Alex is the key contact person in the summer clerk recruitment process. Alex is an Auckland graduate and has spent the last 6 years working in HR in professional services. Alex recently returned to New Zealand having spent the last 3 years living and working in London. She continues to pine for European mini-breaks and the UK shops, but the NZ summer has almost made up for it!
2. Paul Foley – Partner Corporate (Wellington)
Paul has more than 25 years experience advising companies across all sectors of the economy with a focus on energy and financial services. He is a director of companies in those sectors so has experienced lawyers from the “other side of the desk”. He has acted on some of NZ’s higher profile deals and has a reputation for innovative solutions within complex transactions Paul joined MERW in 1997 after being a partner in another firm. The firm recognises Paul as our unofficial early adopter of new technology, which means that Paul gets to try out all the new toys before anyone else. After a week playing with the firm’s first i-Phone several years ago, Paul famously declared “I am not sure if this thing will catch on”.
One of our newest partners, Kate is a member of our Real Estate Division and one of our token “Aussies”. Over the past couple of years, she has primarily acted for receivers and banks assisting them to complete developments, unwind ownership structures and sell assets. Unsurprisingly, this has kept Kate and her team very busy. Outside of work, Kate tries hard to keep up with her two small children and to stay fit.
Kate advises financiers, borrowers and other participants in the debt markets across the whole finance spectrum. In the last year, Kate has acted in connection with the financing of aircraft and ships, movies and a milk processing company as well as developing documentation for the trading of emissions units. In the summer of 2010/2011, Kate was beaten by a summer clerk in the BFS Singstar Championship – she has not recovered and is said to be taking secret singing lessons. Don’t be late for an interview with Kate – if you are late in BFS, you have to do press-ups.
John’s practise involves work as diverse as advising Icebreaker about its offshore expansion, helping Te Papa develop and tour museum exhibits around the world and financing New Zealand films such as “Boy” and “Whale Rider”. John is also the person who came up with the idea of Minter Ellison’s famous “presentation” interview question. He is still lobbying for us to include another question: “which ‘Sex in the City’ character are you”? Don’t worry. We won’t.
Neil specialises in mergers and acquisitions. He’s been involved in the sale or purchase of pretty much any kind of business you can think of including food and beverage, retail, healthcare, media, technology, banks and even Everton Football Club. When he’s not working he can be found swimming, running or biking along the Auckland waterfront. The sight of Neil in lycra is the ultimate punishment for bad behaviour at Minter Ellison.
9. Karen Radich - Partner Employment (Wellington)
Karen is a Partner in our Employment team who has been with the firm for over 11 years and a partner since January 2003. She mainly represents employers in employment litigation, particularly in defending personal grievance and dispute claims. She also advises employer clients on a variety of HR and employment law issues such as disciplinary processes, redundancies, collective bargaining and legislative compliance.
Karen is the Vice-President of the NZ Employment Law Institute and the Convenor of the Wellington Employment Law Committee for the NZ Law Society, and is recommended as a leading NZ employment lawyer by a number of international legal directories. She is a graduate of Otago (LLB) and Victoria Universities (BA, Political Science), and also has a Masters degree in Business Studies (Dispute Resolution major) from Massey University.
Having been an exchange student, Karen still travels frequently and speaks (rusty!) Norwegian. She has a 6 year old son, Toby, and enjoys skiing and photography.
Karen Radich has gained a strong reputation over the years for her sound employment law advice. She recently advised the New Zealand Racing Board in collective bargaining with the Service & Food Workers Union and the National Distribution Union. Chambers Global (2011)
Paul has been a dispute resolution partner for more years than he cares to remember. His court work is largely in the public law and medico-legal area (last year, for example, he argued about genetically modified cows, brain surgery, slightly naughty health practitioners and the double bunking of prisoners) but includes cases for the likes of banks and oil and gas companies. Winter weekends are spent trying to keep up with his teenage children on the mountain and, when recovering from his ski-injuries, you’ll find Paul listening to Indie music or following the odd petrol-headed urge to a motorsport event.
"Paul Radich is an experienced public and administrative lawyer ...When we need 100% reliability we always go to Paul,” say satisfied clients." Clients commend Wellington partner Paul Radich as a “constant, reliable and user-friendly adviser.” Chambers Global (2009)
Megan leads our highly regarded employment team which is the largest in New Zealand. Megan has some great work stories (often involving employees acting badly) but as they are confidential you will only get to hear about them if you become one of our summer clerks! As well as acting for real clients Megan spends much of her time keeping John McCay in line (see above). It can be a full time job some days.
Head of practice Megan Richards is a "smart, confident" lawyer with significant experience in this sector. She earns client respect for her "direct attitude and ability to solve issues quickly." Chambers Global (2011)