Ann Brennan

Low profile but a LawFuel List regular, Ann Brennan leads MBIE’s 70+ legal team including 64 lawyers organized into four specialized teams, having played crucial roles in significant projects such as developing legislation for Outer Space and High-Altitude Activities, supporting earthquake response, handling major government initiatives.

She transformed MBIE’s legal team into a cutting-edge in-house operation following the 2012 government departments merger, implementing time recording and practice management software, developing a legal operating model, fostering innovation and collaboration culture.

Under her leadership, the MBIE legal team has adopted an agile, client-centric approach. She actively supports the broader Government Legal Network and NZ Law Society. At No. 50, Brennan represents in-house counsel excellence in government. She’s built a modern, effective legal function inside a ministry whose work spans everything from space law to building codes. That’s consequential, even if it lacks courtroom drama.