Environmental Law Prize to Waikato Student

Simpson Grierson presents annual Environmental

Law Prize to University of Waikato student.

17 April 2009: Cambridge law student, Jill Thompson, is the well-deserved recipient of Simpson Grierson's Environmental Law Prize, awarded in Auckland today.

Established in 1992 to reflect the firm's long-standing relationship with the University of Waikato, the Simpson Grierson Environmental Law Prize is awarded to the student who gains the highest mark in the University's environmental law paper. This year, the prize was increased from $500 to $1,000, to further strengthen Simpson Grierson's commitment to the University and rewarding academic excellence.

A strong family contingent from the Waikato, including son Flint Rennie, joined winner Jill Thomson at Simpson Grierson's head office in Auckland, where they enjoyed a morning tea with Trevor Daya-Winterbottom, a senior lecturer in environmental Law at Waikato University, Simpson Grierson chairman Rob Fisher, partner Heather Ash, Waikato University alumni - associates Scott Smith and Jill Gregory, and other staff.

Mr Fisher, who presented the prize to Jill Thomson, commented "Having just completed a PhD in Economic Geography while on her last year of an LLB (Hons) course, it's not surprising that Jill is the recipient of the Simpson Grierson Environmental Law Prize. She is also a certified Resource Management Hearings Commissioner and I'm sure, has a very bright future in this area. We hope that this prize will go some way to supporting her as she embarks on her legal career."

In response, Jill Thomson said, "as an older student, I really appreciate the support Simpson Grierson gives students over the age of 22. The firm has a really positive reputation at Waikato University and I think it is well deserved."

ENDS

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