Hon Dr Michael Cullen
Attorney-General

3 October 2008 Media Statement
Appointment of Senior Counsel

Attorney-General Hon Dr Michael Cullen today announced the appointment of the first round of Senior Counsel.

The Rt Hon Sir Geoffrey Palmer graduated from Victoria University. He has had a distinguished legal academic career and remains Honorary Lecturer at Victoria University. He entered politics in 1979 and was Deputy Prime Minister and Attorney-General (1984-1989) and Prime Minister from August 1989 until September 1990. He was a founding partner of Chen Palmer, public law specialists, until 2005 and he is currently President of the Law Commission, Chair of the Legislation Advisory and Legislation Design Committees and NZ Commissioner to the International Whaling Commission.

David Heaney graduated from Auckland University and joined the firm Martelli McKegg & Adams-Smith. He became a junior barrister in 1976. Mr Heaney established Heaney and Co, Solicitors in 1979 and specialises in the defence of liability claims against territorial and regional authorities, dispute resolution and mediation.

Murray Gilbert graduated from Auckland University and joined the firm Wallace McLean Bawden and Partners (now Kensington Swan). He moved to Chapman Tripp in 1996 and is currently Litigation Partner at Gilbert Walker. Mr Gilbert specialises in commercial litigation with an emphasis on defending negligence claims.

Jan McCartney graduated from Victoria University and joined the firm Cunningham Taylor Thompson. Ms McCartney joined the independent bar in 1988 and specialises in equity in commercial dealings, fiduciary relationships and trust litigation.

Jack Hodder graduated from Victoria University and joined the firm Macalister Mazengarb. He became a Law Commissioner in 1986 and joined Chapman Tripp as Partner in 1991. Mr Hodder specialises in the areas of civil, commercial and public law, involving advice, litigation and arbitration.

Simon Eisdell Moore graduated from Auckland University and joined the firm Meredith Connell, becoming Partner in 1985. He has held the warrant as Crown Solicitor for Auckland since 1994, leading major criminal trials and is also the Public Prosecutor for the Pitcairn Islands.

Christine Gordon was admitted as a barrister and solicitor in 1984 and joined the firm Russell McVeagh McKenzie Bartleet & Co. In 1986 Ms Gordon moved to Meredith Connell where she is currently a Partner specialising in criminal law. She holds the office of Deputy Prosecutor for the Pitcairn Islands.
Note: The Attorney-General, together with the Chief Justice, announced in August that the first appointment round for Senior Counsel (formerly Queen’s Counsel) would take place this year under the provisions of the Lawyers and Conveyancers Act 2006
http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/first+appointment+round+senior+counsel

ENDS

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