Blair Keown

Blair specialises in handling contentious issues relating to the financial markets and complex commercial disputes, investigations and regulatory proceedings.

​Blair regularly acts for clients across a wide range of contentious matters including regulatory compliance and risk management advice, litigation and internal and external investigations.

Blair is an experienced advocate. He has appeared as counsel in the District Court, High Court and Court of Appeal. He has also been a criminal prosecutor, acting as counsel in jury trials involving serious criminal offending.

Blair frequently assists banks, insurers and other institutions to respond to regulatory investigations and proceedings, involving the NZCC, FMA, SFO, and public inquiries. He also acts for clients in criminal proceedings.

Blair has extensive experience in leading compliance and remediation exercises, and conduct, culture and regulatory change programmes in New Zealand and overseas. He writes and speaks extensively on legal issues relating to the financial markets.

Blair's international experience includes over seven years at Allen & Overy LLP, London where he was a senior associate within the banking, finance and regulatory litigation team. He also completed a secondment to the litigation and regulatory investigations team of the London branch of a global investment bank. Blair frequently advises on matters with a cross border element.

Blair is admitted in New Zealand and England & Wales. He has rights of audience before all civil courts in England & Wales.​​

The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2022 rank Blair as a 'Next Generation Partner' for dispute resolution in New Zealand.​