With the new additions, women now comprise 60% of the board
Dentons Kensington Swan partners Jenni Rutter and Matthew Ockleston have snagged seats on the firm’s board.
IP expert Rutter was recently involved in a milestone trademark law case involving an attempt to trademark ex-PM Helen Clark’s nickname “Aunty Helen,” where she helped achieve a legal victory for Clark. Meanwhile, Ockleston, a veteran in the area of infrastructure projects and public law, has represented the Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency on significant state highway projects in the North Island for nearly two decades.
The newly elected board members will be working alongside chair Hayden Wilson and partners Catriona Grover and Hayley Miller. Notably, with Rutter’s addition, 60% of the board is composed of women.
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“In order to attract, retain and support talented women, we continue to adopt initiatives to build a diverse skill-set within our firm,” CEO Charles Spillane explained.
Dentons Kensington Swan’s governance documents dictate that there must be a minimum of two female and two male board members “at any one time.” Moreover, with 41% of its partners being women, the firm has endeavoured to hold to its commitment to uphold gender diversity particularly at the senior levels.
“It’s important that our firm and our board reflects the diversity of our clients and our communities. Dentons is committed to diversity and inclusion and that has to begin at the top,” Wilson said.