Sally Fitzgerald joins the firm in Auckland, after spending the past four years as a senior associate with Mallesons Stephen Jaques in Sydney and Melbourne. She also worked for eight years in London, at Clifford Chance and Debevoise & Plimpton.

Fitzgerald specialises in major commercial disputes in the domestic and international markets and has particular expertise in domestic and international arbitration. She is a member of the Arbitrators’ and Mediators’ Institute of New Zealand, the London Court of International Arbitration, and the International Bar Association.

Joining the Wellington litigation team, Maria Berryman specialises in employment law. She is experienced in both contentious and non-contentious matters across the employment field, including advising clients on employment obligations in insolvency and receiverships. She regularly appears in mediations, the Employment Relations Authority, and court, and gives talks about employment law at conferences and seminars.

Berryman previously worked in San Francisco with construction attorneys Wolkin & Timpane, LLP, where she specialised in construction and insurance litigation. She is a member of the Wellington District Law Society Employment Law Committee.

David Chapman-Smith joins the Auckland corporate and commercial team after returning from six years at Ashurst in London. He has advised on corporate restructuring, mergers and acquisitions, and general commercial law across a broad range of sectors including financial services, forestry, dairy, logistics, pharmaceuticals and media.

While working at Ashurst, Chapman-Smith was seconded to Skandia UK, a leading insurance and investment product provider, and to international news agency Reuters.