Law firms changing their ranks include Chapman Tripp, Dentons, Holland Beckett, Martelli McKegg
Chapman Tripp, Dentons New Zealand, Holland Beckett, and Martelli McKegg were among the law firms that recently announced appointments or promotions across New Zealand.
Chapman Tripp congratulated Bridget Cameron, Jayne O’Connell, Nichola Hiatt, and Sophie Harker on their promotions to special counsel as of 19 October 2026.
“Bridget, Jayne, Nichola and Sophie are all outstanding lawyers, and it is a pleasure to recognise their achievements and the expertise they bring to our firm and our clients,” said Pip England, the firm’s chief executive partner.
Cameron has assisted with matters involving commercial property law, including leasing, acquisitions, disposals, developments, subdivisions, buildings, shopping centres, landholdings, and land titles. Her clients have included national businesses, listed companies, and developers.
O’Connell has advised on matters involving banking, finance, restructuring, and insolvency, including corporate insolvency processes and the associated transactions. She has worked with insolvency practitioners, creditors, distressed companies, and directors.
Hiatt has garnered experience in private practice, in-house, and senior legal and governance roles. As a member of the firm’s corporate and commercial practice, she has helped businesses with complex corporate and commercial matters and legal issues spanning various sectors.
Harker has handled consumer and regulatory issues, domestic and multinational merger clearances, and Commerce Commission matters concerning merger control, cartel investigations, and market power misuse. She belongs to the firm’s competition team.
“Their work across a range of complex and significant legal matters reflects the high calibre of talent we have at Chapman Tripp,” England said in the firm’s news release.
Dentons New Zealand announced the appointment of Claire Evans as a Christchurch-based partner and as a member of its national corporate practice, effective 1 November 2026.
She has over two decades of experience across Christchurch, Sydney, and London. She most recently worked at PwC Legal. As a partner there, she led its South Island legal presence and national services.
With clients including businesses, boards, investors, and fund managers, Evans has handled mergers and acquisitions, investment funds, capital raising, corporate governance, shareholder arrangements, corporate structuring, and commercial contracts.
“I am excited to join Dentons and build its Corporate and Commercial capability in Christchurch, combining local relationships with national depth and global reach,” Evans said in the firm’s news release.
“Claire is an outstanding lawyer with long-standing relationships in Canterbury and deep experience across transactions, investment funds, capital raising and governance,” said Hayden Wilson, Dentons New Zealand chair and global vice chair.
“Claire brings senior Corporate and Commercial capability to a team that is already serving clients across a growing range of needs,” added Charles Spillane, chief executive of Dentons New Zealand.
Recently, Holland Beckett highlighted the following changes to its environment and planning team:
With experience in private practice and in-house legal roles, Eriksson has handled resource management, environmental, local government, and regulatory matters. She has worked on infrastructure, transport, and development projects.
Murphy’s work has encompassed plan processes and appeals, resource consent applications and appeals, enforcement matters, judicial review proceedings, development contributions, customary marine title claims, due diligence, and local government matters.
Lipinski has dealt with matters involving resource consents, fast-track approvals, enforcement proceedings, local government issues, plan changes, judicial reviews, and large-scale due diligence projects.
With over a decade of planning and policy experience, Hollis has worked on resource management and planning, public works acquisitions, local government processes, enforcement, and legislative reform.
According to the firm’s news release, “these appointments and promotions reflect the depth of experience across our Environment and Planning team and our ongoing commitment to supporting clients through an increasingly complex regulatory environment.”
This month, Martelli McKegg celebrated the promotions of Grania Clark and Tom Swindells to special counsel. The firm also congratulated Tim Carnachan and Elise Rogers on their elevations to associate.
Regarding Clark’s and Swindells’ promotions, Martelli McKegg stated: “These appointments recognise their specialist expertise and deep knowledge in their respective practice areas. Congratulations on this significant and well-earned career milestone.”
On Carnachan’s and Rogers’ promotions, the firm said: “Their commitment to our clients, colleagues and the firm has been outstanding, and these well-earned promotions reflect the positive impact they have made.”
Here are some other recent news stories on legal appointments across Australia.
Per a previous roundup, the firms of Chapman Tripp, Buddle Findlay, Russell McVeagh, and Holland Beckett announced appointments.
According to a roundup before that, Anthony Harper and Chapman Tripp strengthened their partner and special counsel ranks, respectively.
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