NZ attorney-general Christopher Finlayson QC has announced the appointment of 12 Queen’s Counsel this year.
“The appointment to the rank of Queen’s Counsel recognises individuals who have excelled at the highest level of law,” Finlayson said.
“Of particular note is the appointment of Professor John Prebble who has been appointed under the Royal Prerogative in recognition of his extraordinary contribution to the law.”
Prebble is currently a professor of law at Victoria University in Wellington. He holds the highest international rank of professorship and is the third most published legal scholar. He continues to teach post-graduate courses internationally. After completing a law degree at the University of Auckland in 1967, he went on to complete a BCL at Oxford and a JSD at Cornell.
In Auckland,
Derek Nolan has been appointed. Beginning his legal career at Sellar, Bone and Partners, Nolan did a 30-year stint Russell McVeagh before joining the independent bar in 2014. His expertise is in environmental and resource management.
Aaron Perkins has also been appointed in Auckland. Perkins joined the independent bar back in 1982. He joined worked in the Auckland Crown Solicitor’s office, prosecuting a number of complex and high profile cases before returning to the independent bar in 2014.
Manchester University graduate
Kieran Raftery has been appointed in Auckland. He was admitted in New Zealand back in 1988 and joined Meredith Connell before joining the independent bar in 2015. He specialises in criminal work and work for Crown and public agencies.
David Bigio, who hails from MinterEllisonRuddWatts has been appointed. Bigio joined the independent bar in 2003, specialising in general civil and commercial litigation in the fields of real estate and property, building and construction, unit tiles, trusts and governance. He has been appointed in Auckland.
Canterbury graduate
Jane Anderson holds a BCL with first class honours from Oxford University. She joined the independent bar in 1998. She has a broad practice with a focus on commercial litigation, particularly in trusts, intellectual property and company/securities law.
Marc Corlett has been appointed QC in Auckland. He graduated LLB (Hons) and Mjur (Distn) from the University of Auckland and LLM from Cambridge University. He joined Simpson Grierson in his early career and Russell McVeagh before a stint at Meredith Connell as a prosecutor. He returned to Russell McVeagh and commercial litigation in 2008. He joined the independent bar in 2010.
Vanessa Bruton has been appointed in Auckland, she was a founding partner of TGT Legal before joining the independent bar in 2014. After graduating from the University of Auckland (LLB and M.Com Law (First Class Honours)), Bruton worked for Hesketh Henry and then Brookfields. She works in trust, estate and relationship property disputes.
In Christchurch,
Richard Raymond has been appointed QC. Raymond spent time in London after beginning his career in Wellington at Buddle Findlay. Returning to Christchurch, he joined Raymond Donnelly then Duncan Cotterill before joining the independent bar in 2011. He specialises in insurance based litigation and commercial and civil dispute resolution.
Kenneth Johnston holds a BA and LLB from Victoria University and a LLM from the London
College of Law. He joined the independent bar in 1997, specialising in civil, commercial and employment litigation, estates and trusts, insurance, professional disciplinary and corporate governance matters. He has been appointed QC in Wellington.
Victoria Casey has also been appointed in Wellington. She worked a Bell Gully before joining Meredith Connell, and then joined the independent bar in 2003. She was appointed as a crown counsel at Crown Law in 2008. Casey returned to the independent bar in 2012, specialising public law, commercial and commercial-regulatory litigation.
Una Jagose has been appointed QC in Wellington. Jagose graduated LLB from the University of Otago and LLM (First Class Honours) from Victoria University of Wellington. She joined the Ministry of Consumer Affairs before moving to the Ministry of Fisheries where she was appointed Chief Legal Advisor in 1999. She was appointed deputy solicitor-general in 2012 after joining Crown Law in 2002. In February this year, she was appointed solicitor-general.
