Chapman Tripp promotes four to partner, two to special counsel

Chapman Tripp has promoted four to partner and two to special counsel.

The promotions are evenly split between the firm’s Auckland and Wellington offices, which each get two partners and a special counsel effective 1 December.

“I am proud to welcome our four new partners and two special counsels. Their appointments strengthen our depth and insight into different industries, and will enable the firm to maintain our leading position in the market,” said Nick Wells, Chapman Tripp chief executive partner.

The firm, which boosted its partnership to 60 with the promotions, is New Zealand’s largest legal partnership. The firm recently won Large Law Firm of the Year, Deal Team of the Year, and five other awards at the at the New Zealand Law Awards.

The newly promoted lawyers are:

WELLINGTON

Simon Peart – Partner, competition and regulatory

Peart has extensive experience advising domestic and international clients in competition and regulatory matters. Chapman Tripp said that his appointment supports the growth of the practice, which it said has strong demand from clients in regulated sectors such as energy, telecommunications, and airports.

Leigh Kissick – Partner, finance

Kissick, an expert in commercial and financing aspects of projects, specialises in large infrastructure projects and has a focus on advising the government. Her appointment further focuses on the firm’s role to government and business in this space, Chapman Tripp said.

Anna Kraack – Special counsel, civil litigation

A civil litigation specialist, Kraack has a focus on contract disputes, gas and energy, aquaculture, insurance and trusts. She leads the firm’s large and complex litigation matters.

AUCKLAND

Laura Fraser – Partner, litigation

Fraser specialises in the conduct of complex commercial litigation, general contract, and tort issues. She has particular expertise in contentious private and public law, including insurance disputes, directors’ liability claims, regulatory litigation and administrative law claims.

Gerard Souness – Partner, finance

Souness has extensive experience advising on transactional and corporate finance offerings, acting for corporates, banks, and institutions. He has worked on matters relating to the whole banking product spectrum in both in-house and in private practice teams, which boost the firm’s finance practice, Chapman Tripp said.

Jo Bain – Special counsel, resource management and infrastructure

Bain advises on district and regional planning, consenting and compliance issues, Overseas Investment Act matters, and climate change, Chapman Tripp said. She has particular expertise in major infrastructure and transportation projects.