Britomart Chambers has bolstered its public and regulatory law credentials with the arrival of Dr Jonathan Coates, one of New Zealand’s leading health sector lawyers. Coates joins the Britomart set in Auckland while remaining a member of Canterbury Chambers in Christchurch and practising as a barrister sole with a national practice.
Coates has specialised in health law since the mid‑1990s and is widely recognised for his work in medico‑legal, professional regulation and discipline, and public and administrative law. His practice spans health and disability, personal injury (including ACC), inquiries and investigations, and governance matters for regulators, professional bodies and public entities.
Admitted in 1993, he began his career in criminal defence and common law litigation before studying and practising in the United Kingdom in the mid‑ to late‑1990s. On his return to New Zealand he joined Buddle Findlay, becoming a litigation partner before leaving in 2012 to co‑found specialist health law firm Claro.
Claro later integrated into Dentons Kensington Swan, where Coates continued as a consultant in the litigation and dispute resolution team before moving to the independent bar in April 2026.
Coates brings a strong academic pedigree to chambers, holding a PhD in health law from Victoria University of Wellington and an MA in medical law and ethics (with distinction) from King’s College London, along with LLB and BA degrees from the University of Otago. He has led numerous independent investigations and reviews for public and private sector clients and in 2025 completed the Association of Workplace Investigators Institute programme in Nashville, reflecting a growing focus on complex factual inquiries and organisational reviews.
Britomart Chambers’ announcement underscores a continuing demand at the independent bar for senior lawyers who combine sector‑specific depth with public law and inquiry experience.
