Employment Court Judge appointed

Kerry Smith, barrister and solicitor of Christchurch, has been appointed an Employment Court Judge, Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson QC announced today.

Mr Smith is a senior litigation partner with Buddle Findlay in Christchurch having joined the partnership in 1991. He practises primarily in employment law, resource management and civil litigation. He is currently the Deputy Convenor, Canterbury Westland Lawyers Standards Committee No. 1 of the New Zealand Law Society.

Mr Smith has also been appointed an acting District Court Judge to provide temporary assistance in the civil jurisdiction.

These appointments will initially be based in Wellington but will relocate to the Christchurch Justice and Emergency Services Precinct when it opens in early 2017.

Judge Smith will be sworn in on 29 January 2016 in Christchurch.