The National Friends Panel is a New Zealand Law Society service. The panel is made up of New Zealand lawyers who are willing to be contacted on a confidential basis by fellow lawyers with questions or concerns related to practice issues.
Additionally, a number of lawyers are also available to discuss sensitive matters such as workplace harassment.
On this page Panel members are listed in alphabetical order.
Firm: Argyle Welsh Finnigan
Role: Partner
Phone: +64 3 308 8228
Mobile: 027 588 7329
Email: jane.argyle-reed@awlegal.co.nz
Region: Canterbury
Practice areas: criminal, employment, family, property, rural law, trusts and estates
Practice issues: financial problems (personal/firm related), employment issues (employee/employer), problem clients/files/judges, acknowledgement of limitations (saying no), workplace bullying, work/life balance
Firm: Aspiring Law
Role: Special Counsel
Phone: +64 21 193 5261
Email: minka@aspiringlaw.co.nz
Region: Central Otago/Bay of Plenty
Practice area: civil litigation, family, mediation
Practice issues: chambers issues, problem clients/files/judges, acknowledgement of limitations (saying no), ethical Issues, mothers practising law and returning to practice
Firm: Attewell Clews and Cooper
Role: Director
Phone: +64 7 307 0570
Email: s.clews@acandc.co.nz
Region: Bay of Plenty
Practice areas: civil litigation, employment, family, mediation
Practice issues: financial problems (personal/firm related), employment issues (employee/employer), partnership issues, chambers issues, problem clients/files/judges, acknowledgement of limitations (saying no), office management, ethical issues, workplace bullying
Firm: Murray Cochrane Barrister
Role: Barrister
Phone: +64 6 769 9400
Email: murray@bankchambers.co.nz
Region: Taranaki
Practice areas: family, health, mediation
Practice issues: financial problems (personal/firm related), trust account problems, employment issues (employee/employer), partnership issues, problem clients/files/judges, acknowledgement of limitations (saying no), office management, ethical issues, workplace bullying, using an alternate/attorney
Firm: Steph Dyhrberg Barrister
Role: Barrister
Phone: 027 280 3444
Email: steph@sdb.nz
Region: Wellington
Practice areas: Employment, Mediation
Practice issues: Employment issues (employee/employer), partnership issues, problem clients/files/judges, acknowledgement of limitations (saying no), office management, ethical issues, workplace bullying, work/life balance
Firm: Genesis Private Equity Limited
Role: In-house
Phone: +03 928 8079
Email: leandra@gpel.co.nz
Region: Canterbury
Practice area: company/commercial, property, rural, selling real estate, trusts & estates.
Practice issues: problem clients/files/judges, acknowledgement of limitations (saying no), office management, ethical issues, using an alternate/attorney.
Firm: Guyon Foley Barrister
Role: Barrister
Phone: +64 9 307 1300
Mobile: 021 464 164
Email: gfoley@gfoley.co.nz
Region: Auckland
Practice area: criminal
Practice issues: chambers issues, problem clients/files/judges, acknowledgement of limitations (saying no), office management, ethical issues
Firm: Paul Gallagher Legal
Role: Sole Practitioner
Phone: +64 9 4159 321
Email: paul@lawfirm.co.nz
Region: Auckland
Practice area: company/commercial, employment, family, mediation, property, trusts & estates
Practice issues: financial problems, trust account problems, employment issues, partnership issues, problem clients/files/judges, acknowledgement of limitations, office management, ethical issues, workplace bullying
Role: Barrister and solicitor
Phone: +64 9 309 9833
Email: fiona@fionahall-law.com
Region: Auckland
Practice issues: AML ethical matters such as privilege and confidentiality concerning making suspicious activity reports and surrounding ethical issues
Firm: Gibson Sheat - Wellington Branch
Role: Partner
Phone: +64 4 496 9990
Email: tony.herring@gibsonsheat.com
Region: Wellington
Practice area: bank/finance, company/commercial, employment, property
Practice issues: financial problems, trust account problems, employment issues, partnership isues, office management, ethical issues, workplace bullying, complaints issues
Firm: Norris Ward McKinnon
Role: Managing Partner
Phone: +64 7 834 6016
Email: samuel.hood@nwm.co.nz
Region: Waikato BOP
Practice area: Administrative/Public, Civil Litigation, Employment, Mediation
Practice issues: Employment issues (employee/employer), Partnership issues, Acknowledgement of limitations (saying no), Office management, Ethical Issues, Workplace Bullying, Work/life balance
Firm: Adams Law
Role: Employee
Phone: +64 21 625 716
Email: johnwayne@adamslaw.co.nz
Region: Tauranga
Practice area: Civil Litigation, Criminal, Employment, Family
Practice issues: Employment issues (employee/employer), Problem clients/files/judges, Acknowledgement of limitations (saying no), Office management, Ethical Issues, Workplace Bullying, Work/life balance
Role: Barrister
Phone: +64 9 558 5877
Email: gary@garyhughes.nz
Region: Auckland
Practice issues: AML ethical matters such as privilege and confidentiality concerning making suspicious activity reports and surrounding ethical issues
Firm: Iain Hutcheson Barrister
Role: Barrister
Phone: +64 9 309 0350
Email: hutch.law@brokerhouse.co.nz
Region: Auckland
Practice areas: administrative/public, civil litigation, company/commercial, family, mediation, trusts & estates
Practice issues: financial problems (personal/firm related), tax problems, employment issues, partnership issues, chambers issues, problem clients/files/judges, acknowledgement of limitations (saying no), office management, ethical Issues, workplace bullying
Firm: Richard Johnstone Barrister
Role: Barrister
Phone: +64 3 379 0432
Mobile: 0272 272 028
Email: richard@leftbank.nz
Region: Canterbury
Practice area: civil litigation, insurance, mediation
Practice issues: financial problems, trust account problems, employment issues, partnership issues, chambers issues, problem clients/files/judges, acknowledgement of limitations (saying no), office management, ethical issues, workplace bullying
Firm: Ross Knight Barrister
Role: Barrister
Phone: +64 9 309 8160
Email: ross.knight@rossknight.com
Region: Auckland
Practice areas: administrative/public, family, property, trust & estates
Practice issues: financial problems (personal/firm related), employment issues (employee/employer), partnership issues, chambers issues, problem clients/files/judges, office management, ethical issues, workplace bullying, using an alternate/attorney
Firm: Wilson McKay
Role: Employee
Phone: +64 9 520 8798
Email: philipkhouri@wilsonmckay.co.nz
Region: Auckland
Practice areas: asset protection, business, property, wills and trusts.
Practice issues: financial problems(personal/firm related), trust account problems, employment issues(employee/employer), partnership issues, problem clients/files/judges, acknowledgement of limitations(saying no), office management, ethical issues, workplace bullying, using an alternate/attorney, work/life balance, practising well
Firm: Crown Law
Role: Crown Counsel
Phone: +64 4 494 5648
Email: emily.lay@crownlaw.govt.nz
Region: Wellington
Practice areas: civil litigation, tort, public law
Firm: Stephen McCarthy Barrister
Role: Barrister
Phone: +64 9 262 3682
Email: stephen@sjmlaw.co.nz
Region: Auckland
Practice areas: civil litigation, family, mediation, trusts and estates
Practice issues: chambers issues, problem clients/files/judges, acknowledgement of limitations (saying no), ethical issues
Role: Barrister and Solicitor
Mobile: 027 366 2529
Email: emma@emmamiles.nz
Region: Waikato/Bay of Plenty
Practice areas: civil litigation, employment, family, mediation
Firm: Consultant Lawyer
Role: Sole Practitioner
Mobile: 021 985 982
Email: kevin@kevinogleslaw.co.nz
Region: Auckland
Practice area: company/commercial, employment, lending activities, property, trusts & estates
Practice issues: financial problems, trust account problems, employment issues, problem clients/files/judges, office management
Firm: Synlait Milk Ltd
Role: Employee
Phone: +64 3 373 3000
Email: tania.pearson@synlait.com
Region: Canterbury
Practice area: company/commercial, in-house, property
Practice issues: financial problems, employment issues, problem clients/files/judges, ethical issues
Firm: Northlaw
Role: Sole Practitioner
Phone: +64 9 435 2261
Mobile: 027 440 2105
Email: david@norlaw.co.nz
Region: Northland
Practice area: bank/finance, company/commercial, lending activities, property, rural law, selling real estate, trusts & estates
Practice issues: financial problems, trust account problems, problem clients/files/judges, acknowledgement of limitations (saying no), office management, lawyers complaints service costing
Firm: CM Ruane - Barrister
Role: Barrister
Phone: +64 3 366 3458
Email: craig.ruane@gmail.com
Region: Canterbury
Practice area: civil litigation, criminal
Practice issues: partnership issues, chambers issues, problem clients/files/judges, acknowledgement of limitations (saying no), office management, ethical issues
Firm: Simon Shamy Barrister
Role: Barrister
Phone: +64 3 365 8566
Email: sjshamy@bridgesidechambers.co.nz
Region: Canterbury
Practice area: civil litigation, criminal, family, insurance, intellectual property
Practice issues: financial problems, trust account problems, employment issues, partnership issues, chambers issues, problem clients/files/judges, acknowledgement of limitations (saying no), office management, ethical issues, workplace bullying
Firm: Bruce Dell Law
Role: Employee
Phone: +64 9 570 5036
Email: david@brucedell.co.nz
Region: Auckland
Practice area: civil litigation, intellectual property, mediation, property
Practice issues: financial problems, trust account problems, employment issues, partnership issues, chambers issues, problem clients/files/judges, acknowledgement of limitations, office management, ethical issues, workplace bullying, using an alternate attorney
Firm: Bannister & von Dadelszen
Role: Consultant (employee)
Phone: +64 6 870 7820
Email: Mark.vondadelszen@bvond.co.nz
Region: Hawkes Bay
Practice area: civil litigation, resource management, alternative dispute resolution, not-for-profit law
Practice issues: financial problems, employment issues, partnership issues, problem clients/files/judges, acknowledgement of limitations, office management, ethical issues
Firm: Fiona Wakefield
Role: Sole Practitioner
Phone: +64 3 357 8995
Email: fiona@fwlaw.co.nz
Region: Canterbury
Practice area: administrative/public, health
Practice issues: partnership issues, acknowledgement of limitation (saying no), office management
Firm: Bannister and von Dadelszen
Role: Employee
Phone: +64 6 870 7820
Email: martin.wall@bvond.co.nz
Region: Hawkes Bay
Practice areas: family
Practice issues: chambers issues, problem clients/files/judges, acknowledgement of limitations (saying no), office management, ethical issues
Role: Barrister and solicitor
Phone: +64 3 260 4777
Email: katherine@kwlegal.nz
Region: Rangiora
Practice issues: AML ethical matters such as privilege and confidentiality concerning making suspicious activity reports and surrounding ethical issues
Firm: WinterWoods Lawyers
Role: Partner
Phone: +64 6 357 3563
Email: michelle@winterwoods.co.nz
Region: Manawatu
Practice area: family
Practice issues: partnership issues, problem clients/files/judges, acknowledgement of limitations (saying no), ethical issues