NZ firm appoints IBA chair as CEO

New Zealand law firm Bell Gully has recruited the chairman of the International Bar Association’s (IBA) law firm management committee as its new chief executive.

Stephen Macliver, who was appointed chairman of the IBA committee earlier this year, will join Bell Gully next month, replacing Maggie Callicrate as chief executive.

Callicrate has decided to return to her native America after a three-year tenure as chief executive.

Macliver, who runs a Melbourne-based consultancy to the international legal profession, said he planned to use his new role at Bell Gully to expand the 230-lawyer commercial law firm’s reputation internationally.

Prior to launching his consultancy in 2003, Macliver was the managing partner of Australian law firm Minter Ellison, based in the firm’s Melbourne office.

He was also a co-founder of London-based legal consultancy The David Andrews Partnership in 1987.