Dentons is proud to announce that Kate Rouch and Oliver Hobbs have been recognised as Future Leaders by Australasian Lawyer and NZ Lawyer. Selected from a competitive field of young legal professionals across Australia and New Zealand, they have been celebrated for their outstanding achievements, leadership and commitment to the legal profession.

Kate Rouch, a Senior Associate in our Litigation and Public Law team, is a trusted leader in a busy and diverse practice. 

As a key point of contact for many clients, including the Natural Hazards Commission, Kate’s ability to manage both the finer points of a case and the broader litigation strategy, while aligning with the client’s public and policy objectives sets her apart. Kate often combines sharp legal knowledge with a practical and detail-focused approach. 

Supervising Partner and Litigation and Public Law Business Unit Leader, Linda Clark, has full confidence in Kate’s judgement and technical capability and says “Kate is quite simply a terrific lawyer. She has a fierce intellect, impeccable integrity, a willingness to learn and improve and a hard work ethic that sees her routinely going above and beyond to deliver top rate advice and support to clients.”

Oliver Hobbs, a Senior Associate in our real estate team, brings specialist expertise in property and construction law.

Throughout his career, he has made exceptional contributions and showed leadership in the legal profession. Having already won the Rising Star award in 2023, Oliver has continued to demonstrate remarkable expertise and dedication in his specialist area. Oliver’s ability to manage complex negotiations, provide pragmatic advice and deliver successful outcomes has earned high praise from clients and colleagues. His commitment to professional development, industry involvement, and mentoring further highlight his potential to shape the future of the legal profession.

When asked about Oliver, Michelle Hill, Real Estate Business Unit Leader, said, “Oliver is a highly skilled lawyer. His commitment to excellence and achieving successful outcomes for our clients has impressed both myself and our valued clients.”

Charles Spillane, Chief Executive of Dentons in New Zealand, says, “Kate and Oliver are awesome and a big part of our future. So, it’s fantastic to see their talent, hard work and leadership being recognised by others in this way as future leaders. Their dedication, technical excellence and commitment to mentoring and supporting others reflect the values we hold at Dentons, and this recognition is a testament not only to their individual talent, but to the strength and depth of our team across New Zealand."

About Dentons

Across over 80 countries, Dentons helps you grow, protect, operate and finance your organization by providing uniquely global and deeply local legal solutions. Polycentric, purpose-driven and committed to inclusion and sustainability, we focus on what matters most to you. www.dentons.com