NZ Lawyer speaks exclusively with the soon-to-be CEO of one of New Zealand’s leading law firms about his qualifications for the role and his plans for the future.
Leading law firm, MinterEllisonRuddWatts, has appointed a new chief executive officer, Mike Schubert, effective 1 May.
Schubert moved to New Zealand from Canada in 1984. He joined PricewaterhouseCoopers in 1988, first working for assurance in Wellington and then being transferred to the firm’s corporate finance practice in Auckland in 1998.
“I’ve spent time working in many different parts of PwC, including a four year stint on the Board of Partners, and a year as the CEO of healthAlliance,” Schubert told NZ Lawyer.
Coming to MinterEllisonRuddWatts, he brings a wealth of experience to this already challenging role.
“I’ve spent the majority of my career in Professional Services, so I know the environment. I know what it takes to operate a top performing firm and I know that the most important thing to do well is enable your clients and your people to be successful,” he said.
He also has built up plenty of experience working with clients, understanding what value means to them and then bringing in a team to deliver that value, he added.
Looking to the future, Schubert is keen to be heading up one of New Zealand’s top legal firms.
“I see a collegial group of energetic and committed partners and professional staff ready to take the firm to the next level. The team should be very proud of what they have achieved in recent years.”
As CEO, he plans on developing and executing a strategy to differentiate MinterEllisonRuddWatts in the market.
“At a high level we simply need to keep getting the basics right – helping clients tackle all of their complex business issues, in a way that adds value to them,” he said. “At the same time we need to keep attracting the best people by making sure that the team at MinterEllisonRuddWatts – partners and staff – have exciting and successful careers.”
Schubert moved to New Zealand from Canada in 1984. He joined PricewaterhouseCoopers in 1988, first working for assurance in Wellington and then being transferred to the firm’s corporate finance practice in Auckland in 1998.
“I’ve spent time working in many different parts of PwC, including a four year stint on the Board of Partners, and a year as the CEO of healthAlliance,” Schubert told NZ Lawyer.
Coming to MinterEllisonRuddWatts, he brings a wealth of experience to this already challenging role.
“I’ve spent the majority of my career in Professional Services, so I know the environment. I know what it takes to operate a top performing firm and I know that the most important thing to do well is enable your clients and your people to be successful,” he said.
He also has built up plenty of experience working with clients, understanding what value means to them and then bringing in a team to deliver that value, he added.
Looking to the future, Schubert is keen to be heading up one of New Zealand’s top legal firms.
“I see a collegial group of energetic and committed partners and professional staff ready to take the firm to the next level. The team should be very proud of what they have achieved in recent years.”
As CEO, he plans on developing and executing a strategy to differentiate MinterEllisonRuddWatts in the market.
“At a high level we simply need to keep getting the basics right – helping clients tackle all of their complex business issues, in a way that adds value to them,” he said. “At the same time we need to keep attracting the best people by making sure that the team at MinterEllisonRuddWatts – partners and staff – have exciting and successful careers.”
