A top-tier firm says it's proud of its lawyers who will be completing masters of law degrees in the US
Three young Chapman Tripp lawyers were among those who received Fulbright awards Monday night at the Parliament.
Rachael Jones, Lizzie Christmas, and Guy Jones received their awards at a ceremony hosted by Deputy Prime Minister Rt. Hon Winston Peters. Chapman Tripp said it is proud of its lawyers, who will leave later this year to pursue masters of law degrees in the US.
Nick Wells, the firm’s chief executive partner, said that Fulbright awardees are recognised for their dedication, leadership, and willingness to positively contribute to Aotearoa.
Rachel Jones, Ngāti Kahungunu/Ngāti Rakaipaaka, is part of the firm’s litigation team and Māori legal team Te Waka Ture. She will study an LLM focused on constitutional and indigenous law at Columbia University in New York. She was given a Fulbright Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga Graduate Award.
“I’m looking forward to studying the cultural traditions and challenges of indigenous peoples internationally, and how I can apply this to iwi and clients in New Zealand,” she said.
Christmas is part of Zeren, the cloud-based legal service launched last year by Chapman Tripp. Her LLM at Cornell Tech, New York will focus on law, technology, and entrepreneurship. Christmas received a Fulbright Science and Innovation Graduate Award.
“I am passionate about the intersection between law, technology and social purpose and look forward to exploring how we can navigate the future of commerce and law in our changing and digitally disrupted world,” she said.
A member of the Chapman Tripp corporate and commercial team, Guy Jones has particular experience in the TMT sectors. He will use his Fulbright Science and Innovation Graduate Award for an LLM in law and technology, focusing on information privacy and data protection, at Columbia University in New York.
“My time at Chapman Tripp has enabled the development of my interest in the role of law in technological advancement. I’m excited about this opportunity to pursue further study in this area, at a time when issues in digital privacy, regulation of data analytics and artificial intelligence are of particular importance,” he said.
Both Fulbright Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga Graduate Awards and Fulbright Science and Innovation Graduate Awards grant up to US$40,000 for a year of study and research in the US, plus $4,000 for travel funding. Awardees finishing multi-year graduate degrees can apply for additional funding of up to US$30,000.
L-R: Guy Jones, Rachael Jones and Lizzie Christmas
