Chapman Tripp onboards four to partnership, one to special counsel

Chapman Tripp has appointed four new partners and one special counsel, effective December 01.

Grace Rippingale, Alex Franks, Vivian Cheng and Sam Holden make up the four new partners, while Sarah Jackson is the lone special counsel.

“Supporting our people to thrive is core to our kaupapa at Chapman Tripp, so it’s a pleasure to recognise these lawyers for their dedication to the profession, their clients and our team,” said Pip England, chief executive officer of Chapman Tripp. “Our success is due to lawyers, like these, who are highly regarded for their passion, experience and expertise.”

Rippingale advises private and public sector clients with particular expertise in disputes and other areas of legal risk involving insurance, maritime, corporate governance, and contractual and statutory interpretation. Her skills include managing complex multi-disciplinary matters and working with clients to provide advice that responds to their commercial, operational and policy context.

Franks is an experienced corporate lawyer specialising in public and private mergers and acquisitions, private equity, equity capital markets, joint ventures, corporate restructuring projects and corporate governance. Prior to returning to New Zealand in 2020, he worked for six years with magic circle firm Clifford Chance in its London and Brazil offices.

Cheng advises on all aspects of taxation with a particular focus on business structuring and reorganisations, mergers and acquisitions and international taxation of inbound and outbound investments. She is experienced in helping clients through Inland Revenue audits, negotiating tax settlements, obtaining binding rulings, and seeking legislative amendments and policy reform.

Holden is a member of our construction & major projects team. As a commercial litigator, he works with the firm’s largest clients leading complex construction disputes, achieving excellent results in the courts, arbitration, adjudication and settlements. He also advises on insolvency issues impacting construction projects, assisting insolvency practitioners, voluntary administrators and liquidators.

Jackson advises banks and corporations on compliance with New Zealand’s consumer credit law regime, having an in-depth knowledge of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act (CCCFA) and Fair Trading Act. Her experience means that banks, corporates and crown entities call on her for advice on a range of issues in the general banking and corporate finance fields.

The appointments are still subject to Law Society requirements.