LawFuel Power List 2025 No. 41 Perennial power lister Chen continues exerting influence as chair of the Superdiversity Institute and president of NZ Asian Lawyers, recently establishing the Mai Chen Legal Innovation Award at Otago University to encourage innovative thinking. Having established her eponymous firm before ‘sacking herself’ and becoming a barrister, she serves as […]
JCC Report Exposes Ongoing Judicial Bullying Claims New Zealand’s Judicial Conduct Commissioner, the long-suffering and certainly the long-serving Alan Ritchie, has released his annual report, and surprise: the complaints box is still overflowing. Bullying, incompetence, and glacial case progress continue to stalk the courts like unwanted familiars. Bullying, delays and what might politely be called
NZ Judges Under Pressure As Report Points To Bad Behaviour Read More »
Senior Partner Exodus At Meredith Connell John Bowie, LawFuel publisher New Zealand’s largest litigation firm is doing what law firms euphemistically call a “strategic review”, which in plain English usually means people are being shown the door with polite smiles and carefully worded press releases. But at Meredith Connell, this isn’t a gentle reshuffle of
What Does The Meredith Connell ‘Strategic Review’ Really Signal? Read More »
Auckland Law School’s ‘Stacked Deck’ Committee The University of Auckland’s decision to exclude practising lawyers and barristers from the committee reviewing its proposed law and business school merger has raised eyebrows and concerns within the law profession, with critics questioning the committee’s ability to adequately assess the potential impact on the legal profession and the
Auckland Law School Shake-Up Sees Critics Cry Foul Over ‘Stacked’ Committee Read More »
Justice Whata’s Legal Revolution Anthony Willy Readers are excused if they do not know what this means. That is because it is an entirely new system of law for New Zealand advocated by Justice Christian Whata our latest judicial appointment to the Court of Appeal. The fact that it is practiced nowhere else in any
Bijural Bombshell And One Judge’s Radical Plan to Rewrite NZ Law Read More »
Wellington boutique disputes resolution firm Darroch Forrest is to join international insurance and litigation firm Kennedys. Darroch Forrest will operate under the Kennedy’s name from 1 October. Kennedy’s in New Zealand has specialised in insurance work with an existing office in Auckland, as well as developing work in litigation, disputes, real estate and related areas.
Lawyer Tug-of-War: NZ Law Firms Battle Global Competition for Legal Talent The legal law jobs landscape in New Zealand in 2024 is characterized by intense competition for top talent, including from overseas, with firms and in-house teams experiencing significant challenges in attracting and retaining skilled lawyers. The 2024 LawFuel law job survey shows that there
James Meager, the new National MP and former Simpson Grierson lawyer, made an impression upon Parliament with his maiden speech, challenging the ownership claims of the leftover Māori, the poor, and workers. The speech impressed many on both sides of the House and heralded a significant career ahead for the new politician. >> Latest Law
The Powerful Maiden Speech From Young Maori Lawyer Read More »
Leading commercial law firm Russell McVeagh is further growing its partnership with key home-grown senior talents – Alex MacDuff, Bevan Peachey, Hannah Wilson and Michael Loan – being promoted to partner (subject to completing Law Society requirements). Spanning the firm’s Litigation, Banking & Finance, and Corporate Advisory practice groups, the appointments follow on from the firm’s appointment of Real Estate & Construction partner, Doran Wyatt,
Russell McVeagh Grows Partnership with Four New Partners Read More »
