DLA Piper grows funds practice with the addition of Kate Driver

DLA Piper is pleased to announce the appointment of Kate Driver as a senior associate in the firm’s Investment Management & Funds team in New Zealand.

An alumna of DLA Piper’s Wellington office, Kate returns to the firm in Auckland to strengthen its growing funds capability – a tier one practice recognised for advising some of New Zealand’s largest investment funds, trustees, and institutional investors on complex and cross-border mandates.

Kate joins from Bell Gully, bringing extensive international experience gained in London with Ashurst LLP and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, where she advised leading private equity and investment fund sponsors on fund establishment, governance, and corporate transactions.

Rachel Taylor, head of the firm’s Corporate practice group in New Zealand said, “Kate’s return to DLA Piper reflects our commitment to continuing to grow our investment funds capability. Her cross-jurisdictional experience enhances our ability to support clients with complex fund structuring and governance needs, while remaining focused on practical local outcomes.”

Tom Barnes, partner in the Investment Management & Funds team added, “Kate has advised some of the world’s largest fund sponsors and investors across private equity, infrastructure and real estate. Coupled with her experience in financial services M&A, her return bolsters our national capability in a dynamic and evolving market.”

Kate is based in DLA Piper’s Auckland office. Her return follows that of Jennifer Smith last year, further demonstrating the firm’s continued investment in its market-leading financial services sector team.