Simpson Grierson
Simpson Grierson is a New Zealand commercial law firm founded in 1887; it is ranked in the top four firms in that country.[1] The firm is a partnership comprising 54 partners and consultants supported by around 160 lawyers and legal executives in four departments (Banking & Finance, Commercial, Litigation and Resources & Infrastructure). The legal staff are supported by around 140 personnel (legal administrators, information technology, librarians, accounts, human resources and marketing). It has offices in New Zealand's three largest metropolitan areas Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.
Practice areas
The firm practises all aspects of commercial law, including banking and finance, corporate law, corporate insolvency and restructuring, marketing, advertising, mergers and acquisitions, property law, taxation law, energy & utilities law (including upstream oil and gas and electricity), and employment law. It is one of the New Zealand's leading law firms in the interpretation of the Resource Management Act and is one of New Zealand's leading public law firms, especially in relation to local government, where it advises nearly two thirds of New Zealand's local authorities [2], and news media. A significant litigation and dispute resolution practice also exists.
Affiliations
The firm is the sole New Zealand member of Lex Mundi, an alliance of 161 major law firms (including Australia's Clayton Utz); a co-founder of the Pacific Rim Advisory Council; a member of the Inter-Pacific Bar Association; and the New Zealand affiliate of major United States law firm Baker & McKenzie.
Recent Awards & Recognition
- 2007 – Australasian Legal Business Deals of the Year Awards – Banking & Finance partner, Peter Eady, is a finalist for New Zealand Dealmaker of the Year.
- 2007 – Client Choice Award for New Zealand, [3] awarded by the International Law Office [4].
- 2005 – Australasian Legal Business Deals of the Year Awards – Corporate partner, Peter Hinton, named New Zealand Dealmaker of the Year.
- 2005 – PLC Which Lawyer? Yearbook [5] ranks Simpson Grierson as the New Zealand's top law firm for its 2005 edition.
- 2005 – Global InnovAction Award [6] for innovation in the practice of law. This award is awarded by The College of Law Practice Management [7] in the United States, in association with consulting firm, Edge International.
- 2004 & 2005 – Creative New Zealand Award for Bravery at the National Business Review Awards for Sponsorship of the Arts. The first organisation to win this award two years in succession.
History
The firm's history can be traced back to 1887 when Butler White & Hanna was established in Auckland, specialising initially in maritime law and insurance law, but adding local government law in the 1930s. In 1921 Grierson Jackson was founded followed two years later in 1923, by the founding of Simpson Coates & Clapshaw. In 1982 Grierson Jackson merged with Bruce Bornholdt's practice to form Grierson Bornholdt, acquiring a Wellington presence. The following year, 1983, saw Grierson Bornholdt and Simpson Coates & Clapshaw merge to create Simpson Grierson. Specialist fields include company law, commercial law, arbitration and construction and energy law. In 1985, Simpson Grierson and Butler White & Hanna merge to create Simpson Grierson Butler White. In 1991 the firm was joined by a number of partners from the former Brandon Brookfield, Wellington and in 1995, the firm adopted Simpson Grierson as its permanent name. Its Christchurch office was opened in 2007.
Notable Partners
- Rob Fisher is Chairman of Simpson Grierson,[8] listed in the International Who’s Who Legal for Environment Lawyers, [9] Board Member of Sport and Recreation New Zealand and former Chairman of the New Zealand Rugby Football Union.
- William Akel [10] is widely considered to be New Zealand's foremost media lawyer [11] and an adviser to Television New Zealand. Akel successfully won TVNZ the right to screen courtroom footage in 2005, showing Rainbow Warrior terrorists Alain Mafart and Dominique Prieur pleading guilty to the manslaughter of Dutch photographer Fernando Pereira when they bombed the vessel in Auckland harbour on July 10, 1985.
- Robert Gapes is listed in the International Who’s Who Legal for Product Liability Lawyers [12][13].
- Earl Gray is listed in the International Who’s Who Legal for Trademarks Lawyers [14] and Head of the Intellectual Property workgroup [15].
- Andrew Harkness [16] is Head of the banking and finance department. Listed as a leading individual in IFLR 1000, [17] Chambers Global [18] and the Asia Pacific Legal 500 [19].
- Peter Hinton [20] was named New Zealand Dealmaker of the Year for 2005 by Australasian Legal Business. Hinton is recommended by PLC Which Lawyer? [21], listed as leading individual in IFLR 1000, [22] Chambers Global [23] and the Asia Pacific Legal 500 [24]. Hinton successfully predicted in December 2007, [25] that the New Zealand Commerce Commission would appeal the High Court decision overturning an earlier Commerce Commission ban on sale of The Warehouse Group.
- Stuart Hutchinson [26] is one of six New Zealand leading tax practitioners listed in the International Who’s Who Legal of Corporate Tax Lawyers, [27] and Head of the Taxation workgroup. Hutchinson is a Board Member of Child Cancer New Zealand.
- Kevin Jaffe [28] is Head of the commercial law department and specialist in mergers and acquisitions. Jaffe is recommended by PLC Which Lawyer? [29], listed as leading individual in IFLR 1000, [30] Chambers Global [31] and the Asia Pacific Legal 500 [32].
- Richard Lange is Head of the Litigation Deaprtment and listed in the International Who’s Who Legal for Commercial Litigation Lawyers [33] and Head of the Litigation Department. [34].
- Phillipa Muir is listed in the International Who’s Who Legal for Management Labour and Employment Lawyers [35] and Head of the Employment Law workgroup [36].
- John Shackleton[37] is listed in the International Who’s Who Legal for Shipping & Maritime Lawyers [38].
- Peter Stubbs is a marketing law expert and legal counsel for The New Zealand Marketing Association.
- Gregory Towers [39] is listed in the International Who’s Who Legal for Real Estate Lawyers [40] and Head of the Resources & Infrastructure Department .
- Stephen Ward is a corporate law and commercial law expert. Trustee of the Life Flight Trust Westpac Rescue Helicopter (New Zealand), Convenor, Contract and Consumer Law Reform Committee for the New Zealand Law Society, a Director of Macquarie Airports Limited, part of Macquarie Group Limited, and an Appeal Council Member for the New Zealand Rugby Football Union.
- Michael Weatherall[41] is a dual qualified lawyer and civil engineer who is listed in the International Who’s Who Legal for Construction Lawyers [42] and Head of the Construction Law workgroup.
- Elisabeth Welson [43] is a leading energy law expert especially in relation to Electric power transmission, upstream (oil industry) and corporate law. Welson has chaired the Energy Law Association since 2005 and is a Policy Subcommittee Member of the Petroleum Exploration and Production Association of New Zealand.
Partner Update
In January 2008 five new partners were admitted to the partnership:
- Wayne Browne[44] an Auckland based banking and finance law expert
- Dave Trueman[45] a Wellington based energy and utilities law expert
- Samantha Turner[46] a Wellington based employment law expert
- Richard Watts[47] an Auckland based Intellectual Property expert
- James Winchester[48] a Wellington based Resource Management Act expert who is a national committee member of the Resource Management Law Association
Notable alumni
- Colin Beyer - Former partner and now consultant to the firm and a Securities Commission of New Zealand member. Beyer is also an Honorary Consul for Finland.
- Peter Blanchard [49] - Former Partner and Judge of the Supreme Court of New Zealand. The Rt. Hon. Justice Blanchard holds a Masters degree in Law from Auckland University and Harvard University. Appointed to the High Court in 1992, member of the Law Commission from 1990 to 1993, appointed to the Court of Appeal in 1996 and to the Supreme Court in January 2004. Appointed a Privy Councillor in 1998 he was awarded the DCNZM in 2005 for services to the judiciary.
- Mark Cooper [50] - former partner and Judge of the High Court of New Zealand. Justice Hanna commenced practice with the firm Butler White & Hanna, later merged into Simpson Grierson. He became a barrister sole in 1997, was appointed a Queen's Counsel in 2000 and took appointment to the High Court bench in Auckland in 2004.
- Susan Glazebrook [51] - Former Partner, Justice Dr. Susan Glazebrook has a D.Phil from the University of Oxford in French legal history. She served as President of the Inter-Pacific Bar Association in 1998. Appointed to the High Court in June 2000 and to the Court of Appeal of New Zealand in 2002.
- Rodney Hansen [52] – former partner and Judge of the High Court of New Zealand. Justice Hansen became a Barrister sole in 1991. was appointed Queen's Counsel in 1995 and took appointment to the High Court bench in Auckland 1999.
- Alan R McArthur - Former Chief Executive Officer and now Managing Partner of Dibbs Abbott Stillman Lawyers (Sydney).
- Christine Southey - Former Partner and now Chief Executive of the Gas Industry Company.
- Metiria Turei [53] MP - Former Associate and now the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand’s Spokesperson in a number of areas including Local Government, Treaty Issues and Conservation.
- Richard Worth MP [54]- Former Chairman of the firm and remains as a consultant to the firm. Worth is the New Zealand National Party’s Spokesman for Economic Development. Worth is also Honorary Consul for Monaco.
- Mariette van Ryn [55] - Former Head of the Banking and Finance Department and now Westpac New Zealand's General Manager Regulatory Affairs and General Counsel.
References
Official Websites
- Simpson Grierson's website
- Simpson Grierson Alumni follow this link [56]
- Career opportunities follow this link [57]