PwC Legal welcomes new Partners and expands nationally

January 2023

PwC New Zealand and PwC Legal welcome three new partners to the legal practice with the appointment of Claire Evans (Corporate, Ōtautahi (Christchurch)) and Joelle Grace (Corporate, Ōtautahi (Christchurch)) and the promotion of Chris Baldock (Employment and Workforce, Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland)). 

Claire, Joelle and Chris join partners Tom Logan, Matt Keenan and Helen Johnson - doubling the partnership -  and an existing legal team of around 50 legal professionals across Aotearoa New Zealand.

“We are delighted to welcome Claire and Joelle to PwC Legal and thrilled that Chris is joining the PwC Legal partnership. Claire, Joelle and Chris are each nationally and internationally recognised as leaders in their relevant fields of practice and bring a wealth of experience to the growing PwC Legal practice. In addition to being market- leading partners, their appointments enable PwC Legal to deliver best-in-class legal solutions  within a seamless commercial advisory service to clients on a national level with leaders in-market in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch,” says Tom Logan, Partner PwC Legal.  

He says these appointments demonstrate PwC’s continued investment in a broader legal service offering that now includes corporate, tax, finance, property, employment and workforce, privacy, and intellectual property. They also represent a significant investment in Ōtautahi and Te Waipounamu , demonstrating the firm’s ongoing commitment to the region and extended capability to respond to changing market conditions. 

“PwC in New Zealand has made a considerable investment in people and partners in Ōtautahi and more broadly Te Waipounamu, ensuring we provide more diverse areas of expertise as a response to client needs, and to support the long term prosperity of the region and the South Island.” 

Claire Evans, Partner PwC Legal, Corporate and Commercial, Ōtautahi

Claire joins PwC Legal from a national firm where she led their  Corporate Law practice. Claire has been consistently recognised in legal directories as a leading corporate and funds lawyer and her significant expertise covers financial markets, capital raising, mergers, acquisitions and disposals, franchises, corporate transactions, and regulatory compliance. In addition to Claire’s legal expertise, Claire has held a number of significant director roles prior to joining PwC Legal. She was recently recognised by NZ Lawyer as an Elite Woman in law. Claire’s expertise will further expand the legal service offering and continue to deliver sustained outcomes to clients.

Joelle Grace, Partner PwC Legal, Corporate and Commercial, Ōtautahi

Joelle, also previously a  partner at a national firm, is highly regarded for her work in M&A, business advisory, corporate governance, and commercial contracting. Prior to joining PwC Legal, Joelle led her firm’s M&A practice, which is recognised by the Legal 500. Joelle is also an award winning lawyer, most recently being named Corporate Governance Lawyer of the Year in the Women in Business Law Awards Asia Pacific 2022. 

Chris Baldock, Partner PwC Legal, Employment and Workforce, Tāmaki Makaurau

Previously a Director at the firm, Chris has been promoted to the partnership effective from 1 January. Chris joined PwC Legal from a top-tier national law firm in 2020 and, in addition to leading PwC Legal's employment law practice, is also a member of PwC’s multidisciplinary Workforce team. Chris has been recognised in numerous international legal directories, including the Legal 500, and has extensive experience advising some of New Zealand’s largest organisations on all aspects of employment and health and safety law.