Wotton Kearney is pleased to announce the appointments of Sam Hider, senior associate, and Ramses Hunt, associate, both based in our Christchurch | Ōtautahi office.
This exciting development will help to strengthen our property, construction, and employment practices and to better service the growing needs of our clients in the South Island.
Sam joins Wotton Kearney as an experienced insurance litigator who focuses on material damage/business interruption and professional indemnity claims. He has successfully resolved litigated claims against local authorities, geotechnical engineers, structural engineers, mechanical engineers, project managers, building surveyors and architects. He has also acted for a variety of professionals facing disciplinary complaints.
Partner, Caroline Laband shared “We’re excited to welcome Sam as a key addition to our team. His experience in navigating complex property damage claims and construction disputes will undoubtedly strengthen our ability to support our clients with the practical and forward-thinking advice they need in this dynamic market.”
Sam is no stranger to the region and looks forward to helping our Christchurch and broader South Island clients: “I grew up in Christchurch and love living in this city. Working on earthquakes claims has left me with a real interest in the insurance industry and I have since been fortunate enough to work on some fascinating cases ranging from high-value material damage claims to complex professional indemnity matters.”
Ramses is an employment specialist with expertise in dispute resolution. He has extensive experience representing both employers and employees in Employment Relations Authority proceedings and mediations, consistently achieving positive outcomes through targeted resolution strategies.
Like Sam, Ramses knows Christchurch well and is excited to have made the move to Wotton Kearney. “I’ve witnessed this city’s remarkable transformation to becoming a debonair dynamic business hub post the earthquakes.
With the Great Southern Migration bringing some new energy and opportunities (along with Wotton Kearney), I could not say no to the opportunity to join a leading firm during this exciting time. As the city continues the greatest comeback since Stephen Donald, I enjoy helping our local SMEs navigate the complexities of employment law, ensuring they can grow confidently with the city while managing risk effectively.”
Ramses will be working closely with our wider employment team partner, Rebecca Scott and special counsel, Murray Grant. Rebecca Scott shared: “I’m so excited Ramses has joined us, and our clients will be too. This is a strategic step in establishing our employment practice in Canterbury. With Ramses’ expertise and understanding of the local market, we can provide more tailored and responsive legal support to Canterbury businesses and individuals.”
Sam and Ramses join our existing Christchurch team members:
- Emily Whiteside: Professional indemnity (solicitors), general liability, product liability, construction insurance and general commercial litigation
- Laura Glasson: Cyber, technology liability and professional indemnity
- Kerry Moor: Property, general liability, statutory liability, and professional indemnity
- Liberty Wells: Commercial litigation, professional indemnity and health
- Finlay Watson: Commercial litigation and professional indemnity
Early next year the Christchurch office will be joined by another associate who specialises in commercial litigation, including professional negligence, financial institutions, regulatory claims, insolvency and construction disputes. We also have a graduate joining us in February.
Being present in the heart of Christchurch, and understanding the local clients and communities is a fundamental part of how we operate. Since opening our doors in the region just over a year ago, we’ve continued to grow and thrive. With Sam, Ramses, and our wider Christchurch team, we are now even better equipped to deliver exceptional results for our clients.