Former Russell McVeagh partner Michael Heron has been appointed as New Zealand's Solicitor-General. This is a critical constitutional role in New Zealand, which acts both as a principal counsel and legal advisor to the Crown, and as Chief Executive of the Crown Law Office. Meanwhile, Russell McVeagh partner Sarah Katz has been appointed to the bench as a New Zealand High Court judge. Katz will be sitting in Auckland and will take up her position next month. Katz joined Russell McVeagh as a partner in 2003, and has been on the board of management since 2009.