About

Responsible for protecting the country of New Zealand in conjunction with the Ministry of Defence, the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) play a vital role in managing national security interests and mitigating existential threats. Due to this context, the role of NZDF’s legal team in supporting the organisation takes on added significance. Colonel Lisa Ferris, who has served the New Zealand Army for 14 years, was appointed as director of the legal services team in February 2017, subsequently becoming the first woman to hold the position. Supporting Ferris in her role are experienced and talented legal experts such as Leishia Pettigrew who serves in a dual capacity as a deputy director for operations law and chief of staff defence legal services, and John Anthony, who is the organisation’s legal officer. Forming an important part of the legal function at NZDF is their team of legal advisors in the New Zealand Army that ‘work in what could be best described as a “Specialised General Practice”’ according to a company source.