View source for Stephen Franks

{{Short description|New Zealand politician (born 1950)}}
{{About||the screenwriter|Steve Franks|those of a similar name|Steven Frank (disambiguation)}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=November 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2014}}

{{BLP single source|date=November 2024}}

'''Stephen Franks''' (born 1950) in [[Wellington]], New Zealand, is a commercial lawyer. At one time, he was chairman and Partner of the large firm [[Chapman Tripp]]. Franks has been a member of two political parties. He previously served as a List MP for the right-wing [[ACT New Zealand]] (Association of Consumers and Taxpayers).<ref>{{Cite news |title='It's too vague': Lawyer believes 'Karen' insult 'absolutely could' be used in hate speech law |url=https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2021/07/lawyer-stephen-franks-believes-karen-insult-absolutely-could-be-used-in-hate-speech-law.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210702024914/https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2021/07/lawyer-stephen-franks-believes-karen-insult-absolutely-could-be-used-in-hate-speech-law.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2 July 2021 |access-date=2024-11-01 |work=[[Newshub]] |language=en}}</ref> He then stood unsuccessfully for the [[New Zealand National Party|National Party]] for the [[2008 New Zealand general election|2008 general election]]. Franks is also a media commentator and writer on legal and commercial topics; and is married with three daughters and a son in their 30s.

==Early life==
Franks was first educated at Taihape College, and then at [[Victoria University of Wellington|Victoria]] where he studied Law (attained qualifications include BA/LLB (Hons) and Dip. Acc.). Franks was subsequently admitted to the bar in 1975.

Prior to entering Parliament in 1999 Franks' professional appointments included: being a member of the Securities Commission, Deputy chairman (1999–1999) of the Market Surveillance Panel of the [[New Zealand Exchange|New Zealand Stock Exchange]] having been a member of the MSP from its inception for nine years, and a Council member of the Institute of Directors in New Zealand.

==Member of Parliament: 1999–2005==
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Franks entered Parliament in the {{NZ election link|1999}}, having been ranked in third place on the party list for the ACT Party, and coming fourth in {{NZ electorate link|Rongotai}} electorate. This high ranking (above several sitting MPs) was indicative of ACT's high hopes for Franks at the time – as a prominent lawyer, he was generally regarded as a significant asset for the party. In {{NZ election link year|2002}} he stood in {{NZ electorate link|Wellington Central}} which had been won by ACT's [[Richard Prebble]] in {{NZ election link year|1996}}. During his six years in Parliament he was ACT spokesman for Justice, Corrections, the Police and Commerce. He added Maori Affairs and Sport in the last three years.

When Prebble announced his retirement from politics in early 2004, Franks was one of the four candidates who sought to take his place as leader of ACT. Franks ran on a platform of restoring the party's core message. Despite receiving the endorsement of party founder Roger Douglas, he was eventually defeated by Rodney Hide. After Hide became leader of the ACT party on 13 June, Franks remained the party's spokesperson for justice.

==2005 election==
Franks lost his seat in Parliament in the 2005 general election when the total percentage of the popular vote for ACT reduced the ACT Party to two seats in Parliament. He subsequently returned to practising law, rejoining his old firm, Chapman Tripp as a consultant. He later left this firm to set up his own commercial and public law practice, [http://www.franksogilvie.co.nz Franks & Ogilvie]

==2008 election and after==
Franks was [[New Zealand National Party|National Party]] candidate for {{NZ electorate link|Wellington Central}} for the [[2008 New Zealand general election|2008 general election]], being number 60 on the National Party list. He lost the contest by 1904 votes to Labour's Grant Robertson.

His business interests presently centre around his public law practice, several company directorships, farming and manuka honey beekeeping.

==References==

{{reflist}}

==Further reading==

:*{{citation |title = The 1993 Company Law Reform Summit: 20 & 21 September 1993, James Cook Hotel, Wellington |place = Auckland, [N.Z.] |publisher = The Institute |year = 1993}}

*''Franks' contribution is the opening address'': "{U]pdate and overview of the commercial significance of [[companies law|company law]] reform." ''This paper also appears in the following publication:''

:*{{citation |title = Corporate Reform Consultancy |place = Wellington, [N.Z.] |publisher = Chapman Tripp Sheffield Young |year = 1994}}

:*{{citation |title = Closing the gaps: policy papers |place = Wellington, [N.Z.] |publisher = ACT New Zealand Parliamentary Office |year = 2001 |isbn = 0-9582178-1-5 |author = ACT members of parliament.}}

*''Franks' contribution is the paper'': "Justice for all."

:*{{citation |title = Old values, new ideas |place = Wellington, [N.Z.] |publisher = ACT New Zealand Parliamentary Office |year = 2002}}

*''Franks' contribution is the paper'': "How should [[ACT New Zealand|ACT]] treat the [[Treaty of Waitangi|Treaty]]?"

:*{{citation |title = '''The 3rd annual Maori Legal Forum: 24th & 25th June 2004, Wellington Town Hall, Wellington : New Zealand's leading forum for discussing key developments in Maori law''' |place = Auckland, [N.Z.] |publisher = Conferenz |year = 2004}}

*''Franks' contribution was participation in a panel discussion entitled:'' "[D]iscussing the principles of the [[Treaty of Waitangi]]"

:*{{citation |title = '''Access to justice: rhetoric or reality:''' [(Australasian Law Reform Agencies Conference (2004 : Wellington, NZ)] |place = Wellington, [N.Z.] |publisher = New Zealand Law Commission |year = 2004}}

*''Franks' contribution is the paper'': "Law reform and indigeniety: going native: what indigeniety should look like in the morning."

:*{{citation |first1 = Stephen L. |last1 = Franks |first2 = Robert |last2 = Baxt |title = Submission to the Law Commission on [[companies law|company law]] |place = Wellington, [N.Z.] |publisher = New Zealand Business Roundtable |year = 1988}}

:*{{citation |first = Richard |title = Liberal Thinking |place = Wellington, [N.Z.] |publisher = ACT New Zealand Parliamentary Office |year = 2003 |last = Prebble}}

*''Franks' contribution is the paper'': "Liberals and the law."

==External links==
*[http://www.stephenfranks.co.nz/ Personal website]

{{ACT New Zealand}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Franks, Stephen}}
[[Category:1950 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:ACT New Zealand MPs]]
[[Category:20th-century New Zealand lawyers]]
[[Category:Victoria University of Wellington alumni]]
[[Category:New Zealand list MPs]]
[[Category:Unsuccessful candidates in the 2005 New Zealand general election]]
[[Category:Unsuccessful candidates in the 2008 New Zealand general election]]
[[Category:Members of the New Zealand House of Representatives]]
[[Category:21st-century New Zealand politicians]]
[[Category:21st-century New Zealand lawyers]]