Dentons is delighted to announce the promotion of seven new partners. The promotions will take place over the next six months across all our offices in New Zealand. The people being promoted are Sara Cheetham (Major Projects and Construction), Joy Wang (Corporate and Commercial), Oliver Hobbs (Real Estate), Kate Rouch (Litigation and Dispute Resolution), Catherine Deans (Health Law and Litigation), Amberley James (Health Law and Litigation) and Nicole Thompson (Litigation and Dispute Resolution).
These promotions will strengthen our presence nationally and our ability to deliver exceptional service to our clients. It is particularly gratifying that everyone is being promoted from within Dentons. This is testament to the firm’s exceptional talent and growth in recent years.
Sara and Joy joined the partnership on 1 July 2025. Subject to them satisfying the Law Society’s requirements, Oliver and Kate will join soon. Catherine, Amberley and Nicole will join the partnership by 1 January 2026, again subject to them satisfying the Law Society’s requirements.
The firm continues to demonstrate its commitment to creating a culture that is supportive, inclusive and celebrates diversity. The promotion of six women over the next six months positions Dentons among the leading firms in the market for gender diversity, with women making up 40% of our partners from 1 January 2026.
Chief Executive of Dentons in New Zealand, Charles Spillane, says, “It is a massive milestone for us to be able to announce the promotion of seven new partners. All seven promotions are well deserved given the commitment they have already shown to our clients and the development of our team here at Dentons. We are so proud of what each of them has achieved and look forward to enjoying their contribution to our culture as the next generation of our leaders.”
Sara Cheetham joins the leadership of the Major Projects and Construction team. Sara is based in Auckland and has experience in private practice and in-house roles. She advises parties involved in construction, development and infrastructure projects, providing legal support with the front-end procurement of projects and during their implementation/delivery. Her strong legal skills and practical approach make her a trusted advisor on complex, high-value projects. Sara’s appointment strengthens our national major projects and construction offering, adding further depth to our front-end expertise and enhancing the support we provide to clients navigating complex project delivery.
Our Corporate and Commercial team’s leadership expands in Auckland with the promotion of Joy Wang. Joy is a highly experienced corporate and commercial lawyer who began her career with the firm. She regularly advises domestic and offshore clients on M&A, corporate structuring, joint ventures and commercial contracts. Joy is an expert in New Zealand’s overseas investment regime and has played a key role in securing consent for a wide range of clients under the Overseas Investment Act. Known for her pragmatic and commercial approach, Joy helps clients navigate complex legal issues with clear, pragmatic solutions. Her promotion highlights the value of her experience, client relationship skills and the leadership role she already is playing within the team. Joy’s appointment strengthens our corporate and commercial offering, enhancing our ability to support domestic and international clients with complex investment and transactional matters.
The leadership of our Wellington Real Estate team will be enhanced by the addition of Oliver Hobbs. With over 10 years of experience in advising on property and construction matters in both New Zealand and Australia, he brings a wealth of knowledge to the partnership. He has represented government entities, iwi, and major corporations in large-scale transactions, development projects, and infrastructure deals. Oliver has incredible expertise and dedication in his specialist area and his ability to manage complex negotiations, provide pragmatic advice and deliver successful outcomes has earned high praise from clients and colleagues, including by being recognised as a Future Leader by NZ Lawyer. Oliver’s promotion deepens our real estate capability in Wellington, strengthening our ability to support clients with complex, high-value projects.
Kate Rouch will join the leadership of the Litigation and Dispute Resolution team in Wellington. She is a highly experienced litigator and advocate, having acted for large public and private sector clients. Kate blends a practical approach to issues with an acute understanding of the law and a meticulous eye for detail. Kate’s specialist areas include civil disputes (particularly in contract and tort), judicial review, public law litigation, insurance, and natural disaster damage litigation. Kate is known for her ability to be across both the finer points of a case and the broader litigation strategy, while aligning with the client’s public and policy objectives. In April 2025, Kate was recognised as a future leader by NZ Lawyer, showcasing her technical expertise and leadership skills which she brings to the partnership in the Litigation and Dispute Resolution team.
Our health law practice will be significantly boosted by the appointment of two new partners; Amberley James and Catherine Deans.
Catherine Deans is an experienced litigator with a broad client base in both the public and private sector. She has represented clients at all levels of the courts and before specialist tribunals. Catherine is responsive to the needs of her clients and provides clear, tailored advice across a wide range of issues relevant to the health sector and her broader practice areas. Together with Amberley James, Catherine will lead Dentons’ health practice into the future. She will also be Dentons’ second partner in our Christchurch office and, alongside Willie Hamilton, will lead our growth there.
Amberley James is a skilled litigator with a particular interest in professional regulatory and disciplinary proceedings across a range of professions. She brings a wealth of experience from both New Zealand and the UK. Amberley will be based in Wellington and together with Catherine Deans will lead Dentons’ health practice, offering a full range of advisory and litigation support to clients in the health sector. Amberley is also an expert in public law and privacy. Her thoughtful and strategic approach allows her to understand a client’s underlying drivers and provide practical advice which helps achieve the best possible outcome
In the new year, Nicole Thompson will join the leadership of the Litigation and Dispute Resolution team in Auckland. She works on a wide range of commercial disputes, including contract, property, insurance and banking disputes. She also works on contentious and non-contentious restructuring and insolvency matters. Nicole has appeared in various courts and tribunals in New Zealand, and has extensive experience with alternative dispute resolution processes. Nicole has also worked in-house at a large bank in London. Her dual perspective as both external counsel and in-house lawyer gives her a practical edge when navigating disputes and understanding what our clients wish to achieve.
The promotion of Kate, Amberley, Catherine and Nicole marks a significant step in cementing our Litigation and Dispute Resolution team as the strongest in the country.
Hayden Wilson, Chair of Dentons in New Zealand and Global Vice Chair, says, “We know that our latest round of partner promotions are all leaders in their field. We know this because we work with them every day and have seen how they deliver for our clients and their commitment to our people. It is exciting for us here at Dentons to be welcoming such great homegrown talent to the partnership over the next six months. It is going to be even more exciting to support them to thrive in their careers and watch their success.”
