Expertise

My area of expertise is family law.
My work includes the following services:

  • “pre-nuptial” agreements before and during relationships
  • relationship property settlements
  • relationship property disputes
  • spousal maintenance disputes
  • dissolution (divorce)
  • care and contact arrangements, guardianship disputes, paternity and other matters involving children
  • acting for parents or caregivers involving Child, Youth and Family
  • obtaining and defending protection and occupation orders
  • obtaining personal and property orders when a person has lost capacity
  • advising and acting on child support matters
  • identifying issues where a client needs the advice of another lawyer e.g. completing wills, setting up Trusts

I am a barrister. This means a lawyer who has chosen to specialise in advocacy and is independent of any firm or organisation. I am a member of Hobson Chambers comprising seven other experienced barristers. Each member of the chambers practises separately and completely independently. We share collegiality and experience.

 

Instruction

I act for both privately paying and legally aided clients. 

Contacting me simply begins with a phone call or email. I can help you work out the next step. This could mean meeting with me or another lawyer with a different skill set and speciality if that is what you need.

The legal rules require a client to instruct a barrister through a solicitor (i.e. a lawyer who works in a law firm). This is straight forward and is also important for other reasons.

The solicitor holds money on your behalf until I have completed work and sent you an invoice. The solicitor can also help you with other legal needs like a will, buying and selling a house and setting up a Trust.

These issues often go hand in hand with resolving family law matters.

 


Professional Qualifications

2002     Admitted as a barrister and solicitor in NZ  
2005     Enrolled as a solicitor in England and Wales    
2016      Practising as barrister sole

 


Education

2001      BA (History) and LLB, Otago University

 


Advocacy Experience

I have been a practising lawyer since 2002. My specialty is family law with a sound understanding of general practice law. This is important as family law draws on many different aspects of other legal disciplines.

My advocacy experience has been in the New Zealand Family Courts and in the Magistrates and County Courts in England. This includes brief appearances right through to contested/defended hearings. I have worked with and appeared against many experienced and able advocates.

In addition to my courtroom appearances I have attended numerous mediations and negotiations.

 


Work Experience

  • 2016 to current    Self-employed barrister  
  • 2012 to 2016        Solicitor, Snedden and Associates, Auckland
  • 2010 to 2012        Solicitor, Patrick M. Molloy, Auckland
  • 2007 to 2010       Solicitor, Hunt & Coombs, Peterborough, UK 
  • 2006 to 2007      Lawyer, Peterborough City Council, Peterborough, UK
  • 2005                     Legal Advisor, Kent County Council, Maidstone, UK  
  • 2002 to 2005      Solicitor, Patrick M. Molloy, Auckland            
  • 2002                     Solicitor, LawWorks, Auckland
 

Professional membership & community involvement

  • 2016 to current     NZ Bar Association
  • 2012 to current     Family Law Section member
  • 2010 to 2015         New Lynn, Auckland CAB Legal Roster
  • 2009 to 2010        Peterborough (UK) CAB Trustee
  • 2009 to 2010        Peterborough Family Law Group
  • 2009 to 2010        Resolution (Solicitors Family Law Association) member
  • 2004 to 2005       West Auckland Family Law Forum
  • 2003 to 2005       New Lynn, Auckland CAB Legal Roster
 
 
 
 
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