Firm Strengthens National Litigation and Employment Practice

Media Release

12 February 2015

Top Tier Firm Strengthens National Litigation and Employment Practice

Top tier law firm Minter Ellison Rudd Watts is pleased to announce that internationally recognised employment and litigation expert Gillian Service is joining the partnership (subject to satisfying NZLS requirements). The firm is also announcing the lateral hire of two Senior Associates who will strengthen the firm’s corporate and commercial team.

Gillian Service (Disputes Resolution - Employment, Health and Safety, Privacy)

Gillian will head the Auckland Employment team, and brings with her 16 years of experience at top tier law firms in NZ, Scotland and England. Aside from her broad employment practice, Gillian has particular expertise in health and safety, industrial relations and privacy. She also has significant experience advising on the employment aspects of corporate transactions.

Gillian advises several of New Zealand's largest employers. Her recent work includes advising on executive severance and appointment, industrial relations issues, complex Holidays Act disputes, restructuring advice and employment aspects of commercial transactions and IPOs. She is also an experienced advocate and regularly represents clients at all levels of the NZ Court system up to the Court of Appeal.

Before joining Minter Ellison Rudd Watts she was with another top tier New Zealand firm and worked for McGrigors in the UK.

Gillian commented that: “Joining Minter Ellison Rudd Watts is an exciting next step in my career. The firm has a strong national employment team and its presence in the health and safety space is market leading. These were major draw cards for me. The firm has a reputation as top litigators and its history of advising on complicated and innovative M&A deals makes it a natural fit.”

In announcing the appointment, subject to satisfying Law Society requirements, Mark Weenink, Managing Partner, said: “Gillian is a very capable lawyer who is highly regarded by her clients and the profession. Her international experience is a great fit for our firm and the culture here. Gillian’s experience advising clients on complicated M&A and insolvency deals will be a great addition for our clients – as will her health & safety and privacy knowledge with the legislation changes expected later this year. We warmly welcome Gillian to the partnership.”

Gillian is available for interviews upon request.

Senior Associate Appointments

Kristel Harlow (Corporate - Competition and Economic Regulation, Auckland)

Kristel is a specialist competition and regulatory lawyer with extensive experience across both the Australian and New Zealand jurisdictions, advising large corporations and regulated network businesses on competition and regulatory issues. She advises clients on all manner of competition law issues (restrictive trade practices, merger clearances and consumer protection) and has particular experience in the telecommunications sector. Kristel joins the firm from the Sydney office of Minter Ellison where she worked on a number of high profile applications for ACCC merger clearance. Kristel has an LLB/BA with First Class Honours from the University of Auckland.

Nicola Litt (Corporate and Commercial, Auckland)

Nicola is a corporate and commercial lawyer with broad experience in the New Zealand, Australian and United Kingdom jurisdictions. She joins the firm from UK firm Bristows LLP and prior to that was at another leading New Zealand firm. Nicola has particular experience advising clients in all aspects of mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, private equity investments, securities offerings, commercial contracts and corporate governance advice. She has acted for a range of large iconic New Zealand businesses and has extensive commercial experience taken from secondment opportunities. Nicola has a BCom/LLB (Hons) from Canterbury University.

About Minter Ellison Rudd Watts

Minter Ellison Rudd Watts is a top tier New Zealand law firm. The firm is known for providing clients with technically excellent legal solutions and innovative advice, contributing as trusted advisors who work alongside clients to ensure their success. It is proud to be a New Zealand law firm with a global outlook and reach. It has offices in Auckland and Wellington, but also has the unique ability to access a worldwide network of offices, advisors and markets through the Minter Ellison Legal Group, a leading firm in the Asia-Pacific.

ENDS

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