Duncan Cotterill appoints Peter Fernando as Partner
Peter Fernando has been promoted to its partnership, continuing a period of significant expansion in the firm's leadership team and presence in New Zealand.
Based in Duncan Cotterill's Christchurch Corporate and Commercial team, Fernando is a specialist in the technology sector, supporting public and private sector clients with procurement and complex contracts with technology partners, as well as advising major tech firms and startups. He also acts for both vendors and purchasers in mergers and acquisitions, with a particular interest in software as a service (SaaS).
"I really enjoy helping clients on both sides, vendors and customers, negotiate and implement contracts to make the most of modern technologies and create the best outcomes for their organisation," Fernando says.
Fernando is also an expert on privacy law and cyber risk, helping clients manage privacy and cyber incidents and threats and to understand their obligations under the Privacy Act 2020 and related codes.
He was recognised in the NZ Lawyer's 2022 "Rising Star" list and is also a recommended lawyer in the Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2022 legal directory for technology law.
"The appointment of Peter to our partnership reaffirms Duncan Cotterill's investment in the technology sector, and our commitment to growing our senior technology capabilities across the country even further," says Richard Lang, Chair, Duncan Cotterill.
Fernando's appointment will increase Duncan Cotterill's partnership to 49 partners, making the firm the second-largest New Zealand law firm by partner number. Consistent growth over the past three years has seen the firm expand to more than 310 people, operating from offices in Auckland, Wellington, Nelson, Christchurch and Queenstown.
"It's no surprise that Peter has been recognised by the industry for his outstanding achievements. Even as we grow, he has proved to be a standout member of the team for his in-depth knowledge of technology issues, supporting many large public sector clients through unprecedented digital transformation," Lang says.
"We know he'll be equally capable as a mentor to junior members of our team, and we congratulate him on his success."
