Esteemed and influential lawyer Sir Peter Williams QC has died, at the age of 80. 

He passed away at his Auckland home early this evening after a long battle with cancer. 

LISTEN: Williams "humbled" by honour (2014)

Williams was involved in more than 100 criminal trials in his 60-year career in the legal system. He defended Terry "Mr Asia" Clark and Bassett Road machine gunner Ronald Jorgensen. 

He also represented Arthur Allan Thomas at the Royal Commission that cleared him of the murders of Harvey and Jeannette Crewe in 1971. 

Williams chaired the Howard League for Penal Reform, protested French nuclear testing in the Pacific.

Sir Peter received his official knighthood in April this year. It was brought forward due to ill health. 

He released a book late last year, and gave a talk at the Auckland Writers Festival in May.