Our Team

Karen Price LLB; LLM; Advanced Mediator; Environmental Auditor mobile: +64 21 680 301 karen.price@nzcx.com

What I do

I am advising a number of clients on projects to secure carbon credits. Up until now, it has been hard for New Zealand organisations to purchase credits they need or to get help on how best to sell them. NZCX helps clients to bundle credits with those of other sellers and purchasers to get the best possible price. I provide companies with access to buyers and sellers of carbon credits both domestically and internationally.

My expertise

I did my Master’s thesis on “Negotiating A Global Warming Convention” in the early 1990’s. In 1991 I was part of the New Zealand delegation to the Inter-government Panel on Climate Change, which was the pre-cursor to Rio. This was the first time the world acknowledged that climate change was an issue. Since this time, I have worked as an Environment lawyer specialising in climate change issues both here and overseas. As well as negotiating the first two Negotiated Greenhouse Agreements (NGAs) in New Zealand, I have advised numerous companies that have secured credits in the Government’s Projects to Reduce Emissions Scheme. A significant part of my practice is international.

I am a partner in New Zealand's newest speciality environment law firm ChanceryGreen.

What I enjoy about what I do

I love the fact that everything is new, different, hard and creative. I enjoy thinking about what the best strategies are for my clients in the long term, and working with clients to save them money now.

I like working as part of a multi-disciplinary team, alongside economists, engineers, traders etc. as this enables us to take a holistic approach and to also get the economics and politics right. It’s about knowing when to take the risks as part of a good risk management strategy.

What I enjoy outside of work

I love spending time with my family, especially my two little boys. I also enjoy swimming at the beach, sailing, and gardening.

Examples of Climate Change work

• I negotiated the 1st ever NZ Negotiated Greenhouse Agreement (NGA) for The New Zealand Refining Company Ltd, working alongside Stuart Frazer who led the in-house client team. I subsequently negotiated the only other NGA for Oceana Gold. Both NGA’s offer significant risk management benefits for these companies, whilst also guiding them step-by-step into a carbon constrained economy.
•  I advise a range of companies that secured credits in the New Zealand Government’s ‘Projects to Reduce Emissions Scheme’.
• I advised on a new, conceptual legal regime to govern carbon sequestration for the Australian Greenhouse Office.
•  I provide strategic advice for companies regarding both Kyoto compliant and grey-market emissions trading.

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