Russell McVeagh is a New Zealand law firm with offices in Auckland and Wellington. Along with Bell Gully and Chapman Tripp, it is considered to be one of the "Big Three" law firms in New Zealand. History John Benjamin Russell (1834–1894) established a one-man practice in Auckland in 1863. Various partners joined him before he was succeeded at the firm by his son Edward Robert Nolan Russell (1869–1939) in 1893. In 1904 Robert McVeagh became a partner and remained involved in the firm until his death in 1944. In 1969 the firm merged with McKenzie & Bartleet to become Russell McVeagh McKenzie Bartleet & Co, the name it held until 2000, when it became known simply as "Russell McVeagh". The first legal job of the future politician Winston Peters after graduating in law in 1974 was with Russell McVeagh; he stayed until 1978 before leaving to become a politician. In 1988 the firm established its Wellington office with four founding partners. It is on the panel of lawyers who are instructed by the New Zealand government to undertake legal work. It was reported on 14 October 2021 that Russell McVeagh intends to require all staff, clients, and visitors to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Chief executive Jo Avenell said that many people are concerned about contacting unvaccinated people and that from 1 November 2021 all visitors must have received both vaccinations. Notable alumni Prior to his current status as the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Stephen Kos was a litigation partner at Russell McVeagh, and was Chair of the Partnership from 2003–2005. He was later appointed as a Judge in the Wellington High Court in 2011 before being elevated to the Court of Appeal in 2015 and becoming the President of the Court of Appeal in 2016. Court of Appeal Judge Lynton Stevens was a partner of Russell McVeagh McKenzie Bartlett & Co between 1980 and 1992. He was later appointed as a Queens Counsel in 1997 before becoming a High Court Judge in 2006 and being elevated to the Court of Appeal in 2010. High Court Judges Gerard Van Boheman, Christian Whata, Sarah Katz, Rebecca Edwards and Sally Fitzgerald all previously held roles at Russell McVeagh. In addition to many judges, Russell McVeagh has also previously employed Tom Ashley, an Olympic Gold medallist in windsurfing, and netballer Charlotte Kight. Community support Russell McVeagh supports a range of