Wotton + Kearney appoints new NZ staff

Wotton + Kearney has announced the appointment of a new healthcare and medico/legal team, based in Auckland and Wellington. Sean O'Sullivan.  Sean O'Sullivan is a director based in Wellington. Admitted in March 1983, Sean has appeared as counsel before a wide range of disciplinary tribunals and in the HIgh Court, Supreme Court and…

New Chief Legal Officer for Kiwibank

Mike Hendriksen has joined Kiwibank as its Chief Legal Officer. Admitted in October 1995 after graduating LLB from the University of Auckland, Mr Hendriksen leaves Westpac New Zealand Ltd to take up his role. He has specialised in financial services and was closely involved in the response to the findings of the…

Lawyer to head Gambling Commission

Wellington lawyer Graeme Reeves has been re-appointed Chief Gambling Commissioner of the Gambling Commission. Mr Reeve's appointment is for a one-year term from 21 December 2018 to 20 December 2019. Admitted as a barrister and solicitor in 1980, Mr Reeves was an MP from 1990 to 1993, a Gambling Commissioner from 2004…

Buddle Findlay appoints four senior associates

Buddle Findlay has appointed four senior associates. Francis Wedde.  Frances Wedde has joined the Wellington office in the RMA and Māori legal team. Frances advises on resource management matters, including resource consents, designations, and the plan making process; and Māori legal matters, including Treaty settlements and matters under the Marine and Coastal Area…

Struck-off lawyer's Honour forfeited

The New Zealand Order of Merit awarded to Hugh Edward Staples Hamilton on 2 June 1997 has been cancelled and annulled, a New Zealand Gazette notice states. Mr Hamilton was struck off the roll of barristers and solicitors by the New Zealand Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal on 28 May 2013…

Simon Waalkens joins Rice Speir

Simon Waalkens has joined Rice Speir as a senior associate. Simon Waalkens.  He is a civil litigation and regulatory/compliance lawyer with extensive insurance, healthcare and criminal law experience. Simon has acted for private and public sector clients in a wide range of dispute resolution and Court/Tribunal related processes. He recently spent a few years…

Russell McVeagh appoints senior associates

Russell McVeagh has promoted two lawyers to senior associate. Hamish Beckett is a member of the Auckland corporate advisory team. He joined the firm in 2013 and specialises in mergers and acquisitions, private equity transactions, overseas investment, joint venture arrangements and a broad range of commercial contracts and general corporate matters. Rachel O’Brien…

Kristy McDonald QC appointed to Racing Advisory Committee

Wellington Queen's Counsel Kristy McDonald QC is one of five appointees to a Ministerial Advisory Committee to inform the next steps on the Messara Review of the New Zealand Racing Industry. The committee is required to provide an interim report to Racing Minister Winston Peters by the end of February 2019. Ms…

David Weavers becomes Russell McVeagh partner

David Weavers has been appointed a partner of Russell McVeagh, effective from 10 December 2018. David Weavers.  He is a member of the Auckland banking and finance team. David advises financial institutions, private equity sponsors, corporate clients, non-bank lenders and sovereigns on a wide range of financing and restructuring transactions. David was admitted…

Commerce Commission appointments

Two appointments have been made to the Commerce Commission. John Small has been appointed an associate member of the Commerce Commission. He is the Founding Director of economic consultancy Covec, and the former head of the University of Auckland's Economic Department. Dr Small was previously a lay member of the High Court…