Auckland barrister Andrea Manuel has been appointed an Acting District Court Judge with a Family Court warrant. She will be based in Auckland.

Ms Manuel's core area of practice has covered complex trust, estate and relationship property cases. She also has extensive experience in civil litigation, family law and Hague Convention work.

Admitted in December 1986, Ms Manuel worked for Bell Gully in Auckland for two years. In 1988 she was a staff solicitor at Hesketh Henry, before moving to Wynyard Wood in 1994 where she became a partner. She moved to the independent bar in 2006, initially with O'Connell Chambers and then with Shortland Chambers since 2014. Ms Manuel is also an author of the Fisher on Matrimonial and Relationship Property text.

Judge Manuel will be sworn in on 22 March 2016 in Auckland.