Norman Waterhouse announced a number of new appointments over the past two months. Tim Griffin joined the firm’s local government team as an associate in March. He specialises in local government regulation and compliance. Prior to joining Norman Waterhouse he was involved in the administration of the Environment Protection Act and other natural resource legislation. Corna Kotzé commenced at the firm in April as a solicitor in the property, infrastructure and development team, and has had experience as a property lawyer in South Africa for over 10 years, where she acted for private developers and as in-house counsel for local government. Andrew Craig joined the property, infrastructure and development team as an associate in April. Prior to joining Norman Waterhouse, Craig worked as a solicitor in New South Wales for over four years in property development, building and construction, mining, commercial litigation and environmental law. David Billington commenced with the firm this month in its environment and town planning team as an associate. He has first-hand knowledge of the processes and procedure of the Court, having previously been an associate to Justice Debelle of the Supreme Court of South Australia.

A partner of Johnson Winter & Slattery, John Keeves, has been appointed a part-time member of the Takeovers Panel, from 13 April 2006 until 7 March 2009. Keeves is the immediate past national chairman of the Corporations Committee of the Law Council of Australia, a director of Finsia (Financial Services Institute of Australasia, formerly the Securities Institute of Australia), a member of the executive of the Business Law Section of the Law Council of Australia, and a member of the Companies Auditors and Liquidators Disciplinary Board (established under the ASIC Act).

Trans-Tasman lawyers Duncan Cotterill appointed Christchurch-based Hugh Lindo as chairman. Lindo is a specialist in company and commercial law with particular expertise in banking and finance and securities law. He first joined Duncan Cotterill in 1986 and re-joined the firm in 1997 after working in the south west of England. Duncan Cotterill also appointed Jane Yee (Auckland), Helen Smith (Christchurch) and Susan Parker (Sydney) as associates.

In Perth, Michael Clarke has gone into sole practice as a barrister and solicitor in criminal law. Clarke was previously in charge of the criminal law department of a medium sized law firm.

William Buck Adelaide has appointed a new Managing Director, Jamie McKeough, a 40-year-old accountant who has worked with the firm for the past 18 years. McKeough previously chaired the William Buck National Business Advisory Focus Group. In Adelaide, he is part of a young partner group, which registers an average age of 43. Outgoing Managing Director Dennis Laundy, who was in the position for 19 years, will remain with the firm as a Director of Business Advisory, an area that specialises in delivering a range of advisory services to the diverse and rapidly expanding small to medium business sector. Laundy will also retain his involvement with William Buck’s Financial Planning Division. “We’re practising what we preach to clients about succession planning in our own business,” said Laundy. “One of the features of this firm over the past decade has been to recognise and promote talent early.”