Vivienne is a Christchurch based Senior Associate operating with the firm's Wellington Local Government and Environment Group.  She has ten years specialist drafting experience and provides general statutory interpretation advice. 

Before joining Simpson Grierson in 1998, Vivienne was employed as a Parliamentary Counsel drafting legislation for the Government.  Between 1995 and 1998, she worked on a wide range of statutory instruments including Bills, regulations and other Orders in Council.  This role required her to turn complex ideas and policies into legislation that could be understood by the public.  She also appeared before Select Committees advising those committees on drafting issues and advising the relevant Minister during the Committee of the Whole. 

At Simpson Grierson, Vivienne has continued to provide drafting advice to a variety of clients including Government departments, local authorities and other private organisations that wish to promote legislation.  She also has considerable experience in advising on statutory interpretation issues.

Vivienne also specialises in public and administrative law and has a keen interest in constitutional and procedural issues, particularly in the local authority sector.  She is experienced in advising on good decision-making processes and is very familiar with the Local Government Act 2002, the Official Information Act 1982, the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987, the Privacy Act 1993 and the Ombudsmen Act 1975.

• Advised the Department of Internal Affairs on the drafting of the Local Electoral Act 2001, the Local Government (Rating) Act 2002, the Local Government Act 2002, the Local Electoral Regulations 2001, and the Local Electoral Amendment Regulations 2002
• Drafted a number of local Acts and achieved the successful promulgation of those Acts through Parliament, including the Masterton District Council (Montfort Trimble Foundation) Act 2003, the Taranaki Regional Council Empowering Act 2001, and the South Taranaki District Council (Egmont Electricity Limited Sale Proceeds) Act 1999
• Acted for the Marlborough District Council with respect to the Council-owned Southern Valleys Irrigation Scheme and advised on the drafting of the posted terms and conditions for all users of the scheme
• Acted for the Tauranga City Council in the promulgation of the Route K Bylaw 2002
• Acted for Hutt City Council during the 2001 and 2004 local authority elections and provided legal advice to the Council on issues raised during those electoral periods
• Is the principal author of A Guide to the Local Government Act 2002 published by Thomson in 2003