Chapman Tripp has announced the promotion of eight new senior solicitors and one new senior legal advisor in its Auckland Wellington offices, effective from 1 September 2016.
Robert Grignon, Tax, Auckland has been appointed a senior legal advisor. Robert advises clients on a wide range of tax matters including mergers and acquisitions (structuring, due diligence and SPA negotiations), cross-border investments, tax disputes and property taxation, including the recently enacted residential land withholding tax.
The new senior solicitors are:
Harriet Hansen, Corporate, Wellington: Harriet is a solicitor in Chapman Tripp's competition and regulatory group. She has experience advising international and domestic clients on a range of competition, regulatory and consumer matters. Prior to joining Chapman Tripp, she was legal counsel for the New Zealand Commerce Commission, where she was involved in a number of high-profile merger, cartel and restrictive trade practices investigations.
Bridgette Martin, Corporate, Wellington: Bridgette specialises in commercial law and projects. She works closely with public and private sector clients in the telecommunications, energy, infrastructure, government, technology and banking sectors, advising on a broad range of commercial contracting arrangements and general advisory work (including contract and procurement issues, and privacy and consumer protection law). She has particular experience and expertise in procurement projects in the public sector.
Sebastian Templeton, Corporate, Wellington: Sebastian is a corporate lawyer specialising in competition and regulatory law. He is experienced in merger control, enforcement matters, and assisting clients in regulated industries. Sebastian works closely with clients across a wide range of industries, including the airport, energy and telecommunications sectors.
Jess Elder, Finance, Wellington: Jess specialises in various aspects of corporate finance. She advises borrowers and lenders in relation to bank financing, wholesale and retail bond offers and other capital market transactions. Jess is regularly sought out by clients to assist their in-house legal teams.
Anthony Wicks, Litigation, Wellington: Anthony specialises in commercial and public law litigation and dispute resolution. He advises a wide range of clients in both the public and private sectors on judicial review, administrative law, decision-making processes, public sector contracting and regulatory investigations. He also advises on a broad range of commercial disputes, including class actions.
Nik Bruce-Smith, Litigation, Wellington: Nik advises on a broad range of complex litigation and dispute resolution matters, with a particular focus in relation to the energy sector, insurance and fisheries. Since joining Chapman Tripp in 2012, Nik has appeared in the High Court, Court of Appeal, and has particular expertise and experience in large commercial arbitrations and acting as lead counsel in the successful mediation of disputes.
George Moore, Property, Auckland: George specialises in a wide range of commercial property law, with a particular focus on retail development leasing for both landlords and tenants, large-scale residential subdivisions and forestry matters. He advises clients on the acquisition and development of large commercial property; due diligence investigations of commercial property portfolios; design, build and lease contracts for commercial projects; forestry agreements; and OIO applications.
Kylie Paine, Property, Auckland: Kylie is a construction and major projects lawyer. She works closely with clients on a wide range of projects ranging from residential to geothermal power plants. She is experienced advising both developer and contractor clients, and drafting a range of domestic and international commercial arrangements.