Chapman Tripp boosts private client team

Chapman Tripp has elevated a new special counsel and welcomed back a new partner to boost its private client and trusts team.

Philippa Wilkie has been appointed special counsel, effective 1 July, while Jarrod Walker returned to the firm today as a partner. He returned from Bell Gully, where he had been a partner since 2014.

Wilkie and Walker join senior partner Arthur Young in the private client team. Young cofounded the firm back when it was called Chapman Tripp Sheffield Young. The team specialises in the establishment, reorganisation and structuring of trusts, asset and business planning and succession matters, while having a broad for-purpose practice that advises on all matters relevant to charities, non-profit organisations, and social enterprises.

Willkie is an expert in private-client and trust work, with a particular focus on for-purpose structures. She also actively contributes to Chapman Tripp’s pro-bono work and corporate social responsibility program.

Walker – who has extensive experience in tax, banking and finance – has a focus on asset structuring and personal asset planning for New Zealand families and on advising clients on trusts and relationship property matters. He also helps charities on establishment and governance matters.

Nick Wells, Chapman Tripp chief executive partner, said the duo deepens and broadens the practice’s ability to help clients with trust, family, asset, business, succession planning, for-purpose, and charitable activities matters.

“Arthur is known, well-regarded and trusted by multiple generations of families and many businesses and executives to look after their affairs, and the appointment of Jarrod and Phillippa will ensure we maintain seamless, full-service for our clients,” Wells said.

“We anticipate that together, these lawyers will provide strong leadership for our successful private client and trusts practice and maintain the excellent work Arthur has continued to do after 55 years of legal practice,” he added.  

The appointments follow Chapman Tripp’s elevation of five lawyers to senior positions last June.

Philippa Wilkie and Jarrod Walker

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