Brand dilemma confronts NZ firm after loss of name partner

Boutique New Zealand law firm Morrison Daly could soon have a new name, following the departure of partner Kara Daly.

Daly has returned to her former employer Minter Ellison Rudd Watts as special counsel, working in the firm’s banking and financial services practice. She was formerly a partner at the firm.
Morrison Daly partner Andrew Morrison said he would probably change the firm’s name to remove the Daly, but had not yet decided. “It’s really a question of brand. We have established a reputable brand in New Zealand and Australia which we would like to retain, but out of respect for Kara, we will consider whether it is sensible to maintain the name,” he told ALB.

A new partner is already on the way to fill Daly’s position. Russell McVeagh partner Matthew Mallett will join the firm in early September. Prior to joining Russell McVeagh, Mallett worked for another New Zealand law firm and spent three and a half years at Linklaters in London. However, Morrison is hopeful that Daly will return to the firm. “We would like to think that she will return to us one day and that this is just a phase of her life.”

When asked if there was a risk the same thing could happen five years from now with Mallett, Morrison said there was always a risk. “There is always a risk partners will do what Kara has done,” he said. “From a professional perspective there is a huge attraction to work in large firms which carry out big transactions.”

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