Our Profession, Our People
17 June 2016 · LawTalk 890
First law student cohort at AUT South Campus
The first cohort of LLB students at AUT’s South Campus in Manukau.
On the move Rebecca Merry has become a director at WRMK Lawyers. Rebecca has been with the firm since 2003 and is the leader of the rural team. Simon Pigou has been promoted to associate at Gault Mitchell LAW in Wellington. Simon joined the firm in July 2015 and his areas of practice are residential conveyancing, commercial law and trusts. Wellington lawyer Julia Robertson has joined the
Education Councils’ legal team. Julia, who specialises in advocacy, started her legal career working for a criminal barrister before moving to a general practice and more recently working at a specialist family law firm undertaking criminal litigation.
AUT’s first cohort of law students were welcomed to its South Campus in Manukau at a special breakfast on 13 May. The breakfast brought together more than 25 first-year LLB students, AUT Law School staff and members of the judiciary and legal profession. AUT Dean of Law Professor Charles Rickett says the introduction of the LLB pathway at the South Campus at the start of this year has attracted strong interest. Russell McVeagh litigation partner Andrew Butler, and AUT law alumnus and Junior Crown Prosecutor in Manukau, Charlie Piho were guest speakers at the event. Mr Butler commended AUT for introducing the law degree to its South Campus. “Increasing accessibility for people in the region is a great move,” he said. He encouraged students to develop their own way of thinking about the world. “Ask yourself what you want to learn and what gets you out of bed in the morning. “If you really get into it, the law will shape how you think about the world. Litigation forces you to think about and confront issues and helps you understand them,” Mr Butler said. Mr Piho, a solicitor at Kayes Fletcher Walker Ltd, the office of the Manukau region’s first Crown solicitor, Natalie Walker, says having a place to study law in South Auckland is a huge win for the region. Mr Piho – a member of the first cohort of AUT Law students who graduated in 2013 – advised the students to “just go for it and give it your all. Don’t just be part of this special law school, strive to be the part that makes it so special.” New Zealand College of Law CEO Marcus Martin announced an annual law prize to the best performing first year LLB student at the AUT South Campus. ▪
Findlay where he was a senior associate. Before that he spent two years working in London as part of the banking team at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer.
Julia Robertson
Rebecca Merry
Simon Pigou
Simon Munday has joined Duncan Cotterill’s commercial team as an associate. Simon will specialise in the areas of property and real estate finance. Simon joins Duncan Cotterill after Simon Munday more than seven years in the commercial property department at Buddle
Anna Pollett has been made a partner of HollisterJones Lellman. Anna joined HJL 18 months ago after having been a Crown Solicitor in Auckland and specialises in prosecuting serious crime on behalf of the Crown. Richard Jenson has also been appointed an associate. Richard manages the firm’s criminal proceeds work as well as prosecuting jury trials.
Anna Pollett
Richard Jenson
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