New Zealand Law Society - Speaker Bios
Richard is a Barrister at Montrose Chambers, Invercargill. He primarily specialises in the areas of criminal defence and Family Court work. He is a Lawyer for Child and a Youth Advocate. Richard is the chair of the New Zealand Law Society Family Law Section.
Judge Doyle has served as a District Court Judge in the criminal, youth and family court jurisdictions since her appointment in 2016. She has been based in Invercargill since 2021.
A member of both the Family Court and District Court Education Committees, Judge Doyle is actively involved in developing and delivering education for judicial officers. She is the creator of the "Robust Judging" framework, which promotes the effective use of process and evidence to support the timely progression of Family Court cases and proportionate court responses.
Savanna graduated from the University of Otago in 2020 and began practice as a junior barrister at Barristers Chambers in Dunedin under four senior barristers (including two King’s Counsel).
Since completing her pupillage, Savanna has continued to practice on her own account from chambers in Dunedin and Auckland and now employs her own junior barrister and legal executive.
Savanna undertakes a wide range of litigation, with a focus on civil and commercial disputes, complex relationship property, and trusts and estates. Savanna regularly appears as both senior and junior counsel across the Family, District, and High Courts as well as the Court of Appeal.
Savanna is a current Council member of the New Zealand Bar Association and is the Otago/Southland representative and Junior Barrister representative on Council. She is also a committee member of the Otago New Practitioners group.
Sarah is a Clinical and Organisational Psychologist and founder of Executive Frame™ (EF Law), an interdisciplinary framework that supports executive functioning, emotional regulation, communication, and sustainable performance in high-pressure legal environments.
Sarah works with legal professionals, leadership teams, and families navigating stress, conflict, and complex decision-making. Drawing on neuroscience, executive functioning theory, and behavioural psychology, she develops workshops and education that promote wellbeing, reduce burnout, strengthen collaboration, and support clearer thinking and more effective communication across the legal sector.
With an extensive law enforcement career focusing on investigating crimes against persons, specialising in sex crimes, child abuse, domestic violence, human trafficking, and crimes against the elderly, Steven Bradley was recruited by the FBI to investigate technology and cyber related crimes.
After graduating the FBI Academy with honours, he began combating many types of technology related crimes including cyber-terrorism, network intrusions, cyberstalking, financial exploitation, and apprehending child predators. Later in his career, Steven began working with National and State Coalitions, as well as local domestic violence/sexual assault centres on bridging the gaps between law enforcement and community partners to better support survivors and victims. Steven is internationally recognised as an expert on law enforcement’s response to intimate partner violence, technology forensics, and stalking/cyberstalking.
Richard is a barrister at Left Bank Chambers, Christchurch. His practice covers civil, family and trust litigation, professional conduct and liability claims, and construction disputes. He is a member of AMINZ and NZ Institute of Building.
Peter is a barrister at Left Bank Chambers, Christchurch having joined in January 2024. His work is primarily civil litigation, specialising in disputed property insurance claims and contractual disputes.
Judge Williams moved to New Zealand in 2010 following 12 years at the Bar of England and Wales. His practice was predominantly criminal work, both prosecution and defence. In New Zealand, Judge Williams has worked for both the Auckland and Manukau the Crown Solicitor and a former General Counsel for the Serious Fraud Office.
He has appeared in courts in the UK, New Zealand, Samoa and the Cooks Islands. Prior to his appointment to the bench in 2024, Judge Williams was the Public Defender for Manukau, leading an office of over 30 defence lawyers and support staff. Judge Williams was appointed to the District Court in 2024 and sits in Invercargill.
Judge Crosbie graduated, LLB, LLM and PhD from Otago University. He was appointed to the District Court Bench in 2001 and has been a resident judge at Whanganui, Dunedin, and Christchurch District Courts. The Judge is also a Judge of the Court Martial and a Panel Convenor of the New Zealand Parole Board. Prior to his appointment Judge Crosbie was a litigation partner in the Australasian law firm Minter Ellison Rudd Watts, based in Wellington.
Mr Hughes-Johnson KC is an experienced commercial litigator and King’s Counsel, and has practised in Christchurch and elsewhere in a wide range of legal matters.
He is a Fellow of the Arbitrators’ and Mediators’ Institute Inc (in Arbitration) and has recently been appointed to the Panel of Arbitrators for the Institute.
Mr Hughes-Johnson has an ongoing interest in arbitration matters and in particular recent developments in this area of the law.
With more than 30 years' experience in employment law and health and safety, Janet is a highly regarded workplace law specialist and strategic advisor known for her pragmatic approach.
As Managing Partner of Copeland McAllister, Janet advises clients on employment law, with particular expertise in collective bargaining, union negotiations, and strategic industrial relations. She regularly represents clients in mediation, dispute resolution, and Employment Court proceedings, helping organisations navigate complex workplace issues and achieve practical outcomes.
David has over 47 years’ experience with Perpetual Guardian, having held a range of roles focused on providing advice and service to clients. He manages strategic business partnerships and provides fiduciary advice to professionals, with a strong focus on delivering practical, personalised solutions.
David is a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (TEP) and an Associate of the Executor and Trustee Institute of Australia.
Amber is a Chartered Accountant and Director at Flintoffs Chartered Accountants, specialising in taxation, business advisory, start-ups and succession planning. She provides practical, commercial advice to privately owned businesses across a range of industries.
A University of Otago commerce graduate, Amber returned to Southland in 2019 and became a Director in 2021. She was recognised as the South Island Young Chartered Accountant of the Year in 2024. Amber is also actively involved in the profession and community, including as Chair of the CA ANZ Southland Committee and co-founder of Women & Finance Southland.
Nicki Macklin is a researcher, consultant and speaker specialising in the human side of organisational performance and how organisations can design systems that foster kindness and human connection at work.
She holds a PhD from the University of Auckland on organisational kindness, serves as an Associate Editor at BMJ Leader, and is a visiting scholar at the University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management. Through her consulting practice, KindFrame, Nicki works with leaders and organisations across the legal, healthcare and business sectors in New Zealand and Australia.