Electoral Commission Chair and Deputy appointed

Former Cabinet Secretary and Privacy Commissioner Marie Shroff has been appointed as the next Chair of the Electoral Commission. The Electoral Commission is the agency responsible for all areas of electoral administration in New Zealand including the running of parliamentary elections and referendums, promoting compliance with electoral laws, servicing the work…

Meares Williams appoints two Associates

Meares Williams has promoted two of its lawyers to associate. Belinda Ferguson.  Belinda Ferguson has a BA and LLB degrees from the University of Canterbury and was admitted in October 2014.   She works mostly in the area of relationship property but also specialises in general civil litigation and property law.   Belinda has appeared as…

DLA Piper NZ appoints Alicia Murray to partner

DLA Piper New Zealand has appointed Alicia Murray to partner. Alicia Murray.  Alicia is a commercial litigator with more than 15 years’ experience in large-scale commercial disputes: regulatory, investigations, restructuring, insolvency and general commercial (including construction disputes).   She co-leads DLA Piper’s New Zealand Insolvency and Restructuring Team. DLA Piper New Zealand has also promoted…

Four new members of Richmond Chambers

Four new members have joined Auckland’s Richmond Chambers. Raynor Asher QC has resumed practice at the bar as an arbitrator and mediator, and providing opinions and advice. Mr Asher was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1992 and was appointed to the High Court bench in 2005 and the Court of Appeal in…

Todd Spencer joins Juno Legal

Todd Spencer has joined Juno Legal from Contact Energy where he was head of Commercial and New Ventures. Todd Spencer.  Todd has more than 20 years’ experience in law and business working at a senior level in-house and in private practice in New Zealand and overseas. He started legal practice at Herbert Smith…

Andrew Dallas appointed ERA Chief

Andrew Dallas has been appointed Chief of the Employment Relations Authority. He has been appointed for a three-year term to November 2022. Dr Dallas will take up his role on 22 August when the current Chief, James Crichton, steps down. Mr Crichton has been Chief since 2015 and a member of…

Sue Wells appointed AMINZ Executive Director

Sue Wells has been appointed Executive Director of the Arbitrators' and Mediators' Institute of New Zealand (AMINZ). Sue Wells.  Ms Wells takes over from Deborah Hart who has been AMINZ Executive Director from May 2008. Sue Wells attended the University of Canterbury and served five terms as a Christchurch City Councillor. She has…

Simon Waalkens joins Rice Speir partnership

Simon Waalkens has joined the Rice Speir partnership from 1 August. Simon Waalkens.  Simon was admitted in March 2009 and is an experienced commercial litigation and regulatory/compliance lawyer. He has conducted hundreds of criminal hearings and has considerable experience appearing as lead counsel before the High Courts and Tribunals on a variety of…

Kirsten Graham joins Cavell Leitch partnership

Cavell Leitch has announced that Kirsten Graham is now a partner of the firm. Kirsten was admitted as a barrister and solicitor in October 2010 after joining Cavell Leitch in 2009. She has developed expertise across a range of civil and commercial litigation and dispute resolution matters. Kirsten represents clients at all levels…

Kensington Swan to combine with Dentons

Kensington Swan has announced that it intends to combine with Dentons, the world's largest law firm. It says the combination, following approval by partners and subject to meeting regulatory requirements, is expected to launch early next year. Since entering the Australasian region in 2016 with offices in Australia and Papua New Guinea,…