Top: Tayla Yim-Loy, Tim Neill, Jeff Stringer, and Colleen Bain Bottom: Katherine Dentice, Zoë Stone and Jemma Hollis

“We offer challenging and substantial legal work outside the main city centres and we attract top talent thanks to the attractive lifestyle the Bay of Plenty can offer,” explains Chief Executive Officer Cecilia Burgess.

“We all congratulate our staff on their recent promotions. It’s exciting to see people take the next step in their careers while also maintaining balance in their personal lives. It’s wonderful news for these individuals, and for our clients and firm as a whole.”

Three members of CLM’s Private Client & Trust team have been recognised this year. Jeff Stringer becomes a Senior Associate after eight years’ experience working in trusts and estate planning. Jeff takes a holistic approach to looking after clients and understanding their needs. He is also a keen mountain biker so basing himself in the Bay of Plenty is proving to be a satisfying move.

Tayla Yim-Loy has been made an Associate after joining the firm last year as a family law specialist. She has worked hard to prove herself in less than 12 months and she’s doing all the right things. Outside of work, Tayla is heavily involved in Tauranga’s Rock n Roll community where she enthusiastically volunteers her time.

Former real estate agent Zoë Stone now works on complex estate and property matters and supports our Private Client & Trust team’s solicitors in trust and estate administration. Zoe has now been promoted to Senior Registered Legal Executive and knows everything there is to know about property transactions and cooking Italian food.

After initially starting as a registered legal executive and putting herself through law school while working for CLM, Katherine Dentice is now a Senior Solicitor in our Property & Development team. Katherine also knows all the best waterfall walks in the Bay of Plenty, with Kaiate Falls and Wairere Falls among her personal favourites.

Accomplished golfer and former ironman Tim Neill is enjoying his second stint working at CLM after returning to the firm last year. He has developed a broad property and development practice over the past decade and is now a Senior Associate. Tim has competed with a scratch handicap in many top level tournaments including the NZ Amateur, and remains a formidable force on the golf course should any of his colleagues or clients be willing to take him on.

Jemma Hollis is a dedicated member of the Litigation & Local Government team and has now become a Senior Solicitor. Her previous experience as a town planner has been invaluable to the firm’s resource management clients. She’s also at home in the French Alps or snowboarding down Queenstown’s best slopes whenever she gets the chance.

And finally, Colleen Bain has been made an Associate in the Corporate & Commercial team. She undertakes general commercial work but has a particular interest in incorporated societies and privacy issues. She works hard to stay connected with her clients and colleagues as she works remotely from Dunedin. She regularly flies up to Tauranga and is constantly in touch via Teams.

CLM’s People and Culture Manager, Penny Miller, says the firm has always had a well-developed career matrix which allows staff to benchmark their development and strive towards reaching their professional goals. “Promotions are an important way for us to continue growing our talent. The high quality of this year’s applications show the exceptional level of commitment and effort that people are putting into their work on a daily basis.”

Cooney Lees Morgan offers its warmest congratulations to all these staff on their promotions.