Chapman Tripp is delighted to announce the appointment of four new partners and two special counsel, effective 1 December, says chief executive partner Nick Wells.
"I am proud to welcome our four new partners and two special counsel. Their appointments strengthen our depth and insight into different industries, and will enable the firm to maintain our leading position in the market," adds Wells.
In our Wellington office, Simon Peart becomes a competition and regulatory partner, Leigh Kissick a commercial finance and infrastructure partner, and Anna Kraack special counsel in civil litigation.
In the Auckland office, Laura Fraser becomes a commercial litigation and regulatory partner, Gerard Souness a corporate finance partner, and Jo Bain special counsel in resource management and infrastructure.
Wellington:
Simon Peart, Competition & regulatory
Simon has extensive experience advising domestic and international clients in relation to the full range of competition and regulatory matters, including merger control, enforcement and investigations, price control and other regulatory and public law issues. His appointment supports the firm's growth of the competition & regulatory practice, where there is a strong demand from clients in regulated sectors such as energy, telecommunications and airports
Leigh Kissick, Finance
Leigh advises clients on the commercial and financing aspects of projects, and is a banking and finance lawyer. She has expertise in large infrastructure projects, in particular advising the Government. Her appointment further focuses on the firm's role to Government and business in this space.
Anna Kraack, Civil litigation
Anna specialises in civil litigation, with a focus on contract disputes, gas and energy, aquaculture, insurance and trusts. She leads our large and complex litigation matters for clients including EQC, and major energy, fisheries and insurance companies.
Auckland:
Laura Fraser, Litigation
Laura specialises in the conduct of complex commercial litigation, general contract and tort issues. She has particular expertise in contentious private and public law, including insurance disputes, directors' liability claims, regulatory litigation and administrative law claims.
Gerard Souness, Finance
Gerard advises corporate, bank and institutional clients on their transactional and corporate finance needs. Gerard's previous experience working across the banking product spectrum, both in-house and in private practice, strengthens our finance practice.
Jo Bain, Resource management & infrastructure
Jo advises on district and regional planning, consenting and compliance issues, Overseas Investment Act matters, and climate change. She has particular expertise in major infrastructure and transportation projects within our resource management and infrastructure practices.
Chapman Tripp is New Zealand's largest legal partnership with 60 partners in total. The firm recently won Large Law Firm of the year, Deal Team (> 100 lawyers) of the year, and also scooped: New Zealand Deal, International Deal, Capital Markets Deal, M&A Deal, and Mid-Market Deal of the year at the NZ Law Awards last month.
