Sharnika Leleni
Sharnika is an Associate in the Business Crime and Investigations team at Peters & Peters, joining the firm in 2025. She has over five years’ experience across commercial litigation and criminal prosecution.
Prior to relocating to London, Sharnika worked at leading commercial litigation and criminal prosecution law firms in New Zealand.
She began her career at a preeminent full-service commercial law firm, advising and representing clients on a range of legal issues including contract, insurance, professional negligence, investigations, and financial services matters. She has acted as an arbitral secretary and was awarded the Arbitrators’ and Mediators’ Institute of New Zealand (AMINZ) Determinative Scholarship, through which she gained practical experience in arbitration and mediation.
Most recently, Sharnika worked at the law firm that holds the Crown warrant for South Auckland, New Zealand’s busiest criminal district. As a Crown Prosecutor, she appeared in the first instance and appellate courts, acting on serious crime and quasi-criminal cases involving homicide, organised crime, sexual violence, dishonesty offences, and drug offending.
Since joining Peters & Peters, Sharnika has focused on corporate criminal liability in complex investigations and prosecutions, including cross‑border matters.
Sharnika was previously Co‑Chair of Young AMINZ and an Executive Committee member of the Pacific Lawyers Association. She has been published in the University of Auckland Law Review and has presented at National dispute resolution conferences.
Sharnika graduated from the University of Auckland, with a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and Bachelor of Arts. She qualified as a Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand in 2020.
Outside the law, Sharnika has served as a board member of a prominent independent educational institution in New Zealand.
Case examples
Acting for a manufacturer in relation to a large police investigation involving a major disaster and widespread loss of life.
Represented the Crown in a multi-defendant gang homicide jury trial.
Represented the Crown in a multi-defendant prosecution involving a large-scale conspiracy to import Class A drugs.
Represented the Crown in a jury trial concerning allegations of child rape and sexual assault.
Represented a financial institution in relation to a large class action and investigation concerning alleged false and misleading representations.