Gigi Hancock

Gigi advises on all aspects of trade and customs law, working closely with importers, exporters, licensed customs brokers, freight forwarders, marine insurers, Australian manufacturers, and other industry parties. She provides strategic legal and procedural advice across a broad range of matters, including reviews of decisions of various government agencies and litigious matters.

She represents clients in government investigations and inquiries, particularly in matters involving anti-dumping and countervailing measures, alleged underpayments of customs duty, breaches of licensing requirements by service providers, and biosecurity and defence trade control issues, along with any associated litigation.

Prior to joining Rigby Cooke, Gigi served as Senior Legal Counsel with the New Zealand Customs Service. She was the business partner for Customs Investigations and Revenue groups, advising on the lawful use of Customs powers and delivering training across operational teams. She received the Comptroller’s Commendation for delivering training on the New Zealand Law Commission’s report on indigenous and state law.

Gigi has over 10 years of experience in law enforcement and regulatory investigations, having worked as a lawyer and an investigator for government agencies in Australia and New Zealand. She has undertaken complex investigations into integrity issues, police misconduct and financial crime. She has also advised on significant prosecutions and administrative review proceedings.

With a particular interest in witness interviews, Gigi is a PEACE-trained interviewer and has examined witnesses under summons.

Significant experience

Gigi’s experience includes:

• Advising senior departmental officials on the use of powers, public law, prosecutions and administrative appeals.
• Investigations and witness interviews.
• Monitoring the exercise of coercive powers by government agencies and investigating allegations of the abuse of power.
• Training frontline officers on the lawful use of powers.