C2G 2025 (Full Conference) (On Demand)

Having worked in law for close to 40 years, Denise is an acknowledged authority on, and has an in-depth knowledge of, the area of deceased estates. Prior to forming her company Robins & Co in 2005, she  held a number of positions, the last being Senior Estates Manager for a High Street law firm. Through her business, she is engaged by many practitioners around New Zealand as a drafting specialist, drafting in their name all manner of High Court documents to obtain Probate, Letters of Administration et al. As well as offering general estate guidance for practitioners, she was the go-to commentator on Radio Live covering estates and will matters that made their way through our courts system.

Simon has been practising in the field of Asset Protection Planning since 1993, both offshore and in New Zealand. He has extensive experience advising clients on asset protection strategies, including Contracting-Out Agreements, Trusts and Wills. He has presented numerous seminars and workshops on the interface between Trusts and the PRA. Simon is a member of TLANZ’s Trust Law Committee and the STEP education committee.

Theresa graduated from Auckland University in 1992 and has a wealth of experience in Elder Law and Trust-related matters. Theresa was formerly from Public Trust (Senior Solicitor and Team Leader) and the Ministry of Social Development where she was lead Senior in the Public Law Team, working with Parliamentary Counsel, Older People’s Policy and the Office of Senior Citizens. Theresa worked on the 2017 changes to the EPA forms. She is a regular presenter to professional groups such as TLANZ, NZLS, CCH, STEP, and Legalwise, and is known for her practical approach.

Tammy is the managing director at Davenports Law Limited and leads their Trust team. She is a trust and asset structuring specialist with over 25 years’ legal experience specialising in the areas of trust law, asset planning and the Property (Relationships) Act.

She advises clients on a broad range of issues involving the duties of trustees and the management and administration of trust funds, the structuring, establishment and review of asset plans and the interpretation of trust deeds.

Sam has worked in private practice accounting since 1993 and has been a partner since 2001. He specialises in assisting small to medium-sized legal firms with profit improvement strategies and succession planning.

Sam provides valuation and litigation support, particularly in section 15 economic disparity calculations. He is regularly appointed by the Court or parties to a dispute as an Independent Trustee to assist with Trust management and reach resolution regarding the sale of trust assets. 

Colette has extensive experience in all aspects of estate planning, including trusts, estates, relationship property, wills and EPAs. Alongside strategic asset planning advice, she specialises in designing bespoke structuring arrangements to meet client needs and minimise future disputes.

Stella is a partner at Forest Harrison. Before co-founding the firm in 2006, she gained extensive experience working at several prominent law firms in Auckland. Stella specialises in property development and other property related transactions. She is a longstanding member of TLANZ’s Property Law Committee and is an Accredited Property specialist with NZLS’ Property Law Section. In addition, Stella has presented on commercial leases for NZLS and spoken on property purchases, property development, trusts and other legal topics to various private organisations within her community.

Anthony is an Auckland barrister who specialises in the laws concerning Trusts and Estates.

He acts as counsel in Trusts and Estate litigation and gives advice on Trust structures and constructive ways to resolve disputes involving Trusts and Estates.

He is a regular contributor to LawNews on new developments involving Trusts and Estates and delivers Papers at legal conferences on these topics.

Stewart is an industry expert on the law relating to human infertility, assisted reproductive technology, and family creation. He frequently advises a broad range of clients and fertility clinics on embryo/egg/sperm donations, domestic and international surrogacy, and adoption. Stewart was an expert adviser to the Law Commission when reviewing New Zealand’s surrogacy laws. He has three children with his male partner through surrogacy, and therefore, has both real life and professional experience when it comes to surrogacy. 

Stewart also has experience in representing clients at the Immigration and Protection Tribunal, Family Court, District Court and High Court. He is the former Chair of the TLANZ’ Immigration and Refugee Law Committee. Stewart is experienced in all aspects of immigration and refugee law, assisting clients with complex visa applications, deportations, humanitarian appeals, and refugee claims.

Lance Burdett spent 22 years in the NZ Police, 13 as a crisis negotiator. He brings experience from training in New Zealand, Australia, England, and the USA with the elite units of police, prisons, emergency services, the military, and the FBI. Lance has a Master of Arts majoring in Terrorism, Safety, & Security, a Diploma in Policing, a Diploma in Business Studies, and is completing a Diploma in Positive Psychology and Wellbeing. He is a published author of the bestselling books – Behind The Tape and Dark Side of the Brain. His third book – Anxiety is a Worry was released in August 2024. Lance also makes regular media appearances. 

Tony has worked in courts for many years in various roles and as technical registrar at the High Court, Auckland, from 2000. As registrar and sheriff, Tony leads a team of 4. Tony and his team exercise delegated powers of the High Court to consider common form applications for grants of administration.

Andrew has over 35 years’ experience in litigation in New Zealand and the United Kingdom. Previously a partner at Chamberlains, then a partner at Martelli McKegg Lawyers from 2006 to October 2020, he then left to join the independent bar as a barrister sole specialising in trust and estate disputes. He has been Convenor of ADLS’ Civil Litigation Committee and is presently a member of TLANZ’s Trust Law Committee. He has presented seminars for NZLS, ADLS, STEP, Legalwise and CCH on a variety of property, trust and estate-related topics and has written a number of articles on trust-related topics for the LawNews and other publications. He is the lecturer for and examiner of the estate litigation component for the STEP diploma.

Jennifer is an experienced litigator and family law expert with an extensive international family law practice. Over the course of her career, she has successfully litigated cases on novel issues in international surrogacy and inter-country adoption, advised clients and counsel around the world on conflicts of law, and appeared in courts at various levels throughout New Zealand. Jennifer began her career as the Judges’ Clerk to the Principal Family Court Judge, before advising the New Zealand Government in anticipation of its United Nations examination on the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.  For more than a decade now she has been a practising family lawyer and has successfully led cases in all areas of family law from international relocations, surrogacies and adoptions, to complex relationship property and estate cases spanning multiple Courts.

Kimberly specialises in complex estate and trust matters, with a focus on providing technical legal opinions, strategic advice, and minimising risks for executors and trustees who are involved in disputes or in litigation.

Sandra is a senior commercial and civil barrister, with over 30 years' experience in litigation. She is a member of Paladin Chambers, practising from Auckland and Queenstown. She appears in all the senior courts on a regular basis. Her specialties include trusts, estates, relationship property, business, and land litigation.

Jennie, a director at Haigh Lyon Lawyers, co-leads the firm’s vibrant and effective family law team. Certified Fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers, she’s recognised by Doyle’s Guide as a foremost expert in New Zealand on relationship property and family law. Jennie has 20 years’ experience in family law and is a contributing author to Westlaw’s family property and family procedure chapters.

Emma Tonkin is a Partner in the Private Wealth team at Hesketh Henry in Auckland. She advises clients on trusts, estates, relationship property, and succession planning, with a particular focus on complex family wealth structures and those with significant real estate assets. Emma is well known for her practical approach to contentious estates and trust disputes, and for bringing a high degree of empathy to client matters. She regularly acts for trustees, beneficiaries, and high net worth individuals, and is a frequent presenter on trusts and estates issues for practitioner audiences.  Emma is also an expert in relation to the Overseas Investment Act 2005 assisting clients with both applications and enforcement issues.

Riaan is a barrister and advises a number of high-profile companies, individuals, accounting and law firms on income tax, GST and Customs issues.

Before joining the bar, Riaan was a tax dispute specialist for PwC, and worked in senior roles in Inland Revenue. 

Prior to immigrating from South Africa, Riaan practised as a solicitor and was a litigation partner from 1999. 

Helen practises in all areas of family law, including relationship property, trust and estate claims, spousal maintenance, care of children and family violence. She has been on TLANZ’s Family Law Committee since 2018 and the NZLS’ Family Law Section Advisory Panel since 2019. Helen regularly presents seminars on family law topics. Helen is a legal aid provider.

Jeremy is a member of Bankside Chambers in Auckland and Bankside Singapore. He is one of New Zealand’s leading litigation and dispute resolution barristers with particular expertise in the fields of private wealth, relationship property, equity and trust and commercial law. Jeremy works on cases across New Zealand and in the wider Asia-Pacific Region. Valued for his discretion, he is considered one of New Zealand’s leading private wealth barristers and he often undertakes cross-border private wealth work. He was the youngest person in history to become a Fellow of the Arbitrators’ and Mediators’ Institute of New Zealand, is also a Fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers. As a recognised leader in the community, Jeremy was awarded the King's Service Medal in the 2025 New Year Honours.