LawFuel Power List 2025 No. 44 Priest has established herself as one of NZ’s leading criminal lawyers, joining the Power List in 2024, with 20+ years’ experience handling serious violence, sexual offenses, complex drug crimes, actively contributing to legal education and speaking at events. Her co-founding of “The Good Lawyer”—a non-profit providing resources to prisoners—demonstrates
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 No. 4 Over 600 cases resulting in High Court judgments. That’s not a typo, Hodder’s been appearing in New Zealand’s senior courts since 1980, racking up victories and precedents with the relentlessness of a metronome. His Three Waters work (representing Timaru, Waimakariri, and Whangarei councils) put him at the intersection of local
LawFuel Power List 2025 No. 2 Kitteridge’s August 2025 appointment as Professor of Practice at Oxford’s Blavatnik School of Government wasn’t just a plum academic gig—it was a coronation. The Deputy Public Service Commissioner role already gave her the ear of every minister who matters; Oxford gives her global heft. Her CV reads like New
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 »
How A Country Law Firm Continues to Expand >> In-House Role? Public Defence Work? Government Law? – See LawFuel’s Jobs Network A new chapter is unfolding at Evans Henderson Woodbridge, one of the North Island’s oldest law firms and a pillar of the Rangitīkei community. With a history stretching back to at least 1910, and
The University of Auckland has put the brakes on a critical and controversial vote regarding the proposed merger between its law and business faculties, following significant pushback from the law profession over transparency issues. Initially scheduled for a vote this week, the university council’s deliberation has been delayed after criticism mounted over plans to conduct
Auckland Law Faculty Merger Decision Delayed Amid Transparency Concerns Read More »
Workers Compensation Law Filing an injury claim can be overwhelming, especially when navigating the differences between personal injury and workers’ compensation cases. Each follows its own set of rules, procedures, and legal standards, making it crucial to understand which path applies to your situation. Knowing these distinctions can help you prepare for the legal process
How Personal Injury and Workers’ Compensation Cases Differ in Injury Claims Read More »
