Clayton Kimpton, the former executive chairman of Kensington Swan and a leader in New Zealand’s foreign affairs and trade policy promotion, is the new chief executive of The Law Association.

Announcing the appointment, Tony Herring, President of The Law Association, said he was “incredibly proud” that Kimpton had chosen to join the organisation. “His extensive background in law, public service and leadership will be invaluable to our organisation and our members.

“As The Law Association continues to grow, I am very much looking forward to working with Clayton and redefining our strategic positioning, to ensure we are set to lead, innovate and disrupt within the legal sector New Zealand-wide.”

A highly skilled lawyer and distinguished diplomat, Kimpton’s professional experience includes governance, strategy, law policy development, foreign affairs and trade. Along with leading and working with organisations to drive business success, he is experienced in navigating stakeholder matters and forging long-term strategic partnerships.

At Kensington Swan (now known as Dentons Kensington Swan), Kimpton was both a partner and four-time executive chairman. He focussed on key commercial clients with a growth and international perspective, and this extended to working with specialist teams in advocacy services, government, infrastructure and the finance sector.

Presented with the opportunity to grow his career and at the same time leverage his passion for international trade and foreign affairs, Kimpton quit the legal sector to take up offshore roles, including the consul-general to Dubai and the Northern Emirates, UAE. He was also the regional director for India Middle East and Africa for New Zealand Trade & Enterprise (NZTE), returning to New Zealand in 2023 after more than 10 years in the UAE.

Kimpton says he is excited about his new role as CEO of The Law Association. “I am looking forward to working with the council, committees, and The Law Association team to further connect, develop and deepen the relationship we have with our members. The Law Association is the only independent, nationwide representative body for the legal profession in New Zealand and my mandate is to represent our members to government, the judiciary and the wider profession.”

Kimpton takes up his role in early April. ■