Four firms announced changes to their ranks
Chapman Tripp, Buddle Findlay, Russell McVeagh and Holland Beckett have recently announced the following new appointments.
The firm snatched up former White & Case partner Cameron Watson as its newest partner.
Watson joins Chapman Tripp’s project finance team. He has tackled the project financing of major infrastructure and energy projects, particularly in the renewable energy sector.
He spent 10 years in White & Case’s partnership, working from Sydney. He has practised across Australia, New Zealand and New York, tackling deals throughout Australia, New Zealand, Asia, North America and South America.
Watson was involved in transactions related to Lightsource bp and Contact Energy’s Kowhai Park and Glorit solar farms as well as the Christchurch Men’s Prison PPP. At present, he is assisting with the lenders on Lightsource bp and Contact Energy’s Stratford Hybrid Project.
He commences with Chapman Tripp on 1 October.
The firm strengthened its Auckland team with the addition of new special counsel Chris Green and senior associate Katie Gray.
Green practises with the property and construction team. He focuses on retail and commercial leasing as well as real estate acquisition and disposal.
Before making the jump to Buddle Findlay, he was senior legal counsel at Kiwi Property. He also served as head of legal, according to LinkedIn.
Green started his private practice career with Chapman Tripp, where he spent nearly a decade.
Meanwhile, Gray joins the banking and finance team. She concentrates on banking and finance with a focus on syndicated asset based, secured financings in various sectors.
She has handled matters involving general corporate finance, project finance and property finance. She has practised across Australia, London and Singapore.
The firm added two special counsel to its Auckland office with Katrine Kofoed and Matthew Piper.
Kofoed is part of the real estate and construction team. She has worked on complex national leasing portfolios, developments, major transactions and overseas investment matters.
She made the jump from MinterEllisonRuddWatts, where she spent over a decade according to LinkedIn.
Piper transitions to Russell McVeagh’s employment, health and safety team from the Employment Relations Authority | Te Ratonga Ahumana Taimahi, where he was a member. He focuses on employment law compliance, litigation and industrial relations.
As a private practitioner, he logged stints at Kiely Thompson Caisley, Buddle Findlay and Simpson Grierson, per LinkedIn. He also held roles at Bank of New Zealand, where he was government relations advisor, and general manager – employment relations and business partnering at The Warehouse Group.
The firm promoted Laura Murphy, Katherine Dyer and Katie Brown to senior associates on its environment and planning and family law teams.
Murphy joined Holland Beckett in 2020. She has tackled consenting processes, planning matters, designations, enforcement proceedings, and major infrastructure and development projects. Moreover, she has worked on fast track and direct referral applications, planning appeals, and Marine and Coastal Area Act proceedings.
Dyer commenced with the firm in 2016 as a homegrown talent. She is an expert on relationship property disputes, contracting out and asset protection arrangements, care of children matters, family violence proceedings, Protection of Personal and Property Rights Act applications, and estate and family protection claims.
Brown started with Holland Beckett last year. She has worked on matters related to relationship property, contracting out agreements, parenting and guardianship disputes, family violence proceedings, and applications under the Protection of Personal and Property Rights Act 1988.
The firm also elevated the following to associate:
Jayden McNeil (property and commercial) was promoted to senior solicitor.
