DLA Phillips Fox in divorce from New Zealand arm

DLA Phillips Fox in New Zealand is separating from its Australian counterpart, which fully merged with DLA Piper on 1 May this year.

The DLA Phillips Fox offices in Auckland and Wellington have split off to form an independent New Zealand firm, but will retain close links with DLA Piper.

The news comes as DLA Phillips Fox’s Australian operations become part of DLA Piper’s international LLP (The Lawyer, 28 February 2011).

“Our service, staff and operations in Auckland and Wellington remain the same, as do our partners and Chief Executive Officer Hugh Caughley,” said New Zealand Chairman Martin Wiseman in a statement. “For now there is no change to our name or visual identity… we remain an integral part of the DLA Piper network.”

Wisemand added that DLA Phillips Fox is focused on growth, particularly in Asia Pacific. The firm has also just made up six partners:  Peter Fuller (resource management), Matthew Hay (corporate), Veronica Cress (insurance litigation), Reuben Woods (corporate and financial services), Neil Beadle (insurance) and Crossley Gates (insurance).

The firm now has 26 partners.