The Asia Pacific Legal 500 rankings have been released, identifying the leading lawyers across a number of practice ‘bands’.
The Guide ranks law firms for each of the categories and lists individual New Zealand lawyers working in firms who it deems to be “Leading Individuals” or “Next Generation Lawyers”.
- NZ Super Fund role
- Energy company counsel . . top opportunity
The observations on the New Zealand legal scene from the survey note the new emphasis upon ethical standards following the Russell McVeagh sexual harassment scandal.
From Legal 500: New Zealand experienced solid growth in 2017 and early 2018, beating the average of other OECD members. The dairy industry is key to the country’s economic performance, so the recent slump in global dairy prices is a cause for concern, but although the agricultural, horticultural, forestry, mining and fishing industries are still key pillars of the economy, the country continues to diversify into areas such as tourism and hi-tech.
The country is expecting a slowdown in immigration, which was a key issue in the general election in late 2017. The centre-right National Party that had been in power since 2008 was replaced by a coalition led by Labour, making Jacinda Ardern the new prime minister. Under the new regime, changes in policy are likely to affect key areas such as overseas investment rules and infrastructure development. PPPs are expected to be replaced by an alternate funding structure for major projects, which have shifted in focus away from road construction towards rail, and the Overseas Investment Office, which is responsible for regulating foreign direct investment, has tightened rules on the foreign ownership of real estate.
For law firms, there is much to work on, including issues that arise from regulatory changes the new government is formulating. The healthy economy has meant there have been relatively few insolvencies, though some large corporate collapses, notably in the insurance and construction sectors, have drawn in many firms with specialist practices. Insurance is another key source of work, with ongoing matters from the Canterbury earthquakes and the South Island’s more recent Kaikoura earthquakes generating a large volume of disputes.
A key trend in the legal market going forward will be ethical standards, following allegations made about the culture and conduct of male lawyers at one of the country’s largest firms.
New Zealand has a strong cadre of full-service law firms, notably Bell Gully, Buddle Findlay, Chapman Tripp, MinterEllisonRuddWatts, Russell McVeagh and Simpson Grierson, and international behemoth DLA Piper New Zealand also has a local office. Competition in key practice areas is fierce, however, as firms such as Kensington Swan, Anderson Lloyd and Anthony Harper gain key panel appointments and build their rosters of blue-chip clients.
Boutique firms also play a vital role in many practice areas, such as corporate and commercial (Harmos Horton Lusk Limited), dispute resolution (LeeSalmonLong and Gilbert Walker), insurance (Fee Langstone and Robertsons), employment (SBM Legal, Dundas Street and Kiely Thompson Caisley) and IP (AJ Park).
New Zealand lawyers who are listed in these categories are as follows:
Banking and Finance
| Name | Firm | Name | Firm |
| Cathryn Barber | Chapman Tripp | David McPherson | Bell Gully |
| Deemple Budhia | Russell McVeagh | Mei Nah | Mayne Wetherell |
| Geoff Busch | Anderson Lloyd | Chris O’Brien | MinterEllisonRuddWatts |
| Katie Carson | DLA Piper New Zealand | Nigel Oliver | Anthony Harper |
| David Craig | Bell Gully | Peter Owles | Buddle Findlay |
| Tom Fall | MinterEllisonRuddWatts | Ross Pennington | Chapman Tripp |
| Paul Farrugia | Buddle Findlay | Mark Reese | Chapman Tripp |
| Grant Goldsmith | Anthony Harper | John-Paul Rice |
| Andrew Harkness | Simpson Grierson | Will Tipping | Mayne Wetherell |
| Murray King | Bell Gully | Dave Wetherell | Mayne Wetherell |
| Kate Lane | MinterEllisonRuddWatts | Nicole Xanthopol | Kensington Swan |
| Guy Lethbridge | Russell McVeagh |
|
| Next Generation Lawyers |
| Pip Breitmeyer | Anthony Harper | Ian Mackenzie | MinterEllisonRuddWatts |
| Rachel Brown | Anderson Lloyd | Gerard Souness | Chapman Tripp |
| Daniel Collins | Buddle Findlay | Michael Thompson | DLA Piper New Zealand |
| Luke Ford | Chapman Tripp | Dominic Toomey | Simpson Grierson |
Competition Law
| Name | Firm | Name | Firm |
| Neil Anderson | Chapman Tripp | Susie Kitty | Buddle Findlay |
| Anne Callinan | Simpson Grierson | Simon Ladd | Bell Gully |
| James Craig | Simpson Grierson | Andrew Matthews | Matthews Law |
| Torrin Crowther | Bell Gully | Oliver Meech | MinterEllisonRuddWatts |
| Grant David | Chapman Tripp | Ross Patterson | MinterEllisonRuddWatts |
| Tony Dellow | Buddle Findlay | Troy Pilkington | Russell McVeagh |
| Ian Denton | Wilson Harle | Matt Sumpter | Chapman Tripp |
| Sarah Keene | Russell McVeagh | Mark Williamson | DLA Piper New Zealand |
|
| Next Generation Lawyers |
| Lucy Cooper | Chapman Tripp | Felicity Monteiro | Wilson Harle |
| Colin Fife | Chapman Tripp | Glenn Shewan | Bell Gully |
| Kristel McMeekin | MinterEllisonRuddWatts | Gus Stewart | Matthews Law |
Corporate and M&A
| Name | Firm | Name | Firm |
| Anna Buchly | Bell Gully | Graeme Quigley | Webb Henderson |
| Grant Dunn | Buddle Findlay | Cathy Quinn | MinterEllisonRuddWatts |
| James Gibson | Bell Gully | Silvana Schenone | MinterEllisonRuddWatts |
| Brynn Gilbertson | Bell Gully | David Shillson | Kensington Swan |
| David Gould | Anthony Harper | Garth Sinclair | Webb Hendersno |
| Pip Greenwood | Russell McVeagh | Nathanael Starrenburg | Harmos Horton Lusk Ltd |
| Andrew Harmos | Harmos Horton Lusk Ltd | John Strowger | Chapman Tripp |
| Michael Harrod | Mayne Wetherell | Mark Stuart | MinterEllisonRuddWatts |
| Paul Hartland | Lowndes | Rachel Taylor | DLA Piper New Zealand |
| James Hawes | Simpson Grierson | Tim Tubman | Chapman Tripp |
| David Hoare | Russell McVeagh | Simon Vodanovich | Buddle Findlay |
| Greg Horton | Harmos Horton Lusk Ltd | Roger Wallis | Chapman Tripp |
| Glenn Joblin | Bell Gully | Martin Wiseman | DLA Piper New Zealand |
| Dan Jones | Russell McVeagh | Daniel Wong | Flacks & Wong |
| Michael Pollard | Simpson Grierson |
|
| Next Generation Lawyers |
| Megan Compton | Anthony Harper | Andrew Matthews | Simpson Grierson |
| Jennifer Coote | Bell Gully | Joshua Pringle | Chapman Tripp |
| Kerri Dewe | Lowndes | Hayden Smith | DLA Piper New Zealand |
| Joanna Khoo | Russell McVeagh | Benjamin Sutton | Buddle Findlay |
| Nick Kovacevich | Wynn Williams | Julika Wahlmann-Smith | Hesketh Henry |
| Bede Maher | Anderson Lloyd |
Dispute Resolution
| Name | Firm | Name | Firm |
| Sarah Armstrong | Russell McVeagh | Zane Kennedy | MinterEllisonRuddWatts |
| Jania Baigent | Simpson Grierson | Simon Ladd | Bell Gully |
| Chris Browne | Wilson Harle | John McKay | Chapman Tripp |
| Sophie East | Bell Gully | Laura O’Gorman | Buddle Findlay |
| Allison Ferguson | Wilson Harle | Davey Salmon | LeeSalmonLong |
| Ian Gault | Bell Gully | Mark Sandelin | MinterEllisonRuddWatts |
| Matthew Harris | Gilbert Walker | John Shackleton | Simpson Griersno |
| Michael Heard | LeeSalmonLong | Stacey Shortall | MinterEllisonRuddWatts |
| Jeremy Johnson | Wynn Williams | Jenny Stevens | Bell Gully |
| Daniel Kalderimis | Chapman Tripp |
|
| Next Generation Lawyers |
| Alexander Ho | Gilbert Walker | Lisa Taylor | Anthony Harper |
| Rebecca Ross | Bell Gully | Jesse Wilson | Bell Gully |
Insurance
| Name | Firm | Name | Firm |
| Ian Denton | Wilson Harle | John Knight | Chapman Tripp |
| Philippa Fee | Fee Langstone | Caroline Laband | DLA Piper New Zealand |
| Matthew Francis | Wotton + Kearney | Simon Ladd | Bell Gully |
| David Friar | Bell Gully | Craig Langstone | Fee Langstone |
| Garth Gallaway | Chapman Tripp | Peter Leman | Bell Gully |
| Robert Gapes | Simpson Grierson | Michael Robertson | Robertsons |
| Crossley Gates | Martin Smith | Gilbert Walker |
| Matthew Harris | Gilbert Walker | Helen Twomey | Robertsons |
| Antony Holden | Wotton + Kearney | Emily Walton | Wynn Williams |
| Andrew Horne | MinterEllisonRuddWatts |
|
| Next Generation Lawyers |
| Hugh King | Wotton + Kearney | Virginia Wethey | Fee Langstone |
| Felicity Monteiro | Wilson Harle | Rachael Woods | Robertsons |
| Andrew Moore | Wotton + Kearney |
Intellectual Property
| Name | Firm | Name | Firm |
| Anton Blijlevens | AJ Park | Sue Ironside | Baldwins |
| Damian Broadley | AJ Park | Wes Jones | Baldwins |
| Ian Finch | James & Wells | Michael Moyes | Anthony Harper |
| Mark Gavin | Anthony Harper | Alan Ringwood | Bell Gully |
| John Glengarry | Buddle Findlay | Jason Rudkin-Binks | Hudson Gavin Martin |
| Justin Graham | Chapman Tripp | Jenni Rutter | Kensington Swan |
| Earl Gray | Simpson Grierson | Matt Sumpter | Chapman Tripp |
| John Hackett | AJ Park | Richard Watts | Simpson Grierson |
| Mark Hargreaves | AJ Park | Christopher Young | MinterEllisonRuddWatts |
|
| Next Generation Lawyers |
| Sarah Chapman | Simpson Grierson | Jullion Nelson Parker | Anthony Harper |
| Caroline Herbert | Hudson Gavin Martin | Hamish Selby | Buddle Findlay |
| Sooyun Lee | Bell Gully |
Investment Funds
| Name | Firm | Name | Firm |
| Tracey Cross | DLA Piper New Zealand | Jeremy Muir | MinterEllisonRuddWatts |
| Catriona Grover | Kensington Swan | Rachel Taylor | DLA Piper New Zealand |
| David Ireland | Kensington Swan | Tim Williams | Chapman Tripp |
| Lloyd Kavanagh | MinterEllisonRuddWatts | Haydn Wong | Bell Gully |
| Alasdair McBeth | DLA Piper New Zealand | Mike Woodbury | Chapman Tripp |
|
| Next Generation Lawyers |
| Tom Barnes | DLA Piper New Zealand | Neisha Mistry | DLA Piper New Zealand |
| Emma Dale | Chapman Tripp | Andrew Suggate | MinterEllisonRuddWatts |
| Phoebe Gibbons | Chapman Tripp | Geoff Ward-Marshall | DLA Piper New Zealand |
| Tom McLaughlin | Kensington Swan |
Labour and Employment
| Name | Firm | Name | Firm |
| Kathryn Beck | SBM Legal | Hamish Kynaston | Buddle Findlay |
| Rachael Brown | Bell Gully | Stephen Langton | LangtonHudstonButcher |
| Emma Butcher | Bell Gully | Don Mackinnon | SBM Legal |
| Andrew Caisley | Kiely Thompson Caisley | Jennifer Mills |
| Peter Chemis | Buddle Findlay | Phillipa Muir | Simpson Grierson |
| Tim Clarke | Bell Gully | Megan Richards | MinterEllisonRuddWatts |
| Sherridan Cook | Buddle Findlay | Laura Scampion | DLA Piper New Zealand |
| Kylie Dunn | Russell McVeagh | Blair Scotland | Dundas Street |
| David France | Kiely Thompson Caisley | Gillian Service | MinterEllisonRuddWatts |
| John Hannan | DLA Piper New Zealand | Penny Swarbrick | SBM Legal |
| Susan Hornsby-Geluk | Dundas Street | Rob Towner | Bell Gully |
| Peter Kiely | Kiely Thompson Caisley | Samantha Turner | Simpson Grierson |
|
| Next Generation Lawyers |
| Chris Baldock | MinterEllisonRuddWatts | Matthew McGoldrick | SBM Legal |
| Rachel Burt | Kensington Swan | Tim Oldfield | SBM Legal |
| Ethelred Chey | Rebecca Rendle | Simpson Grierson |
| Liz Coats | Bell Gully | Emma Warden | MinterEllisonRuddWatts |
| Mere King | Buddle Findlay | Ros Webby | Dundas Street |
| Chloe Luscombe | Dundas Street | Marie Wisker | Chapman Tripp |
Projects and Resource Management (including Environment)
| Name | Firm | Name | Firm |
| Jo Appleyard | Chapman Tripp | Bill Loutit | Simpson Grierson |
| Alison Arthur-Young | Russell McVeagh | Paul Majurey | Atkins Holm Majurey |
| Andrew Beatson | Bell Gully | Philip Maw | Wynn Williams |
| Paul Beverley | Buddle Findlay | Nicky McIndoe | Kensington Swan |
| Paula Brosnahan | Chapman Tripp | Peter Owles | Buddle Findlay |
| Paul Buetow | Kensington Swan | Chris Simmons | Chancery Green |
| Bronwyn Carruthers | Russell McVeagh | Sarah Sinclair | MinterEllisonRuddWatts |
| Brian Clayton | Chapman Tripp | Dave Trueman | Simpson Grierson |
| Rachel Devine | MinterEllisonRuddWatts | Simon Watt | Bell Gully |
| Chris Gordon | Bell Gully | Michael Weatherall | Simpson Grierson |
| Hugh Kettle | Bell Gully | Jason Welsh | Chancery Green |
|
| Next Generation Lawyers |
| Natasha Garvan | Bell Gully | Sarah Scott | Simpson Grierson |
| Claire Harmsworth | Bell Gully | Travis Tomlinson | MinterEllisonRuddWatts |
| Emma Manohar | DLA Piper New Zealand | Frances Wedde | Kensington Swan |
| Michelle Mehlhopt | Wynn Williams | Kirstie Wyss | Wynn Williams |
Real Estate and Construction
| Name | Firm | Name | Firm |
| Tim Barclay | Anthony Harper | John Meads | Kensington Swan |
| James Blackie | Thompson Blackie Biddles | Mark Nicholson | Chapman Tripp |
| David Butler | Russell McVeagh | Matthew Ockleston | Kensington Swan |
| Matthew Carroll | Chapman Tripp | Andrew Peterson | Bell Gully |
| David Chisnall | Bell Gully | Ross Pickmere | MinterEllisonRuddWatts |
| Ed Crook | Russell McVeagh | Stephen Price | MinterEllisonRuddWatts |
| Debra Dorrington | AlexanderDorrington Ltd | Sarah Sinclair | MinterEllisonRuddWatts |
| Edward Dunphy | Anthony Harper | Greg Thompson | Thompson Blackie Biddles |
| David Gilbert | MinterEllisonRuddWatts | Greg Towers | Simpson Grierson |
| Jane Holland | Bell Gully | Michael Weatherall | Simpson Grierson |
| Daniel Kelleher | Buddle Findlay | Mark Williamson | DLA Piper New Zealand |
| Justin March | DLA Piper New Zealand | Michael Wood | Simpson Grierson |
| Denise Marsden | AlexanderDorrington Ltd |
|
| Next Generation Lawyers |
| Ian Becke | Bell Gully | Miles Dean | MinterEllisonRuddWatts |
| Hamish Bolland | Chapman Tripp | Jessica Hanning | Anthony Harper |
| Helen Brown | Kensington Swan | Paula Ormandy | Bell Gully |
| Tim Bunker | Anthony Harper | Nick Wilson | Simpson Grierson |
| Anna Crosbie | Russell McVeagh |
Restructuring and Insolvency
| Name | Firm | Name | Firm |
| Scott Abel | Buddle Findlay | Michael Langdon | MinterEllisonRuddWatts |
| Michael Arthur | Chapman Tripp | James McMillan | Kensington Swan |
| Scott Barker | Buddle Findlay | David McPherson | Bell Gully |
| James Caird | Simpson Grierson | David Perry | Buddle Findlay |
| Sean Golin | MinterEllisonRuddWatts | Michael Robinson | Simpson Grierson |
| Michael Harper | Chapman Tripp | Mark Sandelin | MinterEllisonRuddWatts |
| Dan Hughes | Anthony Harper | Crispin Vinnell | Anthony Harper |
| Matthew Kersey | Russell McVeagh | Mike Whale | Lowndes |
|
| Next Generation Lawyers |
| Chloe Jolliffe | Anthony Harper | Jennifer Tunna | Lowndes |
| Nick Moffatt | Bell Gully | Lynne Van | Anthony Harper |
| Mihai Pascariu | MinterEllisonRuddWatts |
Tax
| Name | Firm | Name | Firm |
| Brendan Brown | Russell McVeagh | Neil Russ | Buddle Findlay |
| Barney Cumberland | Simpson Grierson | Andrew Ryan | MinterEllisonRuddWatts |
| Stuart Hutchinson | Simpson Grierson | Willy Sussman | Bell Gully |
| Mathew McKay | Bell Gully | Fred Ward | Russell McVeagh |
| Graeme Olding | Chapman Tripp | Tony Wilkinson | Buddle Findlay |
| David Patterson | Chapman Tripp |
|
| Next Generation Lawyers |
| Nick Bland | Simpson Grierson | Campbell Pentney | Bell Gully |
| Vivian Cheng | Chapman Tripp | Hayden Roberts | Bell Gully |
| Jai Nario | Chapman Tripp |
Technology, Media and Telecommunications
| Name | Firm | Name | Firm |
| Mei Fern Johnson | Russell McVeagh | Karen Ngan | Simpson Grierson |
| Tom Maasland | MinterEllisonRuddWatts | Dean Oppenhuis | Bell Gully |
| Simon Martin | Hudson Gavin Martin | Jane Parker | MinterEllisonRuddWatts |
| John McCay | MinterEllisonRuddWatts | Ross Patterson | MinterEllisonRuddWatts |
| Bruce McClintock | Chapman Tripp | Amy Ryburn | Buddle Findlay |
| Kelly McFadzien | Chapman Tripp | Philip Wood | Buddle Findlay |
| Michael Moyes | Anthony Harper | Allan Yeoman | Buddle Findlay |
|
| Next Generation Lawyers |
| Anchali Anandanayagam | Hudson Gavin Martin | Tim Sherman | Chapman Tripp |
| Kate Cruickshank | MinterEllisonRuddWatts | Damien Steel-Baker | Buddle Findlay |
| Andrew Dentice | Hudson Gavin Martin | Renee Stiles | Buddle Findlay |
| Keri Johansson | Buddle Findlay | Louise Taylor | Simpson Grierson |
| Dominic Rowe | Russell McVeagh |
Transport (Rail, Road, Air and Sea)
| Name | Firm | Name | Firm |
| Tom Bennett | Bell Gully | Michael McCarthy | Lowndes |
| Simon Cartwright | Hesketh Henry | Felicity Monteiro | Wilson Harle |
| Torrin Crowther | Bell Gully | Alan Sherlock | Hesketh Henry |
| Chris Dann | Anthony Harper | Michael Weatherall | Simpson Grierson |
| John Knight | Chapman Tripp | Michael Wood | Simpson Grierson |
|
| Next Generation Lawyers |
| Kerryn Webster | Wilson Harle |
