Patrick Anderson Named 2024 Rising Star

Senior Associate Patrick Anderson is a top performer at our firm – and now NZ Lawyer has officially named him a ‘Rising Star’ for 2024.

“It’s an honour to be recognised for the work I’ve done and relationships I’ve built,” Patrick says. “Getting results for our clients is crucial, but so is building a reputation for excellence and as someone who can be relied upon.”

Patrick has paid special tribute to his mentor, Peter Crombie, the wider partnership team, and his colleagues in the litigation team for their invaluable help and support.

“Being part of a pretty special team here at CLM has enabled me to develop and grow as both a lawyer and a leader. That’s given me the chance to develop and push on to attain achievements like this so it’s wonderful to be recognised by my peers in this way.”

Patrick joined our Dispute Resolution & Local Government team in 2019. He currently splits his practice between employment law, regulatory defence work, civil, commercial and construction litigation. Contractual disputes comprise a large portion of his workload. Having previously worked under the Chief Coroner, Patrick is also called upon as Counsel to Assist the Coroner at inquests held from time to time. Animal welfare and maritime investigations and prosecutions are other developing areas of expertise.

Patrick acts for some of our firm’s largest clients, including tier one construction firms, local government authorities, shipping companies, and other significant employers who become locked in disputes with unions or individual employees. “This provides a rich source of work and I get to regularly navigate complex and interesting issues,” he explains.

Patrick continues to attract new business for our firm and is also responsible for mentoring and supervising junior members of our team. He works collaboratively with our partners and senior lawyers, and takes an active role in helping to market and promote CLM’s legal services.

“Litigators are problem-solvers, and I like to work collaboratively across our four teams to add value for our clients and solve problems whenever they arise. I enjoy providing a fresh set of eyes and sharing my knowledge with others, particularly around employment law and civil litigation.”

In 2021 Patrick gained his Master of Laws (with Distinction) from the University of Auckland. The significant effort required to balance study, a busy litigation practice and two young children is testament to his ambition, talent and commitment to furthering his own knowledge and expertise. He has subsequently produced a number of articles – six of which were published in the New Zealand Law Journal. Some of those articles have now been cited by others in academic research. Patrick’s work was also cited heavily by the Law Commission in its Issues Paper as part of its statutory review of the Evidence Act 2006.

His other contributions to the legal profession and wider community include multiple presentations to the Employers and Manufacturers’ Association, the New Zealand Labour Law Conference, and to the Tauranga Business Chamber. Topics have canvassed employment issues of the day such as restructuring, employment law disputes that arise due to conduct outside the workplace, fair pay agreements and more.

“I always try and be approachable and treat people as people. I like to have a laugh with clients and get to know them personally. But I also know when to level with people and tell them they’ve got a serious problem and provide clear advice as to what their options are.”

Patrick’s short-term aspirations include growing his knowledge through complex and interesting legal matters, and expanding his involvement in mentoring younger staff. “I’ve personally benefited from having a senior mentor, and I know how valuable it is to have a knowledgeable and experienced sounding board.”

On behalf of our firm, recently-retired Partner Peter Crombie has warmly congratulated Patrick on his latest achievement. “He is an outstanding young lawyer with a level of maturity beyond his years. He is extremely hard working and is fully committed to getting the best outcomes for his clients. He is without question a future star in the legal profession.”