Firm notes she is one of few involved in most public-private partnerships in NZ so far
Simpson Grierson has announced the admission of Catherine Shipton – a lawyer based in Christchurch (Ōtautahi) but practising nationally in the areas of infrastructure and energy – to the partnership as of 1 January 2026.
“Her promotion reflects both her talent and our firm’s commitment to being at the forefront of Aotearoa’s landmark corporate and financing transactions,” said Pip Muir, partner and board chair at the firm, in a media release.
“I’m thrilled to join the partnership and be part of an expert team involved in addressing New Zealand’s significant infrastructure deficit and the pressing need to broaden our energy sources because it’s imperative to ensure these critical assets are well managed for the benefit of all New Zealanders,” Shipton added.
In the media release, Simpson Grierson described Shipton as a key part of its infrastructure, energy, and major projects team, as well as one of the few lawyers involved in most of New Zealand’s public-private partnerships (PPPs) so far.
Muir called Shipton’s experience and client-focused approach assets to the firm’s partnership in general and its national corporate practice in particular.
“Catherine’s proven track record on transformational transactions, from PPPs to complex commercial and financing transactions, combined with her strategic thinking, pragmatism and absolute dedication to delivering her clients’ desired outcomes, make her an invaluable part of our team,” Muir said in the media release.
“What motivates me is working on matters that make a real difference to New Zealand communities,” Shipton added. “Ultimately, the work our team does for our clients, in both primary and secondary markets, will help address infrastructure and energy challenges in the long term.”
With domestic and international experience, Shipton has handled corporate, commercial, and financing transactions across the private and public sectors. She has also dealt with greenfield development projects and brownfield mergers and acquisitions involving developed infrastructure and energy assets.
According to the firm, she has assisted bidders with the Northland Corridor PPP and Christchurch Men’s Prison PPP procurements. Her clients have also included infrastructure funds, superannuation funds, insurance funds, private equity, corporates, investment banks, local governments, and water service entities.
In 2022, Shipton joined Simpson Grierson as a senior associate in its corporate team in Christchurch.
According to her LinkedIn page, before joining Simpson Grierson, Shipton was an associate, then a senior associate, at Allen & Overy LLP in London, UK, from March 2016 to May 2022. Per her biography on Simpson Grierson’s website, she was part of the global firm’s projects, energy, and infrastructure team.
Her LinkedIn page provides that she served as a solicitor at Bell Gully from March 2012 to September 2015 and as a secondee to the New Zealand Treasury from March to August 2015.
