Summarised by Centrist

Wellington law firm Franks Ogilvie is facing backlash after warning gender-affirming care providers of potential legal risks tied to puberty blockers and other treatments for minors. 

The firm, acting for Inflection Point NZ, sent letters citing the UK’s Cass Report and other international moves to restrict such treatments. 

Complaints have been filed with police and the Law Society, with lawyer Tess Upperton accusing Franks Ogilvie of using the law to “create distress.” 

Paul Thistoll of Countering Hate Speech Aotearoa even alleged the letter constituted “intimidation” under the Summary Offences Act. 

Director Stephen Franks dismissed these claims as “a joke,” arguing that clinicians must face reality: gender medicine is under increasing scrutiny worldwide, and New Zealand is behind in responding to emerging evidence of harm. According to Franks, regulators should have issued similar warnings long ago.

In a post on X, Franks noted that the government is actively reviewing gender-affirming care and that his firm’s letter simply laid out legal implications already being debated at official levels. 

“The hostile attention to this client service is peculiar,” he wrote, pointing out that concerns over puberty blockers are no longer fringe but mainstream in global medical discussions.

Read more over at RNZ and X

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