Buddle Findlay welcomes new year with promotions

The firm has a new partner in Christchurch, as well as nine new senior associates

Buddle Findlay welcomes new year with promotions
Buddle Findlay has started the year with a fresh batch of promotions.

The firm has appointed Kelly Paterson, who is a litigation expert, as a partner. The Christchurch-based lawyer acts in a wide range of commercial litigation matters, including contract disputes, insolvency and credit recovery, local government issues, property law disputes, and security enforcement.

Buddle Findlay has also welcomed nine new senior associates. In Auckland, the firm has promoted Brett Rawlings, Jessica Wilsher, and Kathy Wilson.

Rawling specialises in tax and is an expert in all tax aspects of domestic and international corporate acquisitions and structuring, inbound and outbound investment, and financing and financial services.

Wilsher is an expert in corporate and commercial law, with a practice that includes drafting, negotiating and advising on commercial contracts and transactions, as well as advising on corporate governance and company law matters.

Wilson specialises in environment and resource management, local government, and public law. She has appeared before the High Court, Environment Court, Boards of Inquiry and Council hearings.

In Wellington, the firm has promoted Diana Thomas, Katie Williams, Victoria Brunton, and Rachel Balasingam.

Thomas specialises in public law and advises government departments, Crown entities and private clients on public, regulatory and commercial matters, including statutory decision-making, compliance with administrative law obligations and the legislative process, Privacy Act requests and preparing Privacy Impact Assessments. 

Williams focuses on financial regulation, payment law, the application of consumer laws to financial products, financial and energy derivatives, capital markets, funding agreements, corporate governance, company and commercial law. 

Brunton and Balasingam specialise in environment and resource management, and local government law.  They are also both part of Buddle Findlay’s Resource Management and Māori law team, which regularly acts for government, local authorities, and corporate clients on planning and consenting processes, including major projects and appeals. 

In Christchurch, the firm has also appointed Danielle Elley and Jenna Silcock as senior associates. Elley specialises in general commercial and corporate law, commercial and residential property, and trust law. She has a focus on commercial and residential property acquisitions, leasing, financing, and corporate and private structuring. 

Silcock is an expert in environment and resource management and local government law. She advises local authority, government, and corporate clients on resource management matters, including RMA consenting, designations, district and regional planning, appeals, and enforcement.
Buddle Findlay has started the year with a fresh batch of promotions.

The firm has appointed Kelly Paterson, who is a litigation expert, as a partner. The Christchurch-based lawyer acts in a wide range of commercial litigation matters, including contract disputes, insolvency and credit recovery, local government issues, property law disputes, and security enforcement.

Buddle Findlay has also welcomed nine new senior associates. In Auckland, the firm has promoted Brett Rawlings, Jessica Wilsher, and Kathy Wilson.

Rawling specialises in tax and is an expert in all tax aspects of domestic and international corporate acquisitions and structuring, inbound and outbound investment, and financing and financial services.

Wilsher is an expert in corporate and commercial law, with a practice that includes drafting, negotiating and advising on commercial contracts and transactions, as well as advising on corporate governance and company law matters.

Wilson specialises in environment and resource management, local government, and public law. She has appeared before the High Court, Environment Court, Boards of Inquiry and Council hearings.

In Wellington, the firm has promoted Diana Thomas, Katie Williams, Victoria Brunton, and Rachel Balasingam.

Thomas specialises in public law and advises government departments, Crown entities and private clients on public, regulatory and commercial matters, including statutory decision-making, compliance with administrative law obligations and the legislative process, Privacy Act requests and preparing Privacy Impact Assessments. 

Williams focuses on financial regulation, payment law, the application of consumer laws to financial products, financial and energy derivatives, capital markets, funding agreements, corporate governance, company and commercial law. 

Brunton and Balasingam specialise in environment and resource management, and local government law.  They are also both part of Buddle Findlay’s Resource Management and Māori law team, which regularly acts for government, local authorities, and corporate clients on planning and consenting processes, including major projects and appeals. 

In Christchurch, the firm has also appointed Danielle Elley and Jenna Silcock as senior associates. Elley specialises in general commercial and corporate law, commercial and residential property, and trust law. She has a focus on commercial and residential property acquisitions, leasing, financing, and corporate and private structuring. 

Silcock is an expert in environment and resource management and local government law. She advises local authority, government, and corporate clients on resource management matters, including RMA consenting, designations, district and regional planning, appeals, and enforcement.


Kelly Paterson


Brett Rawlings

Jessica Wilsher


Kathy Wilson


Diana Thomas


Katie Williams


Victoria Brunton


Rachael Balasingam


Danielle Elley


Jenna Silcock


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Profession pushes for advancement of women lawyers
Firm snags 4 senior lawyers

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