Justice Minister Amy Adams has announced the appointment of the Hon Douglas White QC as the next President of the Law Commission.

A former Court of Appeal Judge from February 2012 until his retirement in September 2015, he becomes President immediately as Sir Grant Hammond is stepping down after nearly six years in the role.

"Justice White is a distinguished lawyer and judge, and I'm pleased that a jurist of his calibre is set to lead the Commission," Ms Adams says.

Ms Adams says Sir Grant, who was appointed President in December 2010, has provided the Commission with very able leadership throughout his tenure.

Hon Douglas White graduated LLM with first class Honours at Victoria University of Wellington and was a litigation partner in predecessor firms to Kensington Swan before moving to the independent bar in 1986 and being appointed Queen's Counsel in 1988. He was appointed a Judge of the High Court on 24 August 2009 and has recently been appointed a Judge of the Cook Islands' Court of Appeal.