Carolyn Mortland

1999-2002, Corporate Team, Auckland
Current role: Co-founder, Futureful

What is a highlight from your time at Chapman Tripp?

Chapman Tripp gave me such a solid grounding in law, but also in being a professional with high standards. It was awesome fun with some great people, plenty of work, client functions and celebrations. Highlights include executing the Frucor Beverages IPO, being seconded to the Wellington office for a few months and working with Arthur Young and the intricacies of his trust work... oh and singing a little song called The Gambler around the Corporate team's table, but that's another story.

What has been your biggest career achievement since leaving the firm?

I moved from Chapman Tripp to Fonterra as it was being formed, and I had a wonderful career there. I started as in-house legal counsel, then moved into business roles including a stint up in Washington DC promoting free trade, before moving into government relations, policy and sustainability roles. My highlight was leading Fonterra's sustainability function for six years, during which time Fonterra commenced water quality & farm environment plans, set its first science-based climate targets and issued its inaugural audited sustainability report. There's always more to do, but it was awesome playing a part in shaping New Zealand's largest company towards a sustainable future.  

What else have you achieved since leaving the firm?

A happy marriage and three wonderful kids... all teenagers now!
A portfolio career in the past two years, with some Board roles in the food & fibre sector, some sustainability advisory work and pro-bono governance of Pause Breathe Smile, a mind health programme for school kids.

Tell us about your current role and location?

I am the co-founder of Futureful, a game changing new online recruitment site which matches people to organisations based on their values and expectations, as well as their skills for the job. Chapman Tripp is one of our first believers, alongside some other leading organisations.

What is the best thing about your current role?

Futureful is a purpose-led start-up here to change the way we do business for people and planet. We want to help support meaningful work in a liveable world. It's awesome putting effort into something I truly believe in.

Read  our other alumni interviews

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Associate, Clifford Chance LLP, Dubai

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Wellington District Court Judge

Our latest news

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Chapman Tripp advises on Connexa equity divestments and strategic land acquisition

Chapman Tripp is pleased to announce its role in advising on two significant transactions involving Connexa, a leading provider of mobile infrastructure in New Zealand.

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Chapman Tripp Wins KangaNews NZ Law Firm of the Year for Ninth Consecutive Year

Chapman Tripp is delighted to announce that we have been named the New Zealand Law Firm of the Year at the 2024 KangaNews Awards, marking our ninth consecutive win. 

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Celebrating fourteen new Senior Solicitors

Chapman Tripp is delighted to announce the appointment of 14 new Senior Solicitors, effective 1 December, 2024. Harrison Cooper, Morgan Dalton-Mill, Trent Harris, Madeleine Hay, Josh Hayes, Emily James, David Keogh, Ella Knoester, Daniel Maier-Gant, Rebecca Meikle, Georgia Moore, Tallulah Parker, Ruby Tinson and Romy Wales have all been promoted, in recognition of their expertise and contribution to the firm.

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Chapman Tripp advises on deals recognised at 2024 NZ Law Awards

We are honoured to have played a pivotal role in a number of the deals recognised at this year’s New Zealand Law Awards, including advising on the Project Finance Deal of the Year, the Mid-Market Deal of the Year, and eleven deals that were recognised with excellence awards.

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Chapman Tripp wins Asia Pacific award for digital transformation

Chapman Tripp has won the Best in Future of Work Award at the 2024 IDC Future Enterprise Awards for the Asia Pacific region. This follows on from its win at the Australia and New Zealand awards in October. Spanning 12 countries, the awards recognise organisations that are redefining their industries through outstanding digital transformation (DX) efforts and harnessing technology to achieve business success and gain competitive advantage.

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New Partners and Special Counsel for Chapman Tripp

Chapman Tripp is pleased to announce it is welcoming Philip Ascroft, Tom Jemson and Vonda Engels to the partnership. In addition, Rachael Irvine-Shanks and Melanie Hayes have been promoted to Special Counsel.

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Three Chapman Tripp Partners named Elite Women

We are thrilled that Chapman Tripp Partners Emma Sutcliffe, Laura Fraser and Lauren Curtayne have been recognised on NZ Lawyer’s 2024 Elite Women List. The list includes 30 exceptional female leaders that have influenced the New Zealand legal profession in a way that demonstrates a passion for the law.

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Chapman Tripp advises Auckland Airport on new domestic jet terminal

Chapman Tripp is pleased to have advised Auckland Airport on its contract with Hawkins Limited for construction of a new domestic jet terminal building. Expected to be completed in 2029, and valued at approximately $800 million, this will be the major structure in the airport’s terminal integration programme which will provide resilience and capacity to support the future of travel through the airport. Chapman Tripp has advised on all aspects of the project, including assisting Auckland Airport to enter into various early works arrangements, civil works packages and other key packages including the procurement of a new integrated baggage system. The team was led by @Partners Hamish Bolland and Kylie Mutch, with support from Partner @Sam Holden and other team members @Meika McHardy, @Max Williams, @Andrew Smylie and @Gianna Fava. Click the link below to read more.

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Chapman Tripp advises on 2024’s milestone equity capital raisings

Chapman Tripp has been heavily involved in the recent return of activity in New Zealand’s equity capital markets. The firm has assisted in raising $3.6 billion across four large equity capital raisings, including New Zealand’s largest ever secondary capital raising and the first accelerated non-renounceable entitlement offer since the NZX Listing Rules were amended to permit such raisings.

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Refresh of company law a useful piece of work

The package announced today to blow the cobwebs off the Companies Act and bring it into the digital age, together with the impending Law Commission review of directors’ duties, should help to galvanise the corporate sector, says Chapman Tripp.

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Chapman Tripp assists Vector on conditional sale agreement of LPG assets

Chapman Tripp was pleased to assist Vector in entering into a conditional agreement to sell Vector OnGas, its liquified petroleum gas business, together with its 60.25% shareholding in Liquigas Limited.

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Chapman Tripp advises Arvida Group on scheme of arrangement with Stonepeak for NZ$2b EV

Chapman Tripp is pleased to announce that it has assisted Arvida Group Limited (Arvida) on the conditional sale of all outstanding shares to Stonepeak Alps BidCo Limited, an affiliate of  leading US based alternative investment firm Stonepeak which specialises in infrastructure and real estate assets. The market capitalisation implied by the transaction is $1.243m, and with debt assumed (and with core debt to be refinanced) derives a deal enterprise value of ~$2b.

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Two recognised as most influential lawyers

We are delighted that Philip Ascroft and Luke Ford have been recognised in NZ Lawyer’s Most Influential Lawyers 2024 report.

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Challenging conditions in banking sector create growth opportunities for ‘shadow’ banks

The mesh of challenges confronting the major banks in New Zealand – including the impending final report from the Commerce Commission’s market study and the upcoming select committee inquiry into banking competition – will continue to create growth opportunities through 2024 for the shadow banking sector. That is the finding of Chapman Tripp’s latest report, The banking industry: A look ahead.

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Chapman Tripp advises Infratil on $1.15 billion equity raising

Chapman Tripp is pleased to have advised Infratil on its $1.15 billion equity raising to help fund growth across its global portfolio.

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Chapman Tripp advises on the construction of new parliament buildings

Chapman Tripp is pleased to have advised Parliamentary Service on the contracts for construction of two new parliamentary buildings. The project will see the construction of two new buildings behind the Beehive, expecting to be completed in 2026.

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Chapman Tripp launches external document and trial support service, Digital Litigation Solutions

Following regular requests for document and trial support from external firms, we have launched Digital Litigation Solutions, a team of litigation technology specialists that work for barristers and legal firms, as well as Chapman Tripp clients. Digital Litigation Solutions specialises in managing electronic and hard copy information of any volume or format, utilising leading eDiscovery, AI software and data room solutions to meet clients’ requirements. The team alone has access to client data, ensuring confidential and secure data storage and working areas.

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Chapman Tripp promotes ten to Senior Associate

Chapman Tripp has announced the promotion of Michael Cardy, Julia Carrington, Laura Green, Tanzam Hossain, Sarah Kettani, Hossein Mehrabi, Rachel Robilliard, Sam Steven, Conor Tinker and Lucia Tolich to Senior Associate, with effect 1 June 2024.

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Chapman Tripp only New Zealand Law Firm ranked in Global Arbitration Review’s GAR 100

Chapman Tripp is the only New Zealand Law Firm to be ranked in the guide, recognising the firm’s dedicated international arbitration practice, led by partner Nicola Swan. The firm has long been acknowledged internationally as having one of New Zealand’s most distinguished litigation and dispute resolution practices.

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Protecting New Zealand’s competitive advantage: new report reveals scale and pace of changes facing our exporters in global ESG reporting and sustainability trade measures

A new report has revealed the pressure on New Zealand exporters to keep up with international expectations on sustainability, with more than 80% of New Zealand’s exports by value now going to countries with mandatory climate-related disclosures either in force or proposed.

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Chapman Tripp advises Resolution Life on acquisition of Asteron Life for NZ$410m

Leading global life insurance group, Resolution Life, has entered into an agreement, through its trans-Tasman holding company, with Suncorp Group to acquire its New Zealand life insurance company, Asteron Life New Zealand.

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Legal opinion finds regulatory settings discouraging some investment options for KiwiSavers

KiwiSaver investors should have the option to benefit from an asset class that can deliver long-term value.

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Three Senior Associates recognised by NZ Lawyer as Rising Stars

We are delighted that Kishan Gunatunga, Rachael Jones and Rosa McPhee have been recognised as Rising Stars by NZ Lawyer.

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Philip Ascroft appointed to NZ Shareholders’ Association board

Chapman Tripp Senior Associate, Philip Ascroft has been appointed as an Associate Director to the board of the NZ Shareholders’ Association (NZSA).

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Chapman Tripp named KangaNews NZ Law Firm of the Year for eighth consecutive year

We are thrilled to have been recognised as the New Zealand Law Firm of the Year at the 2023 KangaNews Awards; our eighth consecutive win. Our finance team were also advisers for two of the other award winners.

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