We are pleased to say that we held Lambton Chambers’ long-awaited 25th Anniversary celebration on 4 August 2022. Originally due in September 2021, we had to postpone the celebration when New Zealand went into lockdown two weeks before the event.
The event was well-attended by lawyers, clients, family and past and present members of the judiciary. It was held at Public Trust Hall, in the historic Public Trust building on Lambton Quay, Wellington.
Lambton Chambers was founded in 1996 by David Collins (now Justice Collins, a judge of the Court of Appeal), John Morrison and Pam Davidson. All three founding members spoke at the event and the formalities finished on a musical note with a performance by the Bach Choir of Wellington, in which both Pam and Toby Gee took part.
Pam recounted that the three founders were eventually joined by Ken Johnston (now Associate Judge Johnston) and Kim Murray in 1997, Chris Jurgeleit in 1998 and Andrew Beck in 2002. David Collins left to become Solicitor-General in 2006. From 2011 onwards, Lambton Chambers expanded gradually to include Paul Michalik, Gaeline Phipps, Terry Sissons, Barbara Hunt, David Milliken, Toby Gee, Debra Angus, Ian Carter (now Judge Carter), Tanya Kennedy, James Mahuta-Coyle, Felix Geiringer, John Goddard and, most recently, Ben Nettleton.
Pam noted that over a quarter of a century, the members of Lambton Chambers have developed a bond, a shared sense of belonging and an esprit de corps. We have the best of both worlds of practising independently and yet feeling that we are part of a team.
It was a very enjoyable occasion, and was particularly welcomed by all in the context of the wettest July on record and the many previous months of COVID-related lack of social gatherings.
