Named in the ‘Change Maker’ category of NZ Lawyer's Most Influential Lawyers list
Accolades
Media
Milestones
2018
2019
2020
2021
Appointed Employment Group head for New Zealand and becomes a member of the DLA Piper New Zealand Board, as well as co-chair of DLA Piper's Diversity and Inclusion Steering Committee
2018
Becomes a member of the DLA Piper Asia Pacific Regional Advisory Group
2019
Becomes a member of the DLA Piper Asia Pacific Regional Diversity and Inclusion Council
2020
Leading change
Becoming DLA Piper New Zealand’s first female leader is a momentous milestone for Laura Scampion, who is pleased to do so at a time that promises to be an exciting new phase in the firm’s journey. That said, she sees the journey and the company’s successes as a team effort.
“I work alongside some phenomenally talented partners and executives both here in New Zealand and across the globe, many of whom are women. The leadership team I have around me is committed to carving out a unique space in the legal sector, which makes this role incredibly exciting.”
Scampion says the firm’s recent accolades relating to innovation, leadership and diversity and inclusion illustrate its drive to make business better for its clients – and to make the workplace experience exceptional for its people.
This holds true for the New Zealand office and other DLA Piper offices across the globe. Scampion says drawing on – and contributing to – the firm’s international connections has spurred several initiatives in which she has been involved.
“From a New Zealand perspective, our alignment with the global firm goes far deeper than just the DLA Piper brand. Our strong connections with specialist DLA Piper teams in other jurisdictions are a defining factor of the value we deliver to our clients."
Likewise, innovation is a key focus for both Scampion and the firm. DLA Piper has a ‘change council’, which is essentially a group of its people driving new ways of thinking and working, she says.
“We are also working collaboratively with our global peers to bring our Law& solutions to the New Zealand market. These solutions go beyond traditional legal services, for example litigation funding, artificial intelligence that detects anti-competitive business practices, and a range of advisory services, including environmental, social, governance (ESG) advice and integrated merger and acquisition solutions that cover the entire M&A life cycle.
“In my role as the New Zealand lead for ESG, our evolution in this space will be a particular focus for me. Our commitment to continuing to create long-term sustainable value and drive positive social impact is clearly set out in the recent Sustainability Report from International.”
“I recently listened to a great podcast about the importance of ‘right now’ as opposed to ‘reactive’ in the field of diversity, equity and inclusion, pushing through bold initiatives at pace and creating constant change. This is how I intend to continue to drive our own initiatives," she says.
“[And] I'm proud of the progress we have made. We have a market-leading parental leave policy; we’ve achieved our Rainbow Tick accreditation and introduced a new gender transitioning policy. But the job is never done; we need to constantly monitor, review, adjust, and listen to our people.”
Scampion says she is looking forward to continuing to support the great work of DLA Piper’s Leadership Alliance for Women (LAW) program this year. The alliance is a gender-based network that plays a vital role in generating awareness and informing action, with the aim of becoming a more gender-balanced organisation.
Spotlight
In the face of fundamental changes in the legal industry, global firm DLA Piper is challenging the status quo of the traditional law firm, expanding beyond legal services and providing innovative solutions.
With lawyers located in more than 40 countries, the firm is well positioned to help clients around the world with their legal needs, which gives it a unique competitive edge on local and international stages.
DLA Piper was the first global business law firm to operate in New Zealand. Its clients range from some of the world’s most renowned global brands to some of the most influential businesses in New Zealand that are defining the future.
Company Profile
90+
Number of offices worldwide
>4,000
Number of lawyers worldwide
200,000+
Hours of community AND pro bono work globally
#1
World ranking of global M&A by volume
Ranking of DLA Piper brand on global index
Bio
Spotlight
Milestones
Media
Accolades
Company Profile
Years of Experience
21
Tenure at current position
2017 - Present
QUOTE
“My vision for 2022 is to keep building on the momentum we have built over the last few years. Bringing all of our new thinking to life in New Zealand, challenging the status quo in the legal industry, and doing right by our clients, our people and our communities”
Laura Scampion
Country managing partner at DLA Piper
Laura Scampion has more than 20 years of international legal experience representing a range of large organisations and is a well-known legal adviser, commentator and presenter with expertise in diversity and inclusion programs, employment law, and health and safety law. She is head of employment at DLA Piper New Zealand, holds leadership and governance roles locally and globally, and leads a number of pro bono initiatives.
Read on
“I work alongside some phenomenally talented partners and executives both here in
New Zealand and across the globe, many of whom are women”
Laura Scampion,
DLA Piper
“I intend to continue embedding the global mindset within the New Zealand firm, embracing innovation and implementing the DLA Piper global vision, values and local business strategy”
Laura Scampion,
DLA Piper
Share
Media
Milestones
2011
2012
2015
2021
Curabitur feugiat eget leo id tempus. Maecenas commodo, nibh at ultricies pulvinar, ipsum erat porta metus, et tempus justo tellus euismod dolor.
2011
Curabitur feugiat eget leo id tempus. Maecenas commodo, nibh at ultricies pulvinar, ipsum erat porta metus, et tempus justo tellus euismod dolor.
2012
Curabitur feugiat eget leo id tempus. Maecenas commodo, nibh at ultricies pulvinar, ipsum erat porta metus, et tempus justo tellus euismod dolor.
2015
Curabitur feugiat eget leo id tempus. Maecenas commodo, nibh at ultricies pulvinar, ipsum erat porta metus, et tempus justo tellus euismod dolor.
2021
Leading change
Karen Adams has had a remarkable journey to her current role as CEO of Fundserv. Originally from Toronto, Adams earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and economics at Queens University, followed by an MBA in international finance at the University of British Columbia. After graduating, she set off across the globe, holding various positions with HSBC that took her to London, Dubai, Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, Seoul and Mumbai.
That global experience gave Adams a unique perspective, prompting her to develop a leadership style that’s based on developing relationships with each individual, listening and understanding to help them reach their potential. That approach goes well beyond her own team, allowing Fundserv to succeed in creating solutions for its members.
“Having worked in many different countries, people ask if I am an expert in multicultural leadership,” Adams says. “I always say there is no such thing because that assumes you manage people based on their background. I have learned that people all want the same things: to develop our careers, give our kids a good future, etc. When she returned to Canada learned that people all
“From a New Zealand perspective, our alignment with the global firm goes far deeper than just the DLA Piper brand. Our strong connections with specialist DLA Piper teams in other jurisdictions are a defining factor of the value we deliver to our clients."
Likewise, innovation is a key focus for both Scampion and the firm. DLA Piper has a ‘change council’, which is essentially a group of its people driving new ways of thinking and working, she says.
“We are also working collaboratively with our global peers to bring our Law& solutions to the New Zealand market. These solutions go beyond traditional legal services, for example litigation funding, artificial intelligence that detects anti-competitive business practices, and a range of advisory services, including environmental, social, governance (ESG) advice and integrated merger and acquisition solutions that cover the entire M&A life cycle.
“In my role as the New Zealand lead for ESG, our evolution in this space will be a particular focus for me. Our commitment to continuing to create long-term sustainable value and drive positive social impact is clearly set out in the recent Sustainability Report from International.”
Scampion says DLA Piper is also looking forward to supporting its clients with their social and environmental transition.
“This means helping our clients deliver their sustainability goals in a number of key ways: strategy and decision-making; policies and procedures; and crisis management, to name but a few.”
Being a champion of the Law& solutions initiative has meant reflection and planning for Scampion as she steps into the business end of evolving the service over the coming years – a time that most would agree will be challenging on a global scale.
“The current environment has required businesses to re-evaluate direction and priorities. We've taken a progressive approach in the development of our Law& solutions, creating solutions beyond traditional legal services that support our clients in the modern world of business. Our Law& solutions evolve our legal offering into broader advisory services and new business areas."
From those forums, a common theme arose that has plagued the industry for years: the amount of paper required in transactions.
“We have a motto to ‘axe the fax,’ and we saw this opportunity where members didn’t want their staff going into the office, but there are still physical cheques going back and forth,” Adams explains. “We put in place, in just six months, Ad-Hoc Money Movement [A$M]. We responded to the industry and are in the process of replacing cheques, which I think is awesome. We launched in January and have seen so much volume. We think ultimately we are keeping people healthier by not having to travel into the office.”
Spotlight
Fundserv is the indispensable connectivity hub for the Canadian investment industry. Headquartered in Toronto, we electronically connect Manufacturers, Distributors, and Intermediaries, enabling them to buy, sell, and transfer investment funds. With more than 100 employees, Fundserv serves hundreds of members—executing up to 63 million yearly network transactions—and provides online access to more than 70,000 investment fund products.
Established in 1993, Fundserv is a private corporation that is owned by the industry we serve. Our 10 shareholders are a cross-section of Manufacturers, Distributors, and Service Providers who represent our members.
We operate using a cost-recovery model, meaning any unused profit may be rebated back to our members. In addition to our network and applications, we lead and facilitate industry committees and working groups that promote automation initiatives and establish the industry’s electronic standards.
By ensuring every trade is processed timely, accurately, and securely, Fundserv has rightfully earned a reputation for service excellence—a hallmark of more than 25 years in the investment industry.
Company Profile
Years of Experience
21
“My vision for 2022 is to keep building on the momentum we have built over the last few years. Bringing all of our new thinking to life in New Zealand, challenging the status quo in the legal industry, and doing right by our clients, our people and our communities”
Karen Adams
President and CEO at Fundserv
Career highlight
Before becoming CEO of Fundserv, Karen Adams held a variety of leadership roles around the world – and she learned that listening and understanding are key to both providing service and developing talent
Read on
Bio
Spotlight
Milestones
Media
Accolades
Company Profile
Share
Share
Media
Milestones
2011
2012
2015
2021
Curabitur feugiat eget leo id tempus. Maecenas commodo, nibh at ultricies pulvinar, ipsum erat porta metus, et tempus justo tellus euismod dolor.
2011
Curabitur feugiat eget leo id tempus. Maecenas commodo, nibh at ultricies pulvinar, ipsum erat porta metus, et tempus justo tellus euismod dolor.
2012
Curabitur feugiat eget leo id tempus. Maecenas commodo, nibh at ultricies pulvinar, ipsum erat porta metus, et tempus justo tellus euismod dolor.
2015
Curabitur feugiat eget leo id tempus. Maecenas commodo, nibh at ultricies pulvinar, ipsum erat porta metus, et tempus justo tellus euismod dolor.
2021
Leading change
“From a New Zealand perspective, our alignment with the global firm goes far deeper than just the DLA Piper brand. Our strong connections with specialist DLA Piper teams in other jurisdictions are a defining factor of the value we deliver to our clients."
Likewise, innovation is a key focus for both Scampion and the firm. DLA Piper has a ‘change council’, which is essentially a group of its people driving new ways of thinking and working, she says.
“We are also working collaboratively with our global peers to bring our Law& solutions to the New Zealand market. These solutions go beyond traditional legal services, for example litigation funding, artificial intelligence that detects anti-competitive business practices, and a range of advisory services, including environmental, social, governance (ESG) advice and integrated merger and acquisition solutions that cover the entire M&A life cycle.
“In my role as the New Zealand lead for ESG, our evolution in this space will be a particular focus for me. Our commitment to continuing to create long-term sustainable value and drive positive social impact is clearly set out in the recent Sustainability Report from International.”
Scampion says DLA Piper is also looking forward to supporting its clients with their social and environmental transition.
“This means helping our clients deliver their sustainability goals in a number of key ways: strategy and decision-making; policies and procedures; and crisis management, to name but a few.”
Being a champion of the Law& solutions initiative has meant reflection and planning for Scampion as she steps into the business end of evolving the service over the coming years – a time that most would agree will be challenging on a global scale.
“The current environment has required businesses to re-evaluate direction and priorities. We've taken a progressive approach in the development of our Law& solutions, creating solutions beyond traditional legal services that support our clients in the modern world of business. Our Law& solutions evolve our legal offering into broader advisory services and new business areas."
While she’s proud of the strides Fundserv made in 2020, Adams acknowledges that it was a challenging time as a leader. Not only did she have to ensure Fundserv kept running efficiently as her team transitioned to working from home, but she was also filled with concern for her team members.
“I just worried about our employees, their mental health and if they would be OK,” Adams says. “I like to see people, so I set up one-on-ones just to connect with them.
Moving forward, Adams says Fundserv’s goals remain aligned with those of its members, and her team will continue listening and understanding what members need so the organization can evolve accordingly. She adds that she wants Fundserv to be so good at providing a secure and reliable service that members forget it’s there – and she wants the company to continue to inspire change in the industry.
“It is sad that it took a pandemic to recog-nize the cheque issue and solve it,” Adams says. “What we will do in the future is root out those things in the industry and not wait for a pandemic to ignite change. There is no reason we can’t change. Change, like auto-mation, will accelerate from now, and we’ll do our part to keep it going.”
Spotlight
Fundserv is the indispensable connectivity hub for the Canadian investment industry. Headquartered in Toronto, we electronically connect Manufacturers, Distributors, and Intermediaries, enabling them to buy, sell, and transfer investment funds. With more than 100 employees, Fundserv serves hundreds of members—executing up to 63 million yearly network transactions—and provides online access to more than 70,000 investment fund products.
Established in 1993, Fundserv is a private corporation that is owned by the industry we serve. Our 10 shareholders are a cross-section of Manufacturers, Distributors, and Service Providers who represent our members.
We operate using a cost-recovery model, meaning any unused profit may be rebated back to our members. In addition to our network and applications, we lead and facilitate industry committees and working groups that promote automation initiatives and establish the industry’s electronic standards.
By ensuring every trade is processed timely, accurately, and securely, Fundserv has rightfully earned a reputation for service excellence—a hallmark of more than 25 years in the investment industry.
Company Profile
Years of Experience
21
Karen Adams
President and CEO at Fundserv
Career highlight
Before becoming CEO of Fundserv, Karen Adams held a variety of leadership roles around the world – and she learned that listening and understanding are key to both providing service and developing talent
Read on
“I work alongside some phenomenally talented partners and executives both here in New Zealand and across the globe, many of whom are women”
Laura Scampion,
DLA Piper
“I intend to continue embedding the global mindset within the New Zealand firm, embracing innovation and implementing the DLA Piper global vision, values and local business strategy”
Laura Scampion,
DLA Piper
Bio
Spotlight
Milestones
Media
Accolades
Company Profile
IN Partnership with
DLA Piper New Zealand’s first female managing partner, Laura Scampion, talks to NZ Lawyer about progressing diversity and inclusion in the workplace, and driving innovation in the legal profession
Scampion says DLA Piper is also looking forward to supporting its clients with their social and environmental transition.
“This means helping our clients deliver their sustainability goals in a number of key ways: strategy and decision-making; policies and procedures; and crisis management, to name but a few.”
Being a champion of the Law& solutions initiative has meant reflection and planning for Scampion as she steps into the business end of evolving the service over the coming years – a time that most would agree will be challenging on a global scale.
“The current environment has required businesses to re-evaluate direction and priorities. We've taken a progressive approach in the development of our Law& solutions, creating solutions beyond traditional legal services that support our clients in the modern world of business. Our Law& solutions evolve our legal offering into broader advisory services and new business areas."
Scampion’s role at the helm also positions her to advocate for opportunities within the diversity and inclusion space, which she is approaching with thought and inspiration from a number of places.
“I'm also looking forward to introducing our Head Start program in Wellington, following its inaugural year running in Auckland. Head Start is a global initiative formed to improve social mobility and break down barriers faced by under-represented groups when entering the legal profession.
“We have great people, great clients and a strong, progressive brand," Scampion says. "I can't wait to see what's ahead for us.”
1
1 Mergermarket, 2010–2021
2 Thomson Reuters Global Elite Law Firm Brand index 2022 (formerly the Acritas Global Elite Brand Index)
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Karen Adams has had a remarkable journey to her current role as CEO of Fundserv. Originally from Toronto, Adams earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and economics at Queens University, followed by an MBA in international finance at the University of British Columbia. After graduating, she set off across the globe, holding various positions with HSBC that took her to London, Dubai, Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, Seoul and Mumbai.
That global experience gave Adams a unique perspective, prompting her to develop a leadership style that’s based on developing relationships with each individual, listening and understanding to help them reach their potential. That approach goes well beyond her own team, allowing Fundserv to succeed in creating solutions for its members.
“Having worked in many different countries, people ask if I am an expert in multicultural leadership,” Adams says. “I always say there is no such thing because that assumes you manage people based on their background. I have learned that people all want the same things: to develop our careers, give our kids a good future, etc. When she returned to Canada learned that people all
Named in the ‘Change Maker’ category of NZ Lawyer's Most Influential Lawyers list, and as one of the Top 100 Diverse Board-Ready Directors by the Super Diversity Institute and the Ministry for Ethnic Communities
2021
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Ranked as a Leading Individual in Labour and Employment by Legal 500 Asia Pacific
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