Thirteen lawyers have been appointed Queen’s Counsel this year, Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson QC has announced.

They are:

• Auckland – John Dixon, Suzanne Robertson, Rachael Reed, Paul Borich, Adam Ross, Jennifer Cooper, Simon Mount, Andrew Barker, Greg Blanchard, Campbell Walker;
• Tauranga – Grant Brittain;
• Wellington –James Every-Palmer, Tony Angelo.

“The appointment to the rank of Queen’s Counsel recognises individuals who have excelled at the highest level of law,” Mr Finlayson says. “I am pleased to be able to announce the newest silks to be admitted to the inner bar.

“Professor Tony Angelo of Wellington has been appointed under the Royal Prerogative in recognition of his extraordinary contribution to the law, particularly to legal education and to constitutional development in the South Pacific.”

Appointments of Queen’s Counsel are made by the Governor-General on the recommendation of the Attorney-General and with the concurrence of the Chief Justice.

Professor Tony Angelo is currently Professor of Law at Victoria University of Wellington. Mr Finlayson says Professor Angelo has been appointed under the Royal Prerogative in recognition of his extraordinary contribution to the law, particularly to legal education and to constitutional development in the South Pacific. Holding a BA and LLM from Victoria University and an Ordre des Palmes Académiques (Chevalier), Professor Angelo was admitted as a barrister and solicitor in January 1965.

Andrew Barker graduated BA and LLB(Hons) from the University of Auckland and an LLM from the University of Toronto. Admitted in February 1995 he joined Russell McVeagh and, after post-graduate study, the University of Otago Law Faculty in 1999 where he lectured in Tort Law and Civil Procedure. He joined the independent bar in 2002 and practises from Auckland’s Shortland Chambers in commercial litigation with a particular speciality in trusts, construction litigation and financial services regulation.

Greg Blanchard graduated BA and LLB(Hons) from the University of Auckland. Admitted in September 1996 he joined Kensington Swan. After two years at Baker & McKenzie in London he returned to Kensington Swan in 2003, becoming partner in 2004. Mr Blanchard joined the independent bar in 2008. Practising from Auckland’s Shortland Chambers, he has a general commercial litigation practice, specialising in insolvency and taxation.

Paul Borich graduated LLB from the University of Auckland and was admitted in June 1988. He joined Rice Craig and became a partner in 1996 before joining the independent bar in 2014. Based in Manukau his work includes criminal, traffic and regulatory defence work. He specialises in criminal Judge/Jury trials and criminal appellate advocacy.

Grant Brittain graduated LLB and was admitted in September 1991. He practised civil and commercial litigation in Wellington, Auckland and Tauranga before joining the independent bar in 2002. Based in Tauranga he is a Fellow of AMINZ and has a general civil practice, specialising in claims in contract and tort arising out of construction issues.

Jennifer Cooper graduated BA and LLB(Hons) from the University of Otago and BCL and MPhil from the University of Oxford. She was admitted in September 1995 and worked for the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office from 1998 to 2002. She joined Bell Gully in 2003 and became a partner in 2009 before joining the independent bar in 2011. Ms Cooper practises from Auckland’s Shortland Chambers and specialises in financial markets, securities law, competition and fair trading, and insolvency.

John Dixon graduated BCom and LLB(Hons) from the University of Auckland and LLM from the University of Chicago. He was admitted in October 1992 and practised in New York from 1994 to 2003. He joined Meredith Connell on his return to New Zealand, becoming a partner in 2007. Mr Dixon joined the independent bar in 2015 and practises from Auckland’s Shortland Chambers, specialising in competition and consumer law, criminal prosecution and defencer.

James Every-Palmer graduated BA(Hons) and LLB(Hons) from the University of Otago, LLB from Harvard Law School and DPhil from the University of Oxford. He was admitted in December 1994 and worked overseas before joining Russell McVeagh in 1998. He became a partner in 2001 and joined the independent bar in 2013. Dr Every-Palmer practises from Wellington’s Stout Street Chambers and specialises in commercial litigation with a focus on economic regulation and competition law.

Simon Mount graduated LLB(Hons) and LLM (distinction) from the University of Auckland and LLM from Columbia Law School. He was admitted in October 1995 and joined Meredith Connell as a Crown prosecutor in 2000. He joined the independent bar in 2010 and practises from Auckland’s Bankside Chambers, specialising in civil and criminal litigation, regulatory law, health and media law, and public inquiries. Mr Mount has been Attorney-General for the Pitcairn Islands since 2015.

Rachael Reed graduated LLB(Hons) from Victoria University of Wellington and was admitted in December 1996. She worked at Chapman Tripp and the Serious Fraud Office before joining Meredith Connell in 2003. She joined the independent bar in 2012 and practises from Auckland’s City Chambers. Ms Reed specialises in serious and complex fraud and is a member of the Serious Fraud Office Prosecution Panel and the Crown Panel (Auckland and Manukau). She was appointed to the New Zealand Markets Disciplinary Tribunal in 2013.

Suzanne Robertson graduated BCom, LLB(Hons) and LLM (first class honours) from the University of Auckland. She was admitted in December 1990 and joined Chapman Tripp before spending some time in the United Kingdom. Ms Robertson joined the independent bar in 1997 and practises from Auckland’s Bankside Chambers. She specialises in competition law, relationship property and disputes concerning land tenure, contract and trusts.

Adam Ross graduated BA and LLB(Hons) from the University of Auckland and LLM from the University of Virginia. He was admitted in June 1989 and joined Kensington Swan before becoming a partner at Chapman Tripp in 1996. Mr Ross joined the independent bar in 2015 and practises from Auckland’s Shortland Chambers. He specialises in commercial and corporate litigation, commercial crime and regulatory offences, and liability insurance.

Campbell Walker graduated BA and LLB(Hons) from the University of Auckland, LLM from Yale University and PhD from the University of Cambridge. He was admitted in October 1992 practised international arbitration in Paris and London from 1998 to 2003. He returned to New Zealand in 2004 and was a founding partner of Gilbert Walker before joining the independent bar in 2014. He practises in Auckland and specialises in arbitration, contract, insurance and professional negligence.