About

My Background

I have been a life-long resident of Dunedin, apart from my primary school years.

I qualified LL.B at Otago University, and practiced for 17 years in a Dunedin legal firm (since amalgamated).  My personal practice offered a full range of legal services, from first home buyers to advising a listed company; from small-scale debt recovery to High Court civil proceedings; from guilty pleas to minor charges in the District Court to jury trial and appeals. 

While I enjoyed the wide experience and the satisfaction of assisting clients with many different issues, I left the firm and became a Barrister sole so that I could concentrate on dispute resolution.  My work continues to cover a wide range of advisory and dispute resolution work.

I was delighted to be appointed as a Queen’s Counsel in 2013.

Professional History

I have been actively involved in various professional organisations, including:

  • Council member and President of the Otago District Law Society,
  • Council and Board member of the New Zealand Law Society,
  • Member of various New Zealand Law Society committees,
  • Council member of the New Zealand Bar Association,
  • Member of the New Zealand Council of Law Reporting,
  • Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP),
  • Arbitrators and Mediators Institute of New Zealand (AMINZ).

Tertiary Studies

As well as my LLB, I have also successfully studied at tertiary level:

  • Physics,
  • Chemistry,
  • Mathematics,
  • Accounting,
  • Arbitration law,
  • European Law.

Dunedin & Auckland

I have also been a proud supporter of the Otago University Law Faculty.  I have lectured part-time, and assisted with Moots and other competitions, and I was delighted to be invited in 2014 to deliver the FW Guest Memorial Lecture at the Faculty.

While Dunedin born and bred, I have also lived in Auckland and have a fondness for and keen interest in that city.  In recent years, my work has had a much greater geographical spread, including from the Auckland region, and this has led to my recent decision to become an associate member of Eldon Chambers in Auckland.

Outside of work, I enjoy family time, travel, and follow cricket.