Nicola is a Wellington-based litigation and dispute resolution partner at Chapman Tripp, with particular expertise in climate risk.
Nicola is the co-author of the Aotearoa Circle’s two recent legal opinions on duties on directors, fund managers and trustees to consider climate risk to businesses and investments. Nicola is frequently approached to advise businesses, particularly boards of directors, on the litigation and financial risks arising from climate change, the incoming mandatory TCFD disclosure legislation, and also climate risk and environmental, social and governance (ESG) risk management.
Nicola returned to New Zealand in 2019 after having practised for seven years in London, and earlier at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, representing the New Zealand Government at the UNFCCC climate change negotiations. She is a current member of the IBA’s Arbitration Sub-Committee on ESG and had extensive involvement with the IBA’s Climate Change Task Force. She is also an immediate past member of the ICC’s Task Force on Climate Change Related Arbitration. Nicola is recognised as a leading advisor by Who’s Who Legal 2021 and a rising star by Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2021.