The firm also promoted 19 senior solicitors
Eight lawyers have ascended to the senior associate position at Russell McVeagh.
Jacob Burton, Kirsty Dibley, Alice Gilbert, Chrystal Tocher, Adam Bristow, Jamie Hurworth, Sam Jones, and Rose Powell strengthen the firm’s offerings in the areas of environment, planning and natural resources, litigation, and government, and public law and policy.
Burton joined the firm in 2020, specialising in environmental and resource management law, with a focus on major infrastructure and development projects. He is an expert in consenting and planning matters, national policy and legislative reform, and development contributions and rates, among others. Recently, he assisted Summerset with consenting for its retirement villages throughout New Zealand.
Dibley started with the firm in 2021 and specialises in large-scale development and infrastructure projects, district and regional planning, and policy matters. She has advised on resource consent applications and notices of requirement as well, working with infrastructure providers, network utility operators, and developers.
Gilbert also commenced with Russell McVeagh in 2021 and is knowledgeable on all aspects of planning and environmental law. She has worked on matters involving the urban development, energy, waste, and transport infrastructure sectors.
Tocher focuses on public law and policy. She has helped clients to provide input on proposed legislative and policy changes in their sectors, such as through consultations and inquiries. She has guided both government and private sector clients in ensuring compliance with legislative and regulatory frameworks.
Bristow has represented clients in complex, high-value litigation and arbitration, In particular, he holds an interest in class actions and arbitration.
As a commercial litigator, Hurworth possesses specialist expertise in defamation claims and reputation management. He has tackled contentious matters like shareholder and joint venture disputes, contractual claims, and professional negligence actions.
Jones joined Russell McVeagh as a graduate in 2017. He has a particular focus on restructuring and insolvency matters. A general litigator, he has worked with creditors, insolvency practitioners and other stakeholders on restructuring and insolvency processes and related litigation, as well as ongoing involvement in complex commercial disputes.
Powell provides guidance on a full range of employment issues, encompassing personal grievances, confidentiality and restraints of trade issues, independent contractor concerns, large-scale business restructurings, the impact of corporate transactions on employees, and the obligations that arise under the full spectrum of employment and health and safety legislation.
Additionally, the firm promoted 19 to senior solicitor:
Banking and finance
- Jessie Rao
- Nathan Tse
- Richelle Go Ocao
Corporate
- James Fletcher
- Leah Pattison
- Leisha Fletcher
- Tyrone Toia
Government, public law and policy
- Ashley Donaldson
Litigation
- Ben Forbes
- Florence Wilson
- Madeline Alison
- Nic Wilson
- Niranjanaa Ram
- Samantha Shanks
- Sophie White
- Yao Dong
Real estate and construction
- Ashleigh Rhodes
- Thomas Barnaby
- Vincent Lim
