Chapman Tripp
Firm nameChapman Tripp
Num offices3
Num attorneys180+
Num employeesc.400
Key people
  • Pip England (Chief Executive Partner)
  • Emma Sutcliffe (Chair of the Board)
  • Sophia Gunn (Chief Operations Officer)
Practice areasGeneral Practice
Date founded1875
Homepage[1]

Chapman Tripp is one of New Zealand's largest commercial law firms. It is considered one of the "big three" law firms along with Russell McVeagh and Bell Gully.[1] Established in New Zealand in 1875, it now has around 53 partners and roughly 180 legal staff across its offices in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. The firm practises in all areas of corporate and commercial, property, construction, finance, tax, dispute resolution, environmental and public law.

History

Chapman Tripp started as a one-man practice in Wellington in 1875 with Martin Chapman. Chapman was joined in partnership by William Fitzgerald in 1882 and then by Leonard Owen Howard Tripp in 1889, who spent a record 69 years with the firm.

The firm went through many name changes, reverting to Chapman Tripp & Co in 1949.

In 1962 the firm opened an Auckland office, becoming the first law firm to have offices in both Auckland and Wellington. In 1985 Chapman Tripp merged with Sheffield Young and Ellis, becoming Chapman Tripp Sheffield Young, and in late 1997 the Christchurch office was opened.

Notable alumni

Supreme Court judge Justice Arnold was a partner of predecessor firm Chapman Tripp Sheffield Young between 1985 and 1994. He later served as Solicitor-General between 2000 and 2006 before becoming a judge of the Court of Appeal, sitting from 2006 until his elevation to the Supreme Court.[2]

The Honourable Justice Sir Mark O'Regan of the Court of Appeal served as partner at Chapman Tripp from 1984. He was appointed to the High Court in 2001, and was elevated to the Court of Appeal in 2004 where he served as President of the Court of Appeal,[3] until his elevation to the Supreme Court in September 2014. Justice Miller was a partner at Chapman Tripp from 1987, until appointment to the High Court in 2004, then to the Court of Appeal in June 2013, and to the Supreme Court in December 2023.[4]

High Court judges Collins, Ellis, Gilbert, Jagose, Katz, MacKenzie and Peters of the High Court all previously held roles at Chapman Tripp,[5] as have a number of District Court judges.

Other notable alumni include:

Supporting the community

Chapman Tripp has formal partnerships with nine community organisations, BLAKE, New Zealand Opera,[6] First Foundation, Māia Health Foundation, The Aotearoa Circle, Auckland City Mission, Wellington City Mission, Centre for Sustainable Finance, and Circa Theatre.

Chapman Tripp sponsored the Chapman Tripp Theatre Awards from 1992 - 2014.[7] Chapman Tripp has also supported the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra,[8] Orchestra Wellington,[9] the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra,.[10]

Rankings

Chapman Tripp is regularly ranked as one of New Zealand's leading law firms, and is considered a top-tier firm in Banking, Finance and Project Finance;[11][12] Capital Markets;[13] Corporate Commercial and M&A;[14][15][16] Dispute Resolution;[17][18] Real Estate & Construction;[19] and Restructuring and Insolvency.[20][21]

References

  1. ^ "New Zealand – Legal Market Overview". The Legal 500. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
  2. ^ "The Judges of the Supreme Court". Courtsofnz.govt.nz. Archived from the original on 2015-04-02. Retrieved 2015-04-06.
  3. ^ "The Judges of the Court of Appeal". Courtsofnz.govt.nz. Archived from the original on 2010-06-03. Retrieved 2015-04-06.
  4. ^ "Judicial appointments announced | Beehive.govt.nz". www.beehive.govt.nz. Retrieved 2024-02-01.
  5. ^ "The Judges of the High Court". Courtsofnz.govt.nz. Archived from the original on 2009-07-28. Retrieved 2015-04-06.
  6. ^ "Support - New Zealand Opera". Nzopera.com. Retrieved 2015-04-06.
  7. ^ Stewart, Matt (2015-12-01). "Wellington's theatre 'Oscars' loses sponsor Chapman Tripp". Stuff. Retrieved 2020-08-22.
  8. ^ "Sponsors and Funders | Welcome to the Auckland Philharmonia". Apo.co.nz. 2014-06-20. Retrieved 2015-04-06.
  9. ^ "Sponsors & Partners — Orchestra Wellington". Orchestrawellington.co.nz. Archived from the original on 2015-01-13. Retrieved 2015-04-06.
  10. ^ "Corporate Sponsors". cso.co.nz. Archived from the original on 2015-01-14. Retrieved 2015-04-06.
  11. ^ "The Legal 500". Legal500.com. Retrieved 2015-04-06.
  12. ^ "IFLR1000 - The guide to the world's leading financial law firms". Iflr1000.com. Archived from the original on 2013-08-09. Retrieved 2015-04-06.
  13. ^ [2] Archived April 4, 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  14. ^ "New Zealand". Chambersandpartners.com. Archived from the original on 28 June 2013. Retrieved 2015-04-06.
  15. ^ "The Legal 500". Legal500.com. Archived from the original on 2015-04-02. Retrieved 2015-04-06.
  16. ^ [3] Archived April 4, 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  17. ^ "New Zealand". Chambersandpartners.com. Archived from the original on 28 June 2013. Retrieved 2015-04-06.
  18. ^ "The Legal 500". Legal500.com. Retrieved 2015-04-06.
  19. ^ "The Legal 500". Legal500.com. Retrieved 2015-04-06.
  20. ^ "The Legal 500". Legal500.com. Retrieved 2015-04-06.
  21. ^ [4] Archived August 8, 2013 at the Wayback Machine