A fast-growing law firm today announces the biggest series of promotions in its 43-year history.

They include five new partners, nearly doubling the number of partners at Frettens Solicitors – from six to 11 – in a single move.

Five other team members are promoted to new positions as the Christchurch-based firm continues to build on its recent successes.

Matt Fretten, Managing Partner, said: “Our team have been absolutely incredible in the past 18 months.

“Their collective hard work, application and agility has meant that we are emerging from lockdown in a significantly stronger position than we entered.

“We’ve grown by over 50 per cent in the last three years and have already added ten new faces to the team this year.

“As we succeed as a business, it is important that those responsible for that success are rewarded and able to grow with us.”

The new partners are Andrew Stynes, Ben Cobb, Michelle Petersen, Paul Burton and Simon Immins.

All are promoted from Associate to Partner.

They will each continue to head up their departments in Christchurch or the firm’s new Ringwood office.

Clockwise from bottom left: Kym Gaisford, Amy Langlois, Karen Edwards, Anna Curtis and (centre) Lewis Barr.

Karen Edwards is promoted to Head of the Corporate & Commercial team.

The team recently welcomed experienced corporate and Intellectual Property solicitor Sarah Sillar.

Amy Langlois, Anna Curtis and Kym Gaisford are promoted to Associate.

And Lewis Barr is promoted to Marketing and Commercial Director, two and a half years after joining the firm as Marketing Manager.

Matt, pictured, who took over as Managing Partner in 2012, said: “Amy and Karen did their training contracts here and have been with us since starting their career in law.

“Ben, Simon, Lewis, and Anna have arrived since 2018 and made an impact in a short period of time.

“We have introduced a lot of new faces into the business recently and are still actively recruiting for several other roles.

“It is important that anyone joining us knows that if they do well, there is no limit to their progression.”

New Partner Ben Cobb said: “I’ve been promoted twice in three and a half years, so there’s no policy that says ‘you have to have been here X number of years before you get promoted’.

“I’m not micromanaged and it’s a good size of firm in that we’re big enough to have good quality work but not so big that you’re simply a number.

“Everybody knows everyone.”

Anna Curtis said: “I have just been promoted to Associate on what is essentially my second anniversary of starting at Frettens.

“It was made quite clear to me at the interview that those people that work hard and want to progress their career within the firm will be given the help and support to do that.

“That is what has happened in my case.”

Frettens was founded 43 years ago when Ian Fretten began practising as a sole practitioner in Christchurch on January 1, 1978.

He retired in 2012 and his son, Matt, took over as Managing Partner.

The firm now employs more than 70 people,

• Frettens is currently actively recruiting for several roles but is happy to hear from anyone who feels they would be a good fit. To find out more, contact Cat Snow, Operations Manager.