Belinda Moffat appointed Real Estate Authority CEO

Belinda Moffat has been appointed Chief Executive of the Real Estate Authority. Ms Moffat was admitted as a barrister and solicitor in May 1994 and has been Chief Executive of the Broadcasting Standards Authority since May 2016. Her last day with the BSA will be 21 August. She joined the BSA…

Nine Senior Associate promotions at Chapman Tripp

Chapman Tripp has announced the promotion of nine senior solicitors to Senior Associate, effective from 1 June. Nicola de Wit in the Auckland office specialises in resource consent and designation processes under the Resource Management Act 1991. Admitted in August 2012, Nicola advises national infrastructure providers, property developers, Māori organisations, environmental organisations…

Michael Thomas joins Quay Chambers

Michael Thomas has joined the independent bar and commenced practice at Quay Chambers in Auckland. Michael moved from the Serious Fraud Office where he was a senior lawyer. Admitted in July 2005 he has worked at Russell McVeagh, ASB Bank, and Meredith Connell. Michael specialises in financial crime, civil and criminal regulatory…

Melissa Johnston joins McVeagh Fleming

McVeagh Fleming has appointed Melissa Johnston to the role of Special Counsel. Melissa was admitted as a barrister and solicitor in December 2002. She specialises in employment law and works for employers and employees and does contentious and non- contentious work. Melissa will work with clients at all three of McVeagh Fleming's…

New appointments at Stace Hammond

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…

Aoraki Legal promotes Emma Woodings

Emma Woodings has been promoted to Associate at Aoraki Legal. Emma completed her Master of Law degree in the United Kingdom in 2016 before returning home to be admitted to the High Court of New Zealand. She has a background in insurance law and is involved in a broad range of matters…

AJ Park announces new managing director

Dr Andrea Dickens has been appointed managing director of AJ Park, effective from 1 June. Andrea has been with AJ Park for most of the last 21 years and most recently was the firm’s chief operating officer. Over the past year, she was seconded to the integration management office of AJ…

Two tenancy adjudicators appointed

Two tenancy adjudicators have been appointed. Rotorua lawyer Mikail Nicolaas Steens has been appointed for a three-year term from 2 June 2020. Mr Steens was admitted as a barrister and solicitor in December 2013 and is a property law specialist with Rotorua law firm Mark Copeland Lawyers. Jeanette Mary Maher has been…

Catherine Shirley-Brown is Russell McVeagh's newest partner

Catherine Shirley-Brown has joined Russell McVeagh’s national Corporate team as the firm's newest partner, based in Wellington. Cath has previously worked at Russell McVeagh, and her appointment to partner at the firm follows experience as partner at another New Zealand law firm and six years as a partner at leading international…

Zoe Brentnall returns to Gilbert Walker

Zoe Brentnall Zoe Brentnall has re-joined Gilbert Walker as an Associate after seven years practising international arbitration at Shearman & Sterling LLP in Singapore, Paris and London. Zoe began her career at Gilbert Walker in 2010 before joining Shearman & Sterling in 2012. Zoe returns to Gilbert Walker with significant experience acting…