New Zealand’s ‘most female friendly firm’, with the highest proportion of female partners, has welcomed a new female COO and two more female partners.
DLA Piper is growing its Healthcare and RMA sectors, with the appointment of former senior associates Aimee Credin and Diana Hartley to the partnership.
“These appointments also support our firm’s general approach to diversity and inclusion,” a spokesperson for the firm told
Australasian Lawyer.
“In particular, they are beneficial to our Leadership Alliance for Women initiative that aims to promote and empower women.
“We provide a platform to mentor, to further enhance leadership skills and make valuable business connections.”
The appointment of Joanna Simon to COO takes the executive leadership team to 67% female.
Specialising in medico-legal law, Credin said New Zealand has seen a recent increase in the number of disciplinary cases in the health sector.
“International trends promoting consumer rights have seen an increase in New Zealand for disciplinary cases for health practitioners,” she said.
“There has also been a marked increase in cases involving criticism for clinical only related matters, whereas previously discipline tended to be reserved for more aggravating conduct.”
Hartley, who completed an LLM at the University of Cambridge, joins the firm from
Simpson Grierson. She practises resource management and local government law.
“Joining DLA Piper, a leading law firm with true global reach and sophisticated clients, is an exciting opportunity,” she said.
“We advise international clients doing business in New Zealand and local organisations doing business elsewhere.”
