Lawyer profiles

• Working class lad's rise to World Athletics' integrity enforcer

  Working at the highest levels of New Zealand and world sport, Don Mackinnon wasn’t a particularly accomplished sportsman but counts himself lucky playing alongside some of the greats in a golden age of New Zealand rugby.Turning out for the Marist senior rugby team in Auckland for several years he…

• How law prevailed over exploring oral cavities

  A descendant of one of New Zealand’s most influential prime ministers, major litigation specialist Kirsten Massey very nearly opted to be a dentist.Until her older sister, horrified at the thought of Kirsten spending her life drilling into people’s teeth, steered her younger sibling towards the law.With no other lawyers…

• Tailing Tiger on golf’s travelling circus

  A who-you-know opportunity stalled Dunedin-born Sam Buchan’s legal career as he followed the prestigious…

• The richest backstory: Katie Paul

  As she was being admitted as a lawyer in October 2019, Justice Muir observed…

• Moving to practise – and ballroom dance – 19,000km away

  Nicola Keating, barrister, Barristers.Comm, WellingtonNewly admitted to the New Zealand Bar, Nicola Keating grew…

• Former police officer in Norway now mentor to Kiwi lawyers and their clients

  Auckland counsellor Maggie Cruz has lived a life less ordinary.Born in Norway, she started…

Obituaries

• John (Jock) Wynter Blathwayt, 1940 - 2020

  Defence lawyer Jock Blathwayt was a household name in the Wairarapa legal community. He practised law for nearly 60 years, working at the coalface of criminal law.He represented people that many would feel uneasy about doing but that was his job. He did it with passion and defended the…

• Daniel Alexander Winfield, 1973 - 2020

  Wellington-based Duncan Cotterill partner Dan Winfield who died on 17 January will be remembered as a man with a great sense of humour who excelled as a lawyer, but strongly believed family came first when it came to managing the demands of his busy legal career.It’s never easy to…

• Anthony (Tony) David Ford QSO, 1942 - 2020

  A former Chief Justice of the Kingdom of Tonga and Judge of the Employment…

• Wayne Seymour Chapman, 1944 - 2020

  To the many staff at Buddle Findlay, lawyer Wayne Chapman who died on 27…

• Judge Robert Graeme (Rob) Ronayne, 1955 - 2020

  District Court Judge Rob Ronayne will be remembered as a fair and empathetic man…

• Harold Stewart (Harry) Edward, 1950 - 2019

  Harry Edward died suddenly on 27 October 2019. Rotorua has lost one of its…