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Catherine Ross

Senior Associate
Wellington
Download Catherine's vCard

DDI:        +64 (4) 498 5186
Mobile:   +64 21 610 870
FAX:        +64 (4) 498 5001
Email:      

Catherine is a corporate and commercial lawyer with particular emphasis on electricity, energy, infrastructure, resource management and environmental planning, regulatory and corporate governance.

Professional Qualifications

MSc (Hons) Resource Management Lincoln University, 1996
LLB University of Canterbury, 1989
BA University of Canterbury, 1989
Diplome Semestriel de Langue et Civilisation Universite de la Sorbonne, Paris, 1984

Areas of expertise

Antitrust
Energy and Resources
Electricity
Corporate and Commercial
Environment
Corporate Governance
Climate Change

Catherine contributes to the firm's energy, infrastructure, resource management and environmental practice. She has worked in a range of roles in the electricity sector for more than 10 years and has a good understanding of the sector and the regulatory environment in which it operates. She also has a strong interest in the role of sustainability issues in business.
 
Catherine's experience of working in in-house roles means she has a keen understanding of client needs and expectations. She is comfortable working with senior management teams and boards and has a good working knowledge of corporate governance matters. Catherine brings a practical and solution focused approach to her work and enjoys working with clients to solve problems.
 
Some of Catherine's major projects
  • Preparing numerous submissions for clients on documents such as:
    • the New Zealand Energy Strategy
    • the Electricity Commission's Market Design Review
    • the Code of Practice for Utilities Working in the Roads
    • the Review of the Continuance to Supply Obligation (section 62, Electricity Act 1992)
    • the National Policy Statement on Renewable Electricity Generation
  • Preparing and presenting submissions on Regional and District Council planning documents, eg a substantial submission for Powerco on the Manawatu-Wanganui Regional Council's One Plan
  • Advising on resource consent and designation processes
  • Advising the Ministry of Agriculture and Forests on land access issues
  • Working with Electricity Commission to assist in their negotiations with the Electricity Efficiency and Conservation Authority to develop a Memorandum of Understanding between the two parties
  • Project director for Transpower's Sustainability Project
  • Project director for a project considering the way Transpower worked with Maori. This project resulted in the permanent appointment of an Iwi/Community Liaison Officer
  • Managing Transpower's Legal, Environmental Planning, Property and Health and Safety Functions
  • Providing input into numerous Transpower submissions on regulatory change

Work history

Senior Associate, Minter Ellison Rudd Watts, Wellington
Independent Contractor, Powerco (the Electricity Commission, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forests and Transpower), Wellington 
Legal and Regulatory Manager; Project Director; Environmental Planner - Transpower NZ Ltd, New Zealand
Solicitor, Assistant Advisory Officer - State Services Commission, New Zealand




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