Source: New Zealand Government
Attorney-General David Parker today announced the appointment of Cassie Nicholson as Chief Parliamentary Counsel for a term of five years.
The Chief Parliamentary Counsel is the principal advisor and Chief Executive of the Parliamentary Counsel Office (PCO). She is responsible for ensuring PCO, which drafts most of New Zealand’s legislation, provides high quality services and advice to the Government and Parliament.
Ms Nicholson holds a BA/LLB (Hons) from Victoria University of Wellington, was a Commonwealth scholar and holds an LLM from the London School of Economics and Political Science.
She has more than 20 years’ experience at the Parliamentary Counsel Office and has held the position of Deputy Chief Parliamentary Counsel (Drafting Legislation), since 2016. Her previous experience includes leading complex policy reforms and working, in her early career, as a commercial lawyer in the private sector.
“Described by one senior lawyer as a lawyer well known in government circles for being one step ahead, she is an inspirational figure for lawyers, regardless of age or experience.” As Deputy Chief Parliamentary Counsel, Cassie Nicholson had to marshal not only her legal and leadership skills, but also her ability to inspire a team facing a world-changing pandemic.” Nicholson told LawFuel that the orders were unprecedented and challenging. “Particularly in the early days, we had some really challenging judgment calls. We also had to think carefully how to impose these stringent controls across the entire economy but still try to build in appropriate exceptions and flexibility.
Deputy chief parliamentary counsel named New Zealand lawyer of the year
10 March 2021
Cassie Nicholson recognised for leading the country s legal response to Covid-19
Rawpixel.com; Shutterstock (background) New Zealand’s deputy chief parliamentary counsel Cassie Nicholson has been named the LawFuel New Zealand Lawyer of the Year in recognition of her efforts to handle the country’s legal response to the coronavirus pandemic. Nicholson led the drafting of legislation to deal with the Covid-19 crisis, overseeing her team of 35 lawyers as well as working with lawyers across the public sector. That process involved rapidly drafting or amending more than 100 pieces of legislation and other legal instruments to help the country tackle the pandemic and mitigate the economic and social impacts of government-imposed lockdowns.