Trans-Tasman law firm Duncan Cotterill has announced a new partner at its Wellington office.

Gordon Wong has joined the firm as a partner from Stephens Lawyers.  He specialises in corporate and commercial law with a particular focus on forestry, telecommunications, petroleum mining and competition law.

Wong has held senior in-house legal positions in two telecommunications companies. He has also acted for a large number of overseas companies providing advice on structuring the businesses, the regulatory environment, acquisitions and dispositions, joint ventures and negotiation of commercial contracts.

Duncan Cotterill, which was founded in earthquake ravaged Christchurch, has been urging businesses in the Canterbury region to stay local when looking for legal advice. Duncan Cotterill chief executive Janice Fredric said it was disheartening to hear clients were seeking advice from  outside  Christchurch because there was a misconception  local firms "couldn't handle" it.

Since the devastating earthquake on 22 February the firm has been working remotely, then out of a hotel and now in new offices. Duncan Cotterill's former Christchurch office was in Clarendon Tower, which has been substantially damaged by the quake.

The New Zealand Law Society has produced a directory which provides details of the new location and/or contact details for Christchurch law practices which have been affected by the earthquake and no longer operating from their old premises. Click here to download The Christchurch Lawyers Relocation Directory.