.

We help ensure your decisions and processes stand up to public scrutiny, comply with legal obligations, and support good governance.

Experienced in Government Legal Work

We act for ministries, departments, Crown entities, and local authorities. We are a provider on the All-of-Government (AoG) legal services panel and regularly advise clients operating within AoG and related procurement frameworks.

Where We Work

We support public sector clients throughout New Zealand, with local advice available through our Wellington, Lower Hutt, and Masterton offices.

Questions We Often Get Asked About Government Legal Work

What is the All-of-Government (AoG) legal services panel?

It’s a panel of approved legal providers that government agencies can engage directly for specific categories of legal work. Gibson Sheat is a provider under this framework.

How can external lawyers help an internal government legal team?

We provide overflow support, specialist advice, and independent review where additional capability or neutrality is needed.

What kinds of agencies do you act for?

We work with ministries, Crown entities, councils, and other public organisations across a wide range of portfolios.

Can you help with official information and privacy requests?

Yes. We regularly assist agencies with managing privacy issues, OIA responses, and related compliance processes.

How can you help manage procurement or contract risks?

We assist with planning, drafting, and reviewing procurement and contract processes to ensure compliance with AoG rules and public sector best practice.