James Gardner-Hopkins allowed to be a lawyer again

James Gardner-Hopkins had been at Russell McVeagh. (Image: NZME)

Tue, 16 Dec 2025

A former Russell McVeagh partner whose misconduct kick-started a #MeToo movement in New Zealand is returning to the profession after a professional body ruled he is a “fit and proper person”.James Gardner-Hopkins was found guilty of six misconduct charges by the Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal and suspended from practising for three years.Five of the charges related to his behaviour with summer clerks at the “big three” law firms’ 2015 Christmas party in Wellington. The sixth was linked to anoth...

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