Three new partners and one senior associate

Media Release
29 May 2007 – for immediate release

Three new partners and one senior associate for Minter Ellison Rudd Watts

Trans-Tasman law firm, Minter Ellison Rudd Watts, has announced the appointment of three new partners John Peterson, Paul Radich and Carolyn van Leuven, bringing the total partnership figure to 37; and the appointment of a new senior associate, Jessica Gorman.

John Peterson is an experienced tax advisor in all aspects of taxation law – GST, financing, property, trust, commercial, M&A, tax audit work, dispute management and settlement and litigation. John specialises in international tax, structured finance and cross-border M&A. John has previously worked in London and New York. Based in the firm’s Wellington office, John’s appointment takes the number of partners in the firm’s national tax team to four.

Paul Radich is an experienced commercial litigator. Paul resolves disputes and provides strategic advice for clients in the public and private sectors. He has 22 years’ experience as a trial and dispute resolution lawyer and has presented cases to Privy Council level in a wide range of areas. Paul is an author of textbooks on judicial review, public law and trial advocacy and regularly presents seminars and courses on public law, civil litigation and court room advocacy. He is a member of various New Zealand Law Society Committees and a past chair of its Continuing Legal Education Committee. Paul was previously a partner at Izard Weston and joins Sean Gollin in the firm's Wellington Dispute Resolution team.

Carolyn van Leuven advises a wide range of clients and is an energy sector specialist, having been heavily involved with a number of high profile initiatives in the sector. She has advised on the implementation and ongoing operation of the current regulatory regime for the electricity industry, and has acted for clients in relation to numerous energy-related arrangements including sales and acquisitions of businesses, electricity and gas supply, transmission and interconnection, and metering services. A commercial contracting expert, Carolyn regularly teaches contract law to non-lawyers as well as assisting clients with the drafting and negotiating of contracts. She also advises clients on legal and regulatory compliance. Carolyn joins the firm’s Wellington corporate and commercial team.

Jessica Gorman is an experienced commercial litigator, specialising in public law. She has appeared in a number of commercial and judicial review proceedings in New Zealand and in Tonga. Jessica’s experience includes advising on the negotiation of Treaty of Waitangi settlements, hearings in the Waitangi Tribunal, judicial review proceedings, public decision-making processes, commercial arbitrations in the electricity and gas sector and constitutional issues in the Kingdom of Tonga. Jessica is based in the firm’s Wellington Dispute Resolution team.

ENDS

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