The New Zealand Attorney-General David Parker appointed 10 new Queen’s Counsels earlier this year, including four alumni of Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington.

Greg Arthur (LLB 1986), Michael Colson (LLB/BCA 1991), Victoria Heine (LLB (Hons) 1992) and Lynda Kearns (LLB (Hons) 1980) have each been appointed Queen’s Counsel. The first three are Wellington-based, while Lynda is Auckland-based.

“The criteria for appointment recognise that excellence and leadership in the profession should be viewed through a wider, community lens. I am pleased to see that the profession continues to make a good contribution to access to justice,” David Parker said.

Greg Arthur 

Greg Arthur graduated with an LLB and a BSc from Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington in 1986 and an LLM from University of London, King’s College in 1990. He became a registered patent attorney in 1988. He started at AJ Park & Son as a trainee patent attorney in 1986 and aside from his Master’s study in London, remained there until 2014, including 22 years as a partner and seven years as managing partner. He commenced practice as a barrister sole in 2014 and practises from Clifton Chambers in Wellington specialising in intellectual property litigation. Mr Arthur is a member of the Intellectual Property Society of Australia and New Zealand and the NZLS Intellectual Property Law Committee, and a fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Patent Attorneys.

Michael Colson 

Michael Colson graduated with an LLB and a BCA from Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington in 1991 and was admitted to the bar the same year. He began working at Bell Gully in 1991 as a litigation solicitor. He spent two years in London at Herbert Smith between 1994 and 1996, before returning to Bell Gully where he became a litigation partner in 2001. In 2017 Mr Colson went to the independent bar and has practised from Stout Street Chambers in a range of commercial and public law litigation including insolvency, property, negligence, energy, and te Tiriti and iwi-related work.

Victoria Heine 

Victoria Heine graduated with an LLB (Hons) from Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington in 1992, after having completed a BSc in 1989. She obtained an LLM from the University of Chicago in 1997 on a Fulbright Scholarship. She was admitted to the bar in 1993 and worked as a litigation solicitor at Russell McVeagh until 1996. On her return from Chicago, she worked as a junior barrister until joining the partnership at Chen Palmer in 2002. From 2005 to 2018, Ms Heine worked at Chapman Tripp, including ten years as partner and four years on the board, including as deputy chair and chair. Since 2018 she has practised from Thorndon Chambers specialising in commercial litigation.

Lynda Kearns

Lynda Kearns graduated with an LLB (Hons) from Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington in 1980 and was admitted to the bar in 1981. She began her career as a law clerk at Langley Twigg Solicitors in Napier, before joining Chapman Tripp in 1981 as a litigation staff solicitor. In 1984 she moved to London and worked as an in-house legal adviser. She returned to New Zealand in 1985 to work at Simpson Grierson as a senior staff solicitor heading the family law team. Ms Kearns then worked in specialist family law firms, first Pratt & Co, then becoming a partner at Gubb & Partners from 1994 to 2003. Since then she has practised as a specialist family law barrister from Bastion Chambers in Auckland, primarily focusing on relationship and trust property cases. She is one of six New Zealand members of the International Academy of Family Lawyers, an associate member of AMINZ, and a member of the NZLS Family Law Section.