A convivial dinner at the original site where Bankside Chambers first began in 1990 was shared amongst current and past members including those who are now present or retired judges.
It was an evening of celebration and reflection, centred around the spirit of togetherness and camaraderie.
“I’m very proud to have been a member of Bankside” shared Hon Kit Toogood KC. Reminiscing of his time at chambers he said, “I loved the people.”
This sentiment was echoed by other members of the judiciary including Her Honour Kate Davenport KC, who moved to the bench at the beginning of last year: “He tangata, it is the people that I miss most.”
Other judicial alumni present at the dinner were Hon Lyn Stevens CNZM KC, Hon Justice Rebecca Edwards, His Hon Justice David Johnstone, Hon Justice Laura O’Gorman and Retired Associate Judge Warwick Smith.
The event was organised by Bankside barrister Lady Deborah Chambers KC to bring together Bankside members past and present, to honour our judicial alumni and their significant contributions to Bankside’s history.
“Bankside Chambers has grown as a result of the enduring quality and professionalism of the barristers over the last 35 years," says Lady Deborah Chambers KC. "That we continue to hold a preeminent position as a set is because of the leadership and hard work of all the members, past and present. We acknowledge our predecessors in particular, and recognise the impact of their legacy."
A brief history of Bankside Chambers
His Honour Judge Arthur Tompkins was the first to occupy the sixth floor at 9 Princes Street in 1990, with Warren Sowerby, Her Honour Judge Mary-Beth Sharp and Jan McCartney KC joining him shortly after.
9 Princes Street was originally the site of the Grand Hotel, opening in April 1889. In the mid-1960s the building, apart from its Victorian façade was torn down to make way for an office building. By the early 1990s it was known as the KPMG building, then it became the Fonterra building, and today it is The International.
John Timmins was the next barrister to move in at 9 Princes Street and he was followed by Alan Sorrell in late 1992, and Margaret Casey KC in 1993.
From 1994 other prominent barristers and arbitrators joined: Sir David Williams KNZM KC at the end of 1994, Kit Toogood KC and Andrew Brown KC in 1998, John Katz KC in 1999, and Warwick Smith, Lyn Stevens KC, the late Hon Sir Ian Barker KC and Hon Peter Woodhouse KC in the early 2000s.
In 2005 the founding members moved to the current premises on Shortland Street and renamed their set Bankside Chambers as Bankside Street intersects with Shortland Street.
Today Bankside has 46 members, 16 associate members and 10 employed barristers.
Our judicial alumni
The Honourable Lyn Stevens CNZM KC
Hon Lyn Stevens CNZM KC graduated with a BA/LLB (Hons) from the University of Auckland in 1970 and a Bachelor of Civil Law from the University of Oxford in 1972.
In 1976 Lyn was a Crown Prosecutor and partner at Meredith Connell. He then joined Russell McVeagh as a partner in 1980. He moved to the Independent Bar in 1992. In 1997 Lyn was appointed Queen’s Counsel. Lyn was appointed a Judge of the High Court in 2006 and then the Court of Appeal four years later.
Since retiring from the bench, Lyn has chaired the inquiry into the Havelock North water contamination and is the current Chair of the Environmental Protection Authority – Te Mana Rauhī Taiao.
The Honourable Kit Toogood KC
Hon Kit Toogood KC graduated from Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington with an LLB in 1972.
After working in various firms in Wellington as a litigation lawyer, Kit joined the Independent Bar in 1990, becoming a member of Bankside Chambers in 1998. The following year Kit was appointed Queen’s Counsel. In 2011 Kit was appointed a Judge of the High Court.
Since his retirement from judicial office, Kit has returned to practise as a mediator, arbitrator, investigator and advisor on legal and governance issues. He is a current member of the Court of Arbitration for Sport, Lausanne, Switzerland.
The Honourable Nicholas (Nick) Davidson KC
Hon Nick Davidson KC began his practice with Duncan Cotterill in Christchurch before moving to Young Hunter Lawyers where he was a partner.
Nick moved to the Independent Bar in 1988 and established Clarendon Chambers with Sir WGGA Young KNZM KC, then Canterbury Chambers with D M Lester and R A Osborne. Nick took silk in 1996. In 2015 Nick was appointed to the High Court, alongside Bankside colleague Rebecca Edwards. He is a Fellow of the Arbitrators’ Institute of New Zealand. He has also held disciplinary related positions over the years for numerous prominent sports committees and organisations.
Following his retirement in 2018, Nick became an associate member of Bankside Chambers, as well as a barrister at Christchurch’s Plymouth Chambers.
The Honourable Justice Mary Peters
Justice Peters graduated from Victoria University with a LLB in 1985. She was admitted to the Bar that same year and in 1991 was admitted asa Solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales.
In 1983 Justice Peters joined Chapman Tripp in Wellington as a solicitor. In 1988 she moved overseas – first joining Arthur Andersen & Co in New York then moving to London in 1990 to work with global law firm Allen & Overy (now A&O Shearman). In 1995 Justice Peters returned to Auckland and commenced work at Russell McVeagh, making partner two years later.
Justice Peters moved to the Independent Bar in 2004 and joined Bankside Chambers. Justice Peters was appointed the High Court in 2010.
The Honourable Justice Rebecca Edwards
Justice Edwards graduated with a LLB and BA (Hons) from the University of Auckland in 1993 and a LLM from the University of Virginia in 1996.
Justice Edwards worked at Russell McVeagh as a solicitor then moved to London, joining Herbert Smith Freehills. In 1998, she returned to Russell McVeagh as a senior solicitor. Justice Edwards became a role model to many after becoming a mother to triplets and continuing her full time legal work. (Fast forward two decades and her three sons graduated with a LLM from Victoria University in 2023.)
Justice Edwards became a barrister sole in 2003 then joined Bankside Chambers. In 2010 Justice Edwards was admitted to the permanent bar in the Cook Islands.
In 2015 Justice Edwards was appointed a High Court Judge by the then Attorney-General (and current Bankside Member) Hon Christopher Finlayson KC.
The Honourable Justice David Johnstone
Justice Johnstone graduated with a BCom/LLB (Hons) from the University of Auckland in 1991, and a LLM (Hons) from the University of Cambridge in 1994.
He was a solicitor at Bell Gully, then joined Meredith Connell in 1998. In 2005 Justice Johnson made partner at Meredith Connell, with his main focus on criminal prosecutions and appeals at all levels in the criminal justice arena.
Justice Johnson became a barrister sole, joining Bankside Chambers in 2022. Upon his appointment to the High Court in early 2023, Bankside Barrister, and former Meredith Connell colleague, Brian Dickey, praised Justice Johnstone for his “contribution to the conduct of Crown Prosecutions in New Zealand, and in particularly how he transformed and modernised the way we approach and serious Organised Crime cases.”
The Honourable Justice Laura O’Gorman
Justice O’Gorman gained her BCom/LLB (Hons) from the University of Auckland in 1996. She followed this with a LLM from the University of Cambridge in 1999.
Justice O’Gorman began her litigation experience with one of Singapore's leading law firms, Drew & Napier. She then joined Buddle Findlay in Auckland and after some time overseas she returned to Buddle Findlay, making partner in 2005.
Justice O’Gorman became a barrister sole with Bankside Chambers in 2019. She was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 2021.
At the end of 2023 Justice O’Gorman was appointed as a High Court Judge. Before leaving Bankside, she shared: "I have loved my time as a barrister sole at Bankside Chambers. I have enjoyed four years of wonderful collegiality, flexibility and independence.”
Retired Associate Judge Warwick Smith
Warwick Smith graduated with a LLB and BA from the University of Otago in 1974, and an LLM from University College London in 2009. He commenced practice as a litigation solicitor in 1975.
In 1989 he became a partner at Chapman Tripp where he acted as counsel in a number of New Zealand’s largest commercial disputes at the time, and developed his specialisation in intellectual property law.
Warwick joined Bankside Chambers in 2010 where he practised in commercial, intellectual property, and construction law. In 2014, Warwick was appointed an Associate Judge of the High Court.
Warwick has a private practice as a mediator and arbitrator.
His Honour Judge Arthur Tompkins
Judge Tompkins graduated with a LLB (Hons) from the University of Canterbury in 1983, and a LLM (Hons) from the University of Cambridge in 1984.
In 1983 Judge Tompkins was admitted to the Bar. From 1987 he specialised in commercial litigation, practising as a barrister and solicitor in Ōtāhuhu and Hamilton. In 1990, he moved to 9 Princes Street, becoming one of the founders of Bankside Chambers (known then as 9 Princes Street Chambers).
Judge Tompkins was appointed a District Court Judge in 1997.
Judge Tompkins is an expert on art theft, art crime in war and authentication of art, and has written and edited several books on these topics, including Plundering Beauty: A History of Art Crime during War. He also teaches, writes and lectures on art crime and art crime in war.
Her Honour Judge Mary-Beth Sharp
Judge Sharp was one of the first barristers to join Arthur Tompkins and Warren Sowerby at 9 Princes Street, in 1990.
Judge Sharp has presided over a number of important cases in relation to the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993, Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act 2000, and the Fair Trading Act 1986. Judge Sharp is also a member of Legal Research Foundation’s Executive Council.
Her Honour Judge Kate Davenport
Judge Davenport graduated from the University of Auckland with a LLB (Hons) in 1983. She gained her Masters (Distinction) in 1985.
After a few years as a successful solicitor in Auckland and London, Judge Davenport became a Barrister sole in 1990 and was admitted as a barrister in New Zealand, England and Wales. She joined Bankside Chambers in 2007 and also had chambers at London’s Outer Temple Chambers. In 2013 Judge Davenport was appointed silk. In 2019 she was made a Bencher of the Middle Temple, London.
In early 2023 Judge Davenport was appointed District CourtJudge. In her Farewell to Bankside, Judge Davenport shared what she would miss most in her civil service role, “I will miss the people – the people have been, and are, key to this job.”
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