Leo Farmer

Leo Farmer has worked as counsel for the Commerce Commission extensively over the last 16 years, most particularly prosecuting for the award of pecuniary penalties breaches of Part 2 of the Commerce Act 1986 (price fixing). His work for the Commission includes the leading New Zealand decision in Lodge v Commerce Commission at all appellate levels (and trial), resulting in proved allegations of price-fixing understandings for the price charged for a component service by real estate agencies for the sale of residential real estate, among other work for the Commission prosecuting allegations of both domestic and international price fixing (including in the Air Cargo litigation resulting in the Commission’s successful stage one trial establishing a market in New Zealand for the international carriage of air freight). 

Leo will be well known to many of the attendees at this year’s conference, having presented on multiple occasions on the Commission’s behalf at ICN Cartel workshops. Leo’s work for the Commission has been conducted as a former partner at the Crown warrant holder Meredith Connell, and continues by direct instruction to the Bar by the Commission. Leo holds degrees from the University of London (London School of Economics and Political Science – LLM), and the University of Auckland (BA,LLB(Hons); BA(Hons)).