CLANZ In-House lawyer awards announced

MEDIA RELEASE – For immediate use, 15 May 2012

CLANZ In-House lawyer awards announced

Four outstanding members of the in-house legal profession were acknowledged at the 25th annual CLANZ conference in Queenstown last Friday (11 May).

CLANZ, the in-house section of the New Zealand Law Society, awarded prizes for top in-house lawyers in the private, public, community and youth categories.

Bronwyn Arthur, Chief Legal Officer Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (CERA) was named the Chapman Tripp Public Sector In-House Lawyer of the Year.

Ms Arthur was required to interpret and apply the brand new Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Act 2011 in a State of National Emergency.

Victoria Spackman, Chief Executive Officer Gibson Group, was named the LexisNexis Private Sector In-House Lawyer of the Year.

Ms Spackman has recently been promoted from Legal and Business Affairs Manager for the Gibson Group to Chief Executive.

Yazmin Juned, Senior Solicitor Housing New Zealand Corporation (HNZ), was named the MAS Young In-House Lawyer of the Year.

Ms Juned's skills were tested in the case commonly referred to as the Pomare litigation. This was a factually and legally intricate case of three HNZ tenants, who were evicted, claimed unlawful discrimination and appealed the case right through to the Court of Appeal, while gaining significant political and media attention.

Cameron Madgwick, Associate General Counsel Contact Energy and chairperson of Community Law Centres o Aotearoa and Wellington Community Law Centre, received the Wigley & Company Community Contribution Award.

A second-time winner of this award, Mr Madgwick first received it for the significant pro bono work he undertook at the Wellington Community Law Centre. Since then he has extended his pro bono work to a national scale with Community Law Centres o Aotearoa. This included introduction of a current proposal to establish a clearing house for pro bono work.
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