- Name
- Kathryn Sarah (Kathryn) Guise
- Born
- Auckland.
- Age
- 28.
- Entry to law
- Graduated BA/LLB from Otago University in 2010. Admitted in 2011.
- Workplace
- Lawyer at Brown Partners, Auckland.
- Speciality area
- All areas of commercial law.
From a medical family, and with a soft spot for moggies and cooking game shows, Kathryn Guise wasn't sure what area of law would suit her –but her studies gave her the freedom to choose.
"I like the analytical side of things and how applicable the law is to every facet of our lives … No matter what you are doing, law is relevant in some context," Kathryn, a commercial lawyer with Brown Partners in Auckland, says.
"No matter what you are doing, law is relevant in some context."
"At university I knew that by doing law I would still have freedom to chose toward the end…
"As I went through my degree I could pick and chose the papers that suited me … I did some law in medicine and psychiatry papers which interested me from my family background.
"You're right, the law gets us into everything…"
Kathryn's father is an anesthetist and her mother, a former registered nurse, is procurement manager at Mercy Ascot Hospital in Auckland. Her younger sister Anna has six months to go to finish her law degree at Otago University.
"Outside work my partner (who is a policeman) and I try to go to lots of concerts and events…
"We went to Auckland's Laneway Festival in February - third year in a row – where you get to see a whole lot of new artists and get exposed to new music…
"We went to the Auckland City Limits festival in March … My favourite artists are Fat Freddys Drop and Shapeshifter … good old Kiwi music…
"I like to exercise at the gym, go for runs and try new restaurants … I did the Auckland half marathon in 2011 but run now for the mental side – it keeps me sane, gives a bit of stress relief and balance – it's my form of meditation…
"We like to get away to the family bach at Bland Bay, north of Whangarei, where we have a 5.5 metre boat, and get out fishing … We spend days on the water hoping to catch what Mum later cooks…"
A former First Xl hockey player at Kristin School (where she secured an International Baccalaureate Diploma) Kathryn found it difficult to fit in training and games with her university studies and work.
"I played social hockey when I finished university and in my first year in work and it was fun meeting new people outside work…
"Skiing is more of a recreational pursuit now and we like to get to Wanaka where we ski Cardrona most often … I prefer Wanaka to Queenstown and like the Cardrona pub – there's nothing like a mulled wine after a day on the slopes…
"My Dad is from Birmingham and we have been lucky to travel quite a lot, with several trips to the UK, Australia and the Islands…
"My partner and I try to travel to a new destination every year … We've done Thailand, Bali, and Fiji's Yasawa islands … We are hoping to go to Europe later this year…"
A keen reader, especially of autobiographies, Kathryn rates tennis champion Andre Agassi's Open, Red Hot Chili Peppers vocalist Anthony Kiedis' Scar Tissue highly and is reading True Spirit, the story of 16-year old solo round the world sailor Jessica Watson.
"You can't help but be impressed by her determination in the face of everyone saying she couldn't do it…
"I catch the bus to and from work, it is great downtime to read, and my VW Polo – a good car from Trademe once we got some minor issues sorted - is reserved for the weekend … My partner has a VW Passad…
"We tend to watch Netflix because we hate ads on television … .Game of Thrones (I've read all the books), Breaking Bad, Mad Men, Better Call Saul, Sons of Anarchy and House of Cards…
"We watch a lot of documentaries that are not always seen in the mainstream media or deal with interesting subject matter such as Louis Theroux, Blackfish, The Cove, Winter on Fire, United States of Secrets…
"But I enjoy the odd reality show such as My Kitchen Rules and Grand Designs when I feel my brain needs a break from anything too intelligent…
"My dinner guest pick would be Leonardo Da Vinci … He was such a creative person, an artist, inventor, and way before his time…
"It would be fascinating to get his point of view on things in today's modern world, to get his view point on how things have changed and see what he thought of the world today…
"He wasn't boxed in … He had the ability to see outside societal constraints and norms, to explore and dare to be different…
"Richie McCaw would be my other pick … After all his years in the spotlight he's probably got some interesting stories…
"If I wasn't a lawyer I would either be a vet or an investigative journalist … I like the idea of picking up a theme or a story and looking deeper into it … I like filling in the gaps and it would be a chance to meet lots of new interesting people…
"I grew up with animals … There were always had cats at home – just ordinary moggies … We have no pets at the moment because we are renting but we have plans to have a cat and a puppy…
"We would like a pug dog – they are so cute…"
Jock Anderson has been writing and commenting on New Zealand lawyers and New Zealand's courts for most of his career in journalism. Contact Jock at jockanderson123@gmail.com.