The associate discusses some key skills being a senior legal counsel cultivated in her
For Hannah Checkley, working in-house has been significant for her legal career, cultivating in her key skills that not only shaped her as a corporate lawyer, but also as a business partner and leader.
Checkley returned to New Zealand and to the Duncan Cotterill team just this year after a couple of years practising overseas in London. In the first part of this interview, the associate shares with NZ Lawyer what she considers to be the highlights in her legal career and talks which days in her life she would relive if she could.
What made you choose a career in law, and what's your favourite part of the job?
I have always been drawn to problem-solving and helping people so a career in law seemed like a natural fit for me.
My favourite part about being a lawyer is partnering with clients to navigate complex issues, find solutions and structure agreements that enable their goals. I find it incredibly rewarding to see legal advice translate into real-world outcomes.
What in your opinion has been the most memorable event of your career to date?
Working in London for 2.5 years as senior legal counsel for a global cybersecurity company was a career-defining experience for me. It gave me exposure to complex commercial contracting negotiations, global data protection challenges and a fast-paced environment. Being able to apply my legal knowledge as a true business partner – helping to shape strategy and enable commercial decisions – was fascinating and I enjoyed working collaboratively with business leaders and executives. Managing a small UK team was also memorable and helped me to develop my delegation and mentoring skills.
Other highlights in my career to date include acting on large cross-jurisdictional M&A transactions earlier in my career before moving in-house. Being part of those transactions—often involving multiple time zones, regulatory regimes and deal teams—taught me how to stay calm under pressure, communicate clearly across different stakeholder groups, and deliver clear legal advice.
What in your opinion was the most important thing you got involved in over the past year?
Since returning to New Zealand and Duncan Cotterill in October 2025, I have been focussing on re-establishing my practice here and applying the experience I gained overseas. My first few months have involved completing legal due diligence projects and acting on various M&A transactions. Alongside this I have had the opportunity to deliver commercial contract reviews for a range of businesses across different sectors.
If you could relive one day in your life, which day would it be and why?
If I could relive one day in my legal career, it would be the day I got admitted to the bar. Having some of my friends, family and colleagues with me in the Old High Court made it incredibly special.
On a personal level, I would love to relive one of the days I spent hiking in the Dolomites in 2024 – it was unforgettable.
