LawFuel Power List 2025 No. 45 Doyen, mentor, legend – they all apply to Jim Farmer KC who remains on the List even if there is some deserved slowing of case histories. Chambers Asia-Pacific 2025 ranks Farmer as “Senior Statesperson,” describing him as “widely regarded as one of NZ’s pre-eminent commercial litigators, vastly experienced in
LawFuel Power List 2025 No. 49 A legend at the bar with a career spanning 55+ years including 100+ murder trials, Hampton recently resigned from the Criminal Cases Review Commission citing concerns about independence and expertise. He retains his reputation as one of NZ’s best defence lawyers with expertise extending to major inquiries including Pike
LawFuel Power List 2025 No. 32 Flanagan is NZ’s premier plaintiff-side commercial litigator, like Fionnghuala Cuncannon and yet another Meredith Connell alumni, likely having argued more leading Fair Trading Act and Financial Markets Conduct Act cases than any other lawyer. Most recently he acted for the Ministry of Education in successful claims against James Hardie and
LawFuel Power List 2025 No. 30 England became Chief Executive Partner in February 2021, succeeding Nick Wells after 28 years with the firm (partner since 2001, Auckland corporate practice leader for a decade). Chapman Tripp was named NZ Law Firm of the Year at 2024 KangaNews Awards (ninth consecutive win) and won the 2024 IDC
LawFuel Power List 2025 No. 28 Foote was elected NZ Bar Association President for 2026-2028, with his President-Elect term commencing October 2025. Ranked Leading Silk by Legal 500 Asia Rankings 2024 (Commercial Disputes) and Band 2 by Chambers Global/Asia-Pacific 2024-2025 (Dispute Resolution), peers describe him as “an incredibly articulate silk, very persuasive with an excellent
LawFuel Power List 2025 No. 29 Tipping is ranked “hall of fame” by Asia Pacific Legal 500 (banking and finance), named NZ lawyer of the year for leveraged buyouts multiple times by Best Lawyers, and awarded highest ranking in restructuring/insolvency by International Financial Law Review. UK publication Finance Monthly twice named him among the top
LawFuel Power List 2025 No. 43 Campbell becomes the 34th NZ Law Society President on March 27, 2026, succeeding Frazer Barton after serving as Vice President since 2022. A Dentons litigation partner with 23+ years’ practice (previously Kensington Swan, Morrison Kent, Goldsmiths London specializing in defamation), Campbell’s leadership credentials include Auckland Branch President (2016), Law
LawFuel Power List 2025 No. 42 Paul Majurey chairs Eke Panuku Development Auckland (overseeing waterfront/Wynyard Quarter development), chairs the Maunga Authority, and manages a $115 million iwi investment fund. His 26-year specialization in environmental/Treaty law positions him as lead negotiator for 30 iwi in Treaty negotiations. His work on “Maungārongo” development with Ockham Residential is
LawFuel Power List 2025 No. 3 Our highest-ranking independent lawyer on the List and now something of a staple is former Solicitor-General (2012-2016) who has become New Zealand’s go-to independent investigator for scandals too sensitive for the usual suspects. His 2025 workload included the Public Service Commission’s personal information protection probe (finalized May 2025) and
Cuncannon launched her eponymous plaintiff litigation firm in 2024 after a decade as Meredith Connell partner, betting New Zealand was ready for American-style class action specialists. The move shows the evolution of the plaintiff bar, litigation funding and class actions as a growth market. The firm establishment gamble paid off with Chambers ranking her in
