Allison Arthur-Young and Anna Crosbie are named two of the most influential lawyers in Aotearoa for 2022.
Released today, NZ Lawyer's Most Influential Lawyers 2022 list has recognised the firm's Board Chair, Allison Arthur-Young, as a top Changemaker for the second year in a row, while Real Estate and Construction partner Anna Crosbie is recognised as a Young Influencer.
The list is evaluated based on the overall impact of each nominee’s contributions, with the 29 lawyers who made the final list being those who have delivered specific outcomes in support of their peers and the industry.
"Congratulations to Allison and Anna on this recognition of their accomplishments across the year and to all of those highlighted. These partners are both leaders who are paving the way for the profession and setting an example for future leaders to be inspired by their exceptional skills and dedication to their people, clients and communities," said Russell McVeagh CEO Jo Avenell.
Allison Arthur-Young
For a second consecutive year, Russell McVeagh Board Chair Allison Arthur-Young is highlighted as a top New Zealand Changemaker.
With a track-record of leadership roles at Russell McVeagh, having been elected to Board Chair in February 2021 after three years serving as a Board member, Allison was also previously the chair of Russell McVeagh's National Environment, Planning & Natural Resources practice for several years. Allison is a member of the Resource Management Law Association and of Global Women.
Allison helped to lead the firm through arguably the most uncertain period and the one of most rapid changes in its 159-year history, assisting in steering the firm's culture through its transformation programme, and managing the unprecedented impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
As one of the top lawyers in the field of Resource Management, having earnt top rankings in all the major legal directories, she is ranked by Chambers and Partners 2022 Guide for Environment and Resource Management law and noted as a distinguished practitioner in Environment law by Asialaw Profiles 2022. Allison is recognised for Land Use and Zoning Law in the peer-nominated Best Lawyers® 2023 New Zealand Guide; as a Leading Lawyer in Environment and Resource Management in Doyle's Guide 2021; as a Leading Individual in the Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2022 Guide for Projects and Resource Management; and is listed as Highly Regarded in Project Development by IFLR 1000.
Anna Crosbie
Anna was elected to the Property Council New Zealand's governing body, its National Board, in January 2021 (having previously served on its now-replaced National Council since March 2019), and as part of the Board, she has a strategic role in helping to shape the cities and spaces where New Zealanders live, work, play and shop.
With property being the country's largest industry, leadership of the sector is fundamental to help New Zealand become a more inclusive and equitable country where people are proud to live. The vast majority of her work on the Board relates to improving the laws and wider legal framework for the country’s built environment.
In addition, Anna’s advocacy and engagement during the COVID-19 pandemic has helped guide some of the country’s most significant commercial landlords and tenants, as well as contractors and developers, toward a middle ground that balanced contractual terms with ensuring stability and enduring relationships between parties to foster better outcomes for New Zealand.
Anna was also heavily involved with legal consultation and submissions relating to recent amendments to the Overseas Investment Act, including those that simplified and streamlined the application process for property firms caught by the Act, but whose largest investors are KiwiSaver funds and NZ government investors such as ACC.
Anna’s influence is grounded in her technical real estate and construction expertise which is internationally recognised by Expert Guides 2021 (Women in Business Law and Real Estate), Best Lawyers® 2023: Real Estate, and Euromoney Asia Women in Business Law Awards 2021 (Asia Pacific Region): Finalist for 'Best in Real Estate'. Anna is also ranked by Chambers and Partners Asia Pacific Guide 2022 for Real Estate and the Legal 500 Asia Pacific Guide 2022 for Real Estate and Construction Law.
Whether she is acting for government entities, institutional property investors or developers, Anna is passionate about achieving exceptional outcomes in the delivery of projects which reshape New Zealand.