Stace Hammond has announced a number of new appointments to its Auckland office.

James Cochrane has been appointed to the partnership.

James specialises in litigation in insolvency and insurance. He was admitted in 2007 and joined the firm in 2018.

He is experienced in alternative dispute resolution and also regularly reviews and drafts agreements and provides commercial advice for corporate and banking and finance clients.

Andrew Comer has joined the partnership.

Admitted in 2005, Andrew has extensive New Zealand and United Kingdom experience, in both private legal practice and as an in-house secondee, at major law firms and commercial enterprises in Auckland and London.

He regularly advises a broad range of clients on general corporate and commercial legal matters, and has significant experience in drafting and negotiating a wide range of corporate and commercial documents.

Dave Ananth has joined as Senior Tax Counsel.

He was admitted as a barrister and solicitor of the High Court in 1989 and is also admitted as an advocate and solicitor at the High Court of Malaysia.

Dave has a wide range of local and international experience, which included almost 10 years as a Magistrate in Malaysia.

Oscar Ward has joined as a staff solicitor in the litigation team.

Oscar was admitted as a barrister and solicitor in 2013. His expertise is in property, bankruptcy and liquidations, commercial law, trusts and estates and insolvency.

Olga Garin has joined as a staff solicitor. She was admitted as a barrister and solicitor in 2016.

Olga’s experience ranges from corporate compliance work, complex due diligence engagements and corporate restructuring to domestic and cross border tax consulting advice. Born in Russia, she is fluent in Russian.