Top: Alice Chapman, Chloe Davenport, Rachel Ivess
Bottom: Sophie Plaisted, Kezia Purdie and Sally Rankin-Hirst

The firm welcomed Alice Chapman, co-leader of the rural team, and Chloe Davenport, co-leader of the firm’s Kerikeri office, to the Board this month. Ms Chapman works out the firm’s Whangarei office, while Ms Davenport is based in the firm’s Kerikeri office.

WRMK Lawyers’ Managing Director Rebecca Merry says, “We are delighted to welcome both Alice and Chloe as members of the Board. Both have over a decade of legal experience and are known as trusted advisors to their clients, with specialist expertise in asset planning and rural law and asset and life planning respectively. Both have proven their leadership skills within our practice and will be a welcome addition to our Board table.”

WRMK Lawyers also promoted Rachel Ivess to Associate, and Sophie Plaisted, Kezia Purdie, and Sally Rankin-Hirst to Senior Lawyer, last week.

Merry says, “These promotions reflect the high calibre of these lawyers. All four demonstrate dedication to excellent client service, sound legal expertise and leadership potential. We are pleased to recognise and congratulate them on their achievements.”

New Directors
Alice Chapman, Rural Law (Whangarei)

Alice is a co team leader of our rural law team and our Dargaville office, with particular expertise in asset planning, and rural law. She has practised law in both New Zealand and Australia. Alice understands the expectations of her clients and is known for her practical advice and friendly and accessible manner.

Chloe Davenport, Trusts & Life Planning (Kerikeri)

Chloe is the co-leader of the Kerikeri office team and helps a range of Kerikeri clients with asset planning, trusts, commercial, relationship property, property, aged care and life planning matters. Chloe is known for her approachable manner and practical advice.

New Associate
Rachel Ivess, Relationship Property (Kerikeri/Whangarei)

Rachel joined WRMK Lawyers in 2023, and brings with her a broad range of legal experience, including estate planning, conveyancing, trusts, dispute resolution and relationship property, in which she specialises. Having worked in different roles in various industries, she brings a depth of practical experience outside of the law to her legal practice.

New Senior Lawyers
Sophie Plaisted, Rural Law (Dargaville/Whangarei)

Sophie is part of WRMK Lawyers’ rural law team. Having lived and worked on farms in the past, she combines her practical knowledge and her legal expertise to provide sound, pragmatic advice for the rural sector. She also has previous experience in dispute resolution and criminal law.

Kezia Purdie, Employment Law (Whangarei)

Kezia is a member of our dispute resolution team and specialises in all aspects of employment law and workplace investigations, as well as advising on and making applications under the Protection of Personal and Property Rights Act 1988. She regularly represents clients at mediation, in the Employment Relations Authority and in the Family Court and has also appeared in the District and High Courts.

Sally Rankin-Hirst, Trusts & Life Planning (Whangarei)

Sally joined WRMK Lawyers’ estates and life planning team in 2021 and specialises in elder law, trust and life planning matters (including retirement village work, Enduring Powers of Attorney, Wills, trust formations and administration). She has previously worked at Whangarei District Court as a Judges Clerk and Family Court Registrar.

WRMK Lawyers has approximately 90 staff across four offices, and the firm’s total number of Directors* is now 11.

*Director is equivalent to partner level in a typical law firm partnership structure.