Appointees include Sara Cheetham, Joy Wang, Oliver Hobbs, Kate Rouch, Catherine Deans
Dentons has announced the promotions of seven new partners, effective in the next six months across its New Zealand offices: Sara Cheetham, Joy Wang, Oliver Hobbs, Kate Rouch, Catherine Deans, Amberley James, and Nicole Thompson.
According to the firm’s news release, here are the practice areas and offices of the appointees:
Cheetham and Wang became partners on 1 July 2025. Subject to satisfying the New Zealand Law Society’s requirements, Hobbs and Rouch will join the partnership soon, while Deans, James, and Thompson will join on 1 January 2026.
“It is a massive milestone for us to be able to announce the promotion of seven new partners,” said Charles Spillane, the firm’s chief executive in New Zealand, in the news release. “All seven promotions are well deserved given the commitment they have already shown to our clients and the development of our team here at Dentons.”
“We know that our latest round of partner promotions are all leaders in their field,” said Hayden Wilson, the firm’s New Zealand chair and global vice chair, in the firm’s news release. “We know this because we work with them every day and have seen how they deliver for our clients and their commitment to our people.”
Dentons also recently announced the following promotions within its litigation and dispute resolution team:
“We are proud to champion their continued growth and recognise the meaningful contributions they make to our clients' success and our culture,” Spillane said in the news release. “Congratulations to Gillian and Lucinda on this well-earned recognition.”
“We are proud to acknowledge the growing pool of talent within our firm through these promotions,” Wilson said in the firm’s news release. “I work with them every day and I am delighted to congratulate Gillian and Lucinda on their promotions and proud of what they have achieved.”
Cheetham’s experience spans private practice and in-house positions. She assists with construction, development, and infrastructure projects and guides clients through front-end procurement, implementation, and delivery.
Wang advises domestic and international clients on mergers and acquisitions, corporate structuring, joint ventures, and commercial contracts. Her experience extends to New Zealand’s overseas investment regime and the Overseas Investment Act 2005.
For more than a decade, Hobbs has dealt with property and construction matters in New Zealand and Australia. He handles large-scale transactions, development projects, and infrastructure deals.
Rouch represents large public and private sector clients. Her practice covers civil disputes, contracts, torts, insurance, public law litigation, natural disaster damage litigation, and professional disciplinary processes.
The second partner in the firm’s Christchurch office, Deans tackles issues pertinent not only to the health sector but also to broader practice areas. She acts for clients before specialist tribunals and at all court levels.
James and Deans will lead the firm’s health practice. With experience spanning New Zealand and the UK, James works on professional regulatory and disciplinary proceedings involving various professions. Her experience also extends to public law and privacy.
Thompson’s experience covers alternative dispute resolution processes and various commercial disputes, including contract, property, insurance, and banking disputes. She also handles restructuring and insolvency matters.
Weir’s work includes legal and ethical issues concerning the health and disability sector. She handles matters involving the Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal, High Court, and coronial proceedings.
King helps private and public sector clients with public law, civil, and commercial disputes. She advises central and local governments, government agencies, professional regulatory bodies, individuals, and businesses on information and privacy matters.
