The deputy general counsel brings significant energy, commercial, projects, and IT experience
Chris Browne is joining Simpson Grierson from Transpower.
Browne, who has been appointed as a special counsel, was deputy general counsel at New Zealand’s state-owned power transmission network operator. He was part of the company’s in-house legal team for 14 years.
Anne Callinan, Simpson Grierson chairwoman, said that the firm’s strong energy sector team gains even more depth in electricity regulatory experience with Browne’s arrival.
“Chris is highly regarded in the electricity industry and the wider energy sector, and is one of a small number of legal practitioners with a thorough understanding of the New Zealand electricity regulatory regime,” Callinan said.
The new special counsel also brings significant commercial, projects, and IT experience to the fold, she said.
Browne’s expertise extends to end-to-end legal process management for major infrastructure projects, the Commerce Commission’s economic regulation of electricity lines businesses, the Electricity Industry Participation Code, and the transmission pricing methodology, Simpson Grierson said.
He also has commercial law experience in the UK and in New Zealand from his time before Transpower.
Chris Browne
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