New Partner for Meredith Connell

Meredith Connell has appointed Leo Farmer as a partner in its Auckland office. Mr Farmer was admitted in February 2006 and began working with Meredith Connell. He now leads the firm's work for the Commerce Commission in its investigation into backs for breaches of the Fair Trading Act. Specialising in commercial litigation,…

Auckland Coroner appointed

Auckland barrister Debra Bell has been appointed a coroner. Ms Bell fills the vacancy creatred when Judge Deborah Marshall was appointed Chief Coroner earlier in 2015. She joints the four other coroners serving Auckland. Admitted as a barrister and solicitor in January 1998, Ms Bell has practised as a barrister sole since…

Judge Neil MacLean to deliver Harkness Henry Lecture

New Zealand's first Chief Coroner (recently retired), Judge Neil MacLean will deliver this year's Harkness Henry Lecture at the University of Waikato on Tuesday, 8 September 2015. Entitled "The Vision and the Reality", Judge MacLean's address will include reflections on the origins and development of the office of Coroner, 15 years…

Former Bankside Chambers member succeeds at Oxford

Auckland's Bankside Chambers has announced that a former Bankside barrister, Mark Tushingham, has performed with great distinction in the latest BCL exam results announced by Oxford University in England. Bankside says Mark was only one mark off the top prize for the highly respected postgraduate law degree.

David Flacks appointed to NZVIF board

Auckland lawyer David Flacks has been appointed to the board of the New Zealand Venture Investment Fund Ltd Mr Flacks is also a member of the Takeovers Panel, a director of Vero Insurance NZ Ltd, and chair of the New Zealand Markets Disciplinary Tribunal. He was admitted as a barrister and solicitor…

NZ Asialaw Asia-Pacific Dispute Resolution Award finalists

Eight New Zealand law firms and a Wellington Queen's Counsel have been shortlisted for the inaugural Asialaw Asia-Pacific Dispute Resolution Awards. The awards will be presented on 24 September 2015 in Hong Kong. The New Zealand firms which are been nominated for the New Zealand National Law Firm of the Year are: Bell…

Sue McCormack ministerial appointee to University Council

Christchurch commercial lawyer Sue McCormack is one of four people who have been reappointed to the new University of Canterbury Council by Tertiary Education Minister Steven Joyce. Mr Joyce says Education Act changes in February 2015 have resulted in smaller, more skills-focused councils and Canterbury is the first university to change…

Promotions at Corcoran French

Christchurch law firm Corcoran French has announced the promotions of three of its lawyers. Rowan Aspros has been promoted to senior associate. Rowan was admitted in December 2011. Her areas of practice include commercial law, property law, wills, powers of Attorney, and rural property. Geraldine Biggs has been promoted to senior solicitor.…

Richard Hearn joins Corcoran French

Richard Hearn has joined Christchurch law firm Corcoran French's litigation team as a Senior Solicitor. Richard graduated BCA/LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 2005 and completed an LLM (Hons) at Auckland University in 2011. He was admitted as a barrister and solicitor in July 2007. Before joining Corcoran French, Richard worked…

Matthew Piper joins Buddle Findlay litigation team

Matthew Piper has joined the Auckland office of Buddle Findlay as a senior solicitor in the litigation team. Matthew was admitted in December 2010 and advises on a range of matters including general litigation and employment law. Before joining Buddle Findlay Matthew worked at a leading specialist employment law firm.