Leo Watson
Leo has worked as a barrister since 1997 representing indigenous peoples in matters relating to land rights, natural resources, oil and gas, radio spectrum, fisheries, and constitutional change.
For the past ten years, he has been co-counsel in the natural resources and intellectual property rights claim of Maori tribes to the Waitangi Tribunal (Wai262), which concluded its hearings in December 2007. Leo also advises a range of commercial clients on Maori intellectual property issues and specializes in resource management litigation. He has represented the Takamore Trustees for over ten years, concerning the protection of the wāhi tapu by the Waikanae River from a motorway development, and the Ngarara representatives of the original owners of
the Paraparaumu Airport. Leo has also held the position of Chief Executive Officer of the tribal organization representing those of Moriori descent, who are the indigenous peoples of the Chatham Islands, and assisted them with cultural, social and economic development.
He has been a speaker and attendee at meetings of the World Intellectual Property Organisation on Traditional Knowledge, and at the International Trademarks Association conference.
Leo is a qualified Resource Management Act Hearings Commissioner and
practices as a barrister from Paekakariki, a small seaside town north of Wellington, New Zealand. He lives with his wife and six children who are aged from fourteen years to one year old. He actively assists in the community with bilingual education in the home and schools. Leo is also a blues violinist who takes youth rock group workshops.
