9 February 2018
Clients choose Russell McVeagh partners
Russell McVeagh partners Sarah Keene, Ed Crook, Mei Fern Johnson and Andrew Butler have been recognised as the exclusive
winners for New Zealand in their respective categories at the 2018 International Law Office Client Choice Awards.
Sarah Keene, head of Russell McVeagh's Public, Regulatory and Competition practice, has been awarded the Client's Choice
for Competition and Antitrust 2018 for a second time, which follows on from her 'Star Individual' ranking in this year's
Chambers and Partners Asia-Pacific. In the last year, Sarah has worked on a large number of complex competition matters
including assisting Fairfax and NZME in relation to their proposed merger authorisation and Spark in relation to a
number of high profile mergers and acquisitions.
Head of the firm's Property and Construction practice, Ed Crook is recognised for Real Estate which he won previously in
2016. An award-winning commercial property and construction expert, Ed has experience in a wide range of matters
including recently acting for SkyCity on the property aspects of the New Zealand International Convention Centre,
Precinct on the redevelopment of Downtown Shopping Centre and Auckland Airport on its terminal redevelopment.
Mei Fern Johnson heads Russell McVeagh's National ICT and Technology and Energy practices is recognised as the Client's
Choice for General Corporate. Highlights of her recent work include advising Origin Energy on its divestment of Lattice
Energy for AU$1.585 billion, including in relation to applicable regulatory consents and working with the Government on
the establishment of emergency services technology.
A leading partner in Russell McVeagh's Public Law practice, Andrew Butler has been awarded the Client's Choice for
Public Law. With a long list of accomplishments as a public lawyer and legal scholar, Andrew appears frequently in the
High Court, Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court and before a number of tribunals, as a leading authority in public
law, human rights protection, judicial review and trusts and equity.
Established in 2005, the Client Choice Awards recognise those partners around the world that stand apart for the
excellent client service they provide. Nominations for the awards can only be made by corporate counsel with over 2,500
nominations received. The criteria for the awards focus on the ability to add real value to clients’ business above and
beyond others in the market.
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