Catherine Shipton has acted on most of the country’s public-private partnerships to date.
Catherine Shipton.
Simpson Grierson has announced the promotion of Catherine Shipton to partner, effective January 1, 2026.
Based in Ōtautahi | Christchurch but working nationally, Shipton is a core part of Simpson Grierson’s infrastructure, energy, and major projects team, with extensive domestic and international experience in corporate, commercial, and financing transactions in both private and public sectors.
Shipton said: “I’m thrilled to join the partnership and be part of an expert team involved in addressing New Zealand’s significant infrastructure deficit and the pressing need to broaden our energy sources because it’s imperative to ensure these critical assets are well managed for the benefit of all New Zealanders.”
Shipton is one of very few New Zealand lawyers to have acted on most of the country’s public-private partnerships to date and is currently acting for bidders on the Northland Corridor PPP and Christchurch Men’s Prison PPP procurements in market.
Alongside greenfields development projects, she has deep expertise in brownfields M&A transactions for developed infrastructure and energy assets.
Shipton’s portfolio in complex commercial arrangements and major transactions includes acting for infrastructure funds, superannuation funds, insurance funds, private equity, corporates, and investment banks, as well as significant work with local government and water service entities.
Shipton said: “What motivates me is working on matters that make a real difference to New Zealand communities. Ultimately, the work our team does for our clients, in both primary and secondary markets, will help address infrastructure and energy challenges in the long term.”
Partner and board chair, Pip Muir said Shipton’s broad expertise and client-focused approach are a real asset to the firm’s national corporate practice and the wider Simpson Grierson partnership.
“Catherine’s proven track record on transformational transactions – from PPPs to complex commercial and financing transactions – combined with her strategic thinking, pragmatism, and absolute dedication to delivering her clients’ desired outcomes, make her an invaluable part of our team.
“Her promotion reflects both her talent and our firm’s commitment to being at the forefront of Aotearoa’s landmark corporate and financing transactions,” he said.
Simpson Grierson’s corporate practice is consistently ranked as a New Zealand leader in the MergerMarket and Refinitiv league tables.
This is supplied content and not commissioned or paid for by NBR.
Sign up to get the latest stories and insights delivered to your inbox – free, every day.
