Category: About Us

About Us

Armstrong Thompson specialise in accident compensation (ACC) law, employment law, and health and safety law. Contact us if you need assistance in one of these areas. See below to find out more about our team members. The firm was a finalist in the Boutique Law Firm of the Year at the New Zealand Law Awards in 2014 and 2017.

Hazel Armstrong: Partner

Hazel specialises in ACC, health and safety, employment law and professional ethics. She has undertaken Inquiries on behalf of government and other organisations, for example, KiwiRail and the Rail and Maritime Transport Union; the Minister for Tertiary Education; and in 2014, she was part of a three person inquiry into safety in the Forestry Sector. The firm was involved in 2022 with Maritime NZ in developing worker insights into Port Safety. She has served on Boards as a ministerial appointee. Hazel sits on the board of the Ports of Auckland Limited.Hazel is on the NZ Law Society ACC Committee.In 2014, Hazel was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award at the New Zealand Workplace Health and Safety Awards.

Ben Thompson: Partner

Ben specialises in ACC and employment law. He is an experienced litigator in New Zealand and the UK, acting for injured people and employees in both those jurisdictions.
2014 saw Ben win Young Private Practice Lawyer of the Year at the New Zealand Law Awards, and publish a book on accident compensation law, entitled Accident Compensation Act: Key Sections and Commentary, published by LexisNexis. 
In 2015 Ben established a branch of Armstrong Thompson in Tauranga, as a partner in the firm. This gives the firm more coverage in the Bay of Plenty and the Waikato.

Margie Peterson: Accounts & Trust Accounts Manager

Margie joined Armstrong Thompson Law in 2003. She takes care of all General and Trust Accounts. She manages the office on a day to day basis. She liaises with clients around payment and billing, sending invoices and statements.

Krissy Thompson: Lawyer

Krissy Thompson joined Armstrong Thompson in 2010, where she started as a graduate law clerk and became a solicitor in 2011.  She worked as a solicitor until 2016, when she went on an extended period of parental leave from the firm.  She has now returned part-time and works closely with Hazel on matters of health and safety, employment, and professional ethics.  She is a director on a number of boards, including the Board of Worksafe Mahi Haumaru Aotearoa (the health and safety regulator), and the New Zealand Institute of Safety Management.

Quinn Vugler: Lawyer

Quinn has been working for Armstrong Thompson since February 2020. Quinn is the frontline for liaison with clients and potential clients, and specializes in employment law, as well as ACC.

Caitlin Kingsford – law clerk

Caitlin Kingsford is in her final year at Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington studying a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Science. She has a permanent part-time position at the firm assisting the lawyers and liaising with potential new clients.