Juno Legal welcomes senior legal counsel

The senior lawyer brings multi-sector expertise that clients are increasingly looking for, the firm says

Juno Legal welcomes senior legal counsel

Juno Legal has hired Thomas “Saki” Hannah as a senior legal counsel in Wellington.

The senior lawyer brings multi-sector expertise that clients are increasingly looking for, the firm says. Hannah made the move from Todd Corporation, where he was associate general counsel for nearly four years. At the conglomerate, he was focused on M&A, joint ventures, financing agreements, and corporate governance.

“Saki has the extensive range of industry and practice experience that creates an excellent strategic in-house counsel. Increasingly, corporate clients are looking for broad business understanding and good commercial judgement as well as strong legal skills,” said Helen Mackay, Juno Legal director.

She said that clients value lawyers like Hannah, who have held a number of senior in-house legal and governance roles within dynamic organisations.

Hannah started his legal career at Bell Gully, before joining Simpson Grierson. He also worked in private practice at international firm Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe.

He brought to Juno Legal more than 25 years of experience in senior roles in law and governance in New Zealand and beyond. He was previously associate general counsel for Meridian Energy, where he managed several work streams for the company’s IPO. He was also corporate general counsel at NZX, where he managed acquisition activity and the governance arrangements for multiple boards, Juno Legal said. Hannah is also experienced in the energy, banking, financial, telco, and agriculture sectors.

“Saki is also known for his fantastic interpersonal skills and has been described to me by former colleagues as a great champion of the in-house legal function within an organisation,” Mackay said.

Thomas “Saki” Hannah