Jonathan Scragg new Chair of Board

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Duncan Cotterill has announced that Wellington-based Partner, Jonathan Scragg, is the new Chair of Duncan Cotterill’s partnership and Board.

This appointment is part of a planned succession of the next generation of leadership which also sees Jessie Lapthorne, Partner (Auckland) and David Briscoe, Partner (Wellington) take up board positions. They join existing board members Brian Nathan, Partner (Nelson), Richard Lang, Partner (Christchurch), Bruce Cotterill, Independent Director and Peter Boyle, Chief Executive.

Jonathan sees the role of chair as being a key support person for the other partners, ensuring they have full access to the firm’s resources to run their practices and teams well and provide exceptional service to clients.

Jonathan feels energised and excited about Duncan Cotterill’s future.

“We are a values-based, entrepreneurial firm and this underpins our continued growth. Despite current challenges, we see plenty of opportunities to pursue and are heartened by the resolve and resilience we’ve seen among our people and clients. The type of people we are, our national footprint, deep areas of expertise and our commitment to each other and our clients sets us apart” he said.

Duncan Cotterill’s “one firm” structure incentivises the sharing of work. This promotes a high-performing, inclusive culture that ensures all client work is carried out by the most appropriately qualified person or team.

Described as fair-minded, moderate and willing to hear a range of views, Jonathan is well-equipped for the role. He has strong links across Duncan Cotterill’s national network, having joined the Christchurch team in 2002 following a period as a judges’ clerk in Wellington. He then relocated to London to work as an associate for litigation boutique law firm Barlow, Lyde & Gilbert LLP before returning to Wellington to spearhead Duncan Cotterill’s litigation and disputes practice.

Jonathan brings an open, collaborative approach with a proven entrepreneurial spirit. He has grown the litigation and dispute resolution practice in Wellington from the ground up to represent a significant area of specialist capability now with three partners and a thriving team of 14. Some years ago, Jonathan was instrumental in the launch of Duncan Cotterill’s graduate recruitment programme and more recently he played an active role in the development of the firm’s enhanced paid parental leave policy.

Even with his new responsibilities, Jonathan will remain very much hands-on with client work. He has particular experience managing large, complex cases and his key areas of expertise include commercial, insurance and public law litigation and legal disputes.

Jonathan was the first New Zealander to become a member of the prestigious Presidential Council of the International Insurance Law Association (AIDA) and is the immediate past president of the New Zealand Insurance Law Association Inc (NZILA). He is also a former recipient of the Cleary Memorial Prize.

 

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