Kate Watt - Partner 

Kate Watt has been promoted to Partner. 

Kate is an adviser on complex corporate, finance and energy transactions. Kate works alongside sponsors, investors, founders and corporates on complex and high-value transactions, particularly in the energy sector, where she is regularly involved from early-stage land and PPA negotiations through to financial close. 

Her combination of technical expertise and project leadership means she is often embedded in client teams, helping to navigate risk, align stakeholders and maintain momentum on critical deals.

Kate’s career spans a large New Zealand firm, magic circle firm Freshfields in London, a senior in-house leadership role at Heartland Bank, and the launch of NewLaw firm Shift Advisory. 

Since joining Greenwood Roche, Kate has contributed to the development of the firm’s corporate, finance and projects practice and in building long-term client relationships across the market.

Kate is based in Auckland and works with clients nationwide.

Geoff White - Partner 

Geoff White joins the Greenwood Roche partnership bringing extensive expertise in construction law, project disputes and arbitration. With experience spanning complex infrastructure delivery, renewable energy projects and high-value disputes, Geoff advises clients across the full project lifecycle - from contract structuring and project delivery through to dispute resolution. 

Geoff has advised on some of New Zealand’s largest infrastructure projects, including Transmission Gully and the Turitea Wind Farm, as well as major international projects including the Burj Khalifa Tower and Dubai International Airport. He combines technical depth with a practical, commercially focused approach to resolving complex disputes.

Zaneta Easter – Principal 

Zaneta Easter has been promoted to Principal in Greenwood Roche's Wellington office. 

Zaneta joined Greenwood Roche in 2025 as a specialist in commercial property and real estate. Since then, she has advised a wide range of clients on various property matters, including commercial leasing, acquisitions, developments, disposals, and complex design–build–lease arrangements. 

Zaneta provides clear, pragmatic advice on high‑value and technically complex transactions. She draws on strong technical expertise and commercial judgment to support clients’ strategic decision‑making. She advises a range of corporate, government and private‑sector organisations.

Amelia Alden - Principal 

Amelia Alden has been promoted to Principal in Greenwood Roche's Auckland office.

Amelia is a resource management law specialist who joined Greenwood Roche as a junior lawyer in 2017. Over the past nine years she has been involved in building the firm’s resource management practice, assisting in advising major public and private sector clients on the consenting of significant projects, engaging in policy and plan-making processes, and assisting with plan change applications. 

During her time with Greenwood Roche, Amelia has been involved in securing a number of consenting outcomes. These include assisting in obtaining resource consent for a 24/7 drive-through McDonald’s restaurant in Ōrākei following a publicly notified application and hearing, working alongside Generus Living Group to secure resource consents under the COVID-19 Recovery (Fast-track Consenting) Act 2020 for a $500 million retirement village in central Auckland, and assisting Summerset Retirement Villages in successfully obtaining resource consents for substantial retirement villages in St Johns and Parnell. 

Michael Bennett - Principal 

Michael Bennett has been promoted to Principal at Greenwood Roche. 

Michael is a specialist commercial property and development lawyer with extensive experience across large‑scale transactions, complex developments, high-value leasing, and bespoke due diligence. He joined Greenwood Roche in 2019 after gaining broad experience in full‑service firms, and now advises a range of private and public sector clients, including McDonald’s, Beca, Air New Zealand, ASB, Kāinga Ora, MediaWorks, New Zealand Post, Kiwibank, Euroclass, and Invesco.

Michael advises on a wide range of commercial property matters, including acquisitions and disposals, leasing, development structuring, and both freehold and unit title projects. He has developed particular expertise in residential and mixed‑use developments and is involved in the Auckland office’s approach to the residential development sector, as well as advising Templeton on the subdivision and sell‑down of several significant developments. In addition, Michael also advises major overseas clients on Overseas Investment Act matters and consent requirements, drawing on his technical understanding and pragmatic commercial style. Michael takes a client‑focused, solutions‑based approach to his work and has an increasing leadership role in the firm’s national property and development practice.

Nikita Day - Senior Associate 

Nikita joined Greenwood Roche as a graduate in 2019 and is a member of the firm's litigation and Māori Commercial teams. 

Nikita is experienced in forestry, Te Tiriti o Waitangi, iwi governance, whenua Māori and dispute resolution. Nikita has experience with mediation, arbitration and adjudication proceedings, and has appeared in the High Court and Māori Land Court.  

Nikita is known for her strategic and commercial approach and broad experience.

Steffan Ronald - Senior Associate 

Greenwood Roche has announced the promotion of Steffan Ronald to Senior Associate. 

Steffan joined the firm’s Christchurch office in April 2025 as a member of the property team, after a stint in London. Steffan has broad experience across commercial property law, including development projects, subdivisions, acquisitions and disposals, leasing and financing work.

Steffan acts for a range of public and private sector clients, major corporates, iwi and developers. He provides clear, focused advice and takes a pragmatic approach to all aspects of property law.