Four new law staff at VUW

Victoria University of Wellington's law faculty has made four academic appointments. Dr Matteo Solinas from the University of Glasgow's School of Law has taken up a senior lectureship in commercial law. Estair van Wagner has moved from Canada to take up an appointment as lecturer in property and resource management. Victoria Stace and…

Whanganui firms merge

Robert Handley & Co has merged with JRT Lawyers in Whanganui. The new firm is named Bullock & Associates. Mark Bullock, who is President of the New Zealand Law Society's Whanganui branch, is principal of the firm. Robert Handley and Ian Burgess from Robert Handley & Co are consultants. The other staff…

Susanne Ruthven joins Harbour Chambers

Susanne Ruthven has joined Harbour Chambers in Wellington. Susanne was admitted in May 2005. She worked as a solicitor for the Ministry of Fisheries (now the Ministry for Primary Industries) where she managed the ministry's litigation files in public law, employment law and Māori customary law. She moved to Blackstone Chambers in 2008…

Campbell Savage new Public Defender Southern

Campbell Savage has been appointed the new Public Defender Southern (Hawke's Bay to Dunedin) in the Public Defence Service. Admitted in 1989, Campbell initially worked in Napier before becoming a Crown Prosecutor in Wellington. He moved to Christchurch and ultimately Dunedin where he was in partnership in a number of local…

Kirsty McDonald QC to chair Kiwifruit NZ

Wellington barrister Kirsty McDonald QC has been appointed the new chair of the board of Kiwifruit New Zealand, the kiwifruit industry's regulator. From 30 September 2015 she replaces Sir Brian Elwood, who has been chair for 11 years. Ms McDonald is a director of a number of boards including the Accident Compensation…

Bell Gully wins Asia-Pacific dispute resolution award

Bell Gully has won the award for New Zealand Law Firm of the Year at the Asialaw Asia-Pacific Dispute Resolution Awards 2015. The awards, sponsored by Euromoney Legal Media Group's Asialaw, were announced on 24 September 2015. There were seven firms nominated for the New Zealand award. The New Zealand Disputes Star of…

Lawyers in Women of Influence Awards

Six women from the legal services industry are among the finalists for the Westpac 2015 Women of Influence Awards. The awards are in their third year and aim to identify, recognise and celebrate the women shaping New Zealand across 10 categories: Arts and Culture, Board and Management, Business and Not for…

Three law firms win White Camellia Awards

Three law firms have won White Camellia Awards, presented in Auckland on 17 September 2015. The awards recognise organisations that are promoting gender equity through the international United Nations Women's Empowerment Principles. EEO Commissioner Jackie Blue says companies who commit to the seven principles create a platform for true gender equity in…

New Chapman Tripp senior associates

Chapman Tripp has announced the appointment of two new senior associates in its Auckland office. Gerard Souness recently returned to Chapman Tripp after three years at Westpac. He specialises in corporate and institutional finance advising banks, corporates and other entities. Gerard advises clients on syndicated and bi-lateral lending, securitisation and trade…

Mark Szigetvary partner at Glaister Ennor

Auckland law firm Glaister Ennor has announced the Mark Szigetvary has become a partner following its merger with Szigetvary Law. Mark specialises in property and commercial law, trusts, wills and estates. He is returning after first working for Glaister Ennor 20 years ago.