Significant promotions at Berry Simons

To top off what has been a busy and successful year at Berry Simons, the firm has promoted two of its key lawyers to new positions – Craig Malone has been promoted to Special Counsel and Steph Macdonald has become an Associate.

Craig Malone has worked with Simon Berry since 2006 when they operated as barristers and was one of the founding staff when Berry Simons was established in 2012. He is an invaluable member of the team with over 20 years’ experience as an Environmental lawyer and an enviable breadth of knowledge about Environmental Law and Policy.

"Nothing better demonstrates my admiration for Craig’s skills as an Environmental lawyer than to observe that we have worked together for over 17 years now. We have done many large and difficult cases together, including Ngawha Geothermal, the Lake Taupo Nitrogen Variation, Hamilton City’s comprehensive stormwater consent and innumerable municipal water and wastewater consents, all with a high degree of success", says Simon Berry. "The junior and intermediate legal staff look up to Craig as an expert and mentor, and Sue and I could not ask for a more competent and loyal leader within the firm."

"The role of Senior Counsel is the perfect recognition for someone of Craig’s skill and seniority – he is the ultimate ‘safe pair of hands’", says Sue Simons, who worked with Craig on the controversial Ruataniwha Dam case in 2018. “We are thrilled that Craig accepted the position of the firm’s first ever Special Counsel."

Steph joined Berry Simons in October 2021 and quickly proved herself as a highly competent lawyer and invaluable team member. Steph has been involved in a wide variety of matters since then, from resource consent applications and plan changes, to major due diligence exercises and prosecutions. Steph is enjoying her time at Berry Simons and is proud to become an Associate of the firm.

"I am very excited to have been made an Associate of a firm that I regard so highly. We have been so busy that I have been lucky to be involved in a diverse range of projects, which has truly solidified my passion for Environmental Law. I have learnt so much already and I am looking forward to the responsibilities and further experience that becoming an Associate will bring", says Steph.