Capability
I have over 25 years of broad ranging commercial legal experience from a wide range of industries from roles in New Zealand and abroad. I am well versed in leading at legal, governance and strategic levels across the private and public sectors and also hold directorships.
My strength lies in solving complex problems through applying both a legal and commercial lens. I am known for being adaptable, pragmatic, warm, commercially astute, efficient, calm under pressure and an excellent relationship builder. As tangata whenua, I also seek to bring a te ao Māori approach to my work and have a sound understanding of tikanga practices.
Before Juno, I was General Counsel at Summerset, the dual listed retirement village operator, and a member of the executive team. At Summerset, I established a new legal function and worked on several complex and high value transactions including the issue of Summerset’s first retail bond. I have seen, first-hand, how commercially focused and pragmatic legal advice and legal function performance can positively impact an organisation’s bottom line.
Juno Clients
Fire and Emergency NZ
(2018-2024)
Victoria University of Wellington, Wētā Workshop, Todd Corporation (multiple engagements), Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, NZ Superfund, Jarden
Before Juno
Todd Corporation | Senior Legal Counsel (Fixed Term)
Summerset Group | General Counsel
Duncan Cotterill | Senior Solicitor
Russell McVeagh | Senior Solicitor
Field Fisher Waterhouse (UK) | Aviation Lawyer
Balfour Beatty plc (UK) | In-house Lawyer
Gilbert & Tobin (Australia) | Solicitor
Areas of expertise
- Renewable Energy
- Oil & gas
- Commercial contracts
- Aged care
- Privacy
- Aviation leasing/sale and purchase
- Governance & policy
- Procurement
- ICT
- M&A
Governance/Community
Director and Chair of the Risk Committee - Hōhepa Wellington
Member of the Institute of Directors
Nikki, thank you for being such a wonderful addition to the team: you are a great commercially minded and pragmatic lawyer, always delivering on your promises, dependable and client focussed. Most of all, you will be missed for the lovely person you are, always taking an interest in others and supporting where you can. I sense that it is now well and truly time to ‘cut the cord’ for fear of never being able to let go.
Liesbeth Koomen
General Counsel, Todd Corporation
I wanted to let you know how much we enjoyed working with Nikki. She was amazingly efficient at everything she did, built great relationships all around the business and was good fun to have around the office. We really enjoyed her being here and were sad to see her go. I really like your business model and have told lots of people about how well it’s worked for us.
Greg Hunt
Corporate Services, Weta Workshop
Nikki fitted in extremely well and was able to teach and learn and be a support as well as a very capable lawyer. She helped solve a particularly complex and difficult OIA/Privacy issue that had become vexatious and stressful– Nikki came in and organised the situation into a mini project and used her people skills/legal analysis and judgment in a way that took a lot of the heat out of it. We were able to move forward in a way that had been difficult before Nikki’s guidance and professionalism. Nikki is motivated, pragmatic, and personable as well as having extremely good technical ability – this makes her a perfect member of an in-house legal team.
Jacqui Goodall
Corporate Counsel, Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade
Nikki is great! She is really diligent and hard working so another excellent lawyer from Juno. We are really enjoying having her in our team.
Cristina Billett
Head of Legal, NZ Super Fund
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