I am a specialist family law barrister. My practice includes work as Lawyer for Child, Counsel to Assist the Court and I am a Youth Advocate. I undertake a limited amount of legal aid work.

Experience

I am a graduate of Otago University and was admitted as a barrister and solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand in 1986. Between 1987 and 1993 I practised primarily criminal and family law in Whakatane and London. In London I worked in the Child Protection field. I moved to Christchurch in 1993 where I have lived and worked ever since. In 2001 Stephen van Bohemen and I established McNulty van Bohemen Solicitors. We founded Atticus Chambers in 2007.

Expertise

My current practice predominantly relates to matters concerning children and young people, both in the Family Court and Youth Court, however I act for parties privately in all aspects of family law, including care of children, care and protection, family violence matters, adoption and surrogacy.

I have developed skill and experience in helping to successfully use the available legal system to obtain sensible, constructive and cost-effective resolutions for clients and their families.

Contributions

Outside of my client work I have been involved in a number of committees, including both the Family Law and Youth Justice Committees for the Canterbury-Westland Branch of the New Zealand Law Society. I have also been a committee member of the Christchurch Family Courts Association, including a period as treasurer.

I was an executive member of the Family Law Section of the New Zealand Law Society from October 2015 to April 2022. From 2017 until 2023 I was on the New Zealand Law Society’s Youth Justice Committee.

I have presented seminars on family law topics over a number of years. 

I was on the legal assistance panel providing legal advice to survivors participating in the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care, and in 2022 I was appointed a Kaitakawaenga to undertake private sessions with survivors.

I am a member of Pacifica Congress, a member organisation for Family Law Professionals from the Pacific region countries.

I was formerly on the board of Stopping Violence Services and in 2016 completed a 3 year diploma in Te Reo Māori with Te Wānanga o Aotearoa.