Simpson Grierson elevates innovation champion

The promotion recognises the former finance lawyer’s contribution to the firm

Simpson Grierson elevates innovation champion

In recognition for her work over the last three years, Simpson Grierson has promoted Caroline Ferguson to business transformation and innovation director.

Recognised as a leader in legal innovation in New Zealand and around the world, she specialises in project design in the legal sector, particularly involving technology-driven systems and programs. She has a particular focus on process improvement, legal project management, lean and agile approaches, design thinking, and change management.

She joined the firm in 2016 as business transformation manager and brought to the firm her experience as one of the founding members of the Allen & Overy digital team.

“Caroline has been an outstanding champion for implementing legal innovation and ensuring our team members and clients are engaged with transformation processes,” said Anne Callinan, Simpson Grierson chairwoman. “I’m delighted to recognise Caroline with this promotion, and look forward to working with her in driving the initiatives which will keep us on the cutting edge of legal service delivery.”

Ferguson leads the firm’s business transformation and innovation activities, including firm-wide programs to test and implement processes and technologies that optimise legal service delivery.

“A key learning from both global and local legal innovation activity has been the need to equip staff with the required skills and tools to thrive in a rapidly changing business landscape, and to help them engage with transformation processes,” Ferguson said. “In addition to building an innovation culture and embedding process improvement across Simpson Grierson, the business transformation team has also been working with our clients' in-house legal teams to help them develop capacity and meet their emerging and evolving challenges.”

Caroline Ferguson