Strong talent base fruit of the firm's development and recruitment program, says chair
Simpson Grierson has promoted eight to senior associate.
Elevated in the firm’s latest promotion round are Alice Poole, Amanda Stephenson, Edward Fear, Kate Tidbury, Mark Gillard, Matthew Prendergast, Rachael Judge, and Sarah Kuper.
Simpson Grierson also recently appointed three partners.
Anne Callinan, Simpson Grierson chair, said that the firm’s strong talent base is a result of the firm’s development recruitment programs.
“It’s great to be in a position to regularly promote and recruit outstanding performers,” she said. “All eight are delivering top work for our clients, while also embodying our firm’s values, and are deserving of leadership roles within our teams.”
Poole specialises in contentious matters, including regulatory investigations and court proceedings. The expert in complex commercial disputes is a member of the firm’s commercial litigation team in Auckland.
Stephenson is known for her work on commercial and corporate issues and her particular expertise in commercial and technology contracts. She advises both public and private sector clients as a member of the commercial team in Wellington.
Fear is a banking and finance expert based in Auckland with particular experience in property finance of a wide range of assets. He is also an expert in corporate banking and leveraged acquisition financing.
Tidbury specialises in intellectual property and commercial issues and has a focus on trademark protection, IP arrangements, and local and international enforcements. She is a member of the IP, sports, and sales and marketing team and is based in Auckland.
Gillard is a specialist in construction and infrastructure contracts and disputes. He spent 15 years in private practice at Clayton Utz and in in-house roles in Sydney before joining Simpson Grierson, where he is based in the Auckland office as part of the construction team.
Prendergast is a member of the commercial litigation team in Christchurch, who specialises in complex commercial disputes. He has a particular focus on professional indemnity, insolvency, tort and contract claims, and contentious trust issues.
Judge advises across all aspects of employment and education law, the firm said. A part of the employment team in Auckland, she has extensive experience in personal grievances, disciplinary processes, holiday pay compliance, collective bargaining, investigations and student disciplinary issues and claims.
Kuper specialises in a wide range of commercial and public law matters and disputes. She recently joined the firm after five years working in the UK and the US. She is a member of the public law team and is based in Wellington.
Along with the new senior associates, Simpson Grierson has also promoted the following to senior solicitor:
- Sam Comber – Litigation, Auckland
- Viola Lam – Commercial property, Auckland
- Lincoln Matthews – Commercial, Wellington
- Edward Warren – Commercial property, Auckland
- Louw Wessels – Corporate, Auckland
