Below are profiles of some our members from information publicly available and information provided to us. NZ Asian Lawyers consists of over 100 members from a wide variety of professional backgrounds working as lawyers, in-house counsel and within academia.
Contact us if you would like to update your profile.
Law firm members
| Law firm | Profile | |
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AIA NZ Legal Team | AIA New Zealand is New Zealand’s largest life insurer offering life, health, trauma and income insurance, as well as AIA Vitality, a science-backed health and wellbeing programme. The AIA New Zealand Legal Team has been at the forefront of enabling the business to deliver on its purpose of helping Kiwis live “Healthier, Longer, Better Lives”. The AIA New Zealand Legal Team is highly regarded by the business as a key partner to their success. The team is made up of legal counsel, regulatory lawyers, a remediation team, and AIA’s ESG/sustainability and company secretarial functions. It provides legal services ranging from advice on claims and privacy, to litigation and commercial contracts. The team has also been recognised externally – most notably winning “NZ In-House Team of the Year” at the 2023 Australasian Law Awards, “Excellence in Sustainability Practices” at the 2023 Financial Services Council New Zealand Awards, and “Financial Services In-House Team of the Year” at the NZ Law Awards. This department is made up of the following members: Amy MacFadyen, Annemarie Waugh, Ben Spick, Dan Marchant, Sonette de Koster, Erina Fahy Fiona Wong, Gabriella Garcia, Hector Camacho, Jackie Waddams, Jeremy Jones, Jolo Tobias, Julie Wheeler, Kathryn Clendon, Kenji Murakami, Kylie Jackson-Cox, Racheal Smith, Rebecca Fletcher, Rob Ford, Sarah Fitzgerald, Shami Shearer, Phillip Thein, William Clarke |
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Chapman Tripp | Chapman Tripp is a dynamic and innovative commercial law firm at the leading edge of legal practice. With offices in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, the firm supports clients to succeed across industry, commerce and government. Chapman Tripp is known as the ‘go to’ for complex, business-critical strategic mandates across the full spectrum of corporate and commercial law. Chapman Tripp’s expertise covers mergers and acquisitions, capital markets, banking and finance, restructuring and insolvency, Māori business, litigation and dispute resolution, employment, health and safety, government and public law, privacy and data protection, intellectual property, media and telecommunications, real estate and construction, energy, environmental and natural resources, and tax. | |
| Vivian Cheng | ||
Copeland Ashcroft | Copeland Ashcroft is an independent legal practice providing specialist advice, representation and support across the full ambit of workplace law issues, including employment, health and safety and immigration, to business thoughout New Zealand. | |
Ada Zhang, Associate | Ada is a specialist immigration lawyer based in the Christchurch office, who delivers immigration services to both private and corporate clients. Ada holds law degrees both in New Zealand and China. She is fluent in English and Mandarin. Ada has experience in a range of standard and complex immigration applications. In particular, her expertise is to provide strategic advice and practical solutions to fulfil the needs of hiring and retaining migrant workers for businesses. As an immigrant herself, Ada understands what the private clients need and strives for justice as well as a positive outcome. She successfully assists many private clients and their families from “getting an idea to migrate to New Zealand” to residency and citizenship. In her spare time, Ada enjoys drawing, calligraphy and yoga. |
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Mizba Jabbar | Mizba migrated from the UK to New Zealand over 11 years ago with her young family. Mizba has a background in advocacy and disability rights (whilst in the UK). Her work experience in New Zealand ranges from her role as a Labour Inspector, monitoring and enforcing employers’ compliance with minimum employment rights and as a Solicitor in a general practice law firm. Mizba has also volunteered at a community Law firm in Tauranga. With an interest in workplace matters she will bring a unique perspective from her experience as a Labour Inspector. Mizba was admitted to the New Zealand Bar in November 2020. Mizba has settled in Tauranga. Outside of work Mizba enjoys spending time with her family and enjoys cooking traditional foods. Mizba will be based in the Tauranga office. |
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Croftfield Law | Croftfield Law is an Asian-led law firm based in North Shore, Auckland. 70% of their clientele are also Asian. One of the key features of Alfred and his team at Croftfield Law is its team of approachable and down-to-earth professionals. The lawyers are easy to talk to, fostering a comfortable and open environment for clients to discuss their legal matters. The team comes from diverse backgrounds, bringing a wide range of perspectives and experiences to the table. Listening to the clients’ needs and understanding their objectives is a priority for the firm. By gaining a comprehensive understanding of their clients’ goals, the team can better advocate for the outcomes they desire, and is committed to securing and protecting its clients’ interests throughout the process. The firm prides itself on its ability to think creatively and “outside the box” when handling clients’ cases. Instead of relying solely on conventional legal strategies, Croftfield Law aims to explore innovative solutions to meet the specific needs and goals of each client. |
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Alfred Chong, Director | Alfred’s legal career began when he was admitted to the High Court of Auckland in 2008. Over the years, he has amassed considerable expertise in various areas of law, including commercial, criminal, family, as well as large scale commercial litigation and dispute resolution. Over the years Alfred has established himself as a prominent figure within the Chinese community, earning recognition for his skills and accomplishments. He takes a confident and communicative approach when working with his clients, fostering a strong rapport and gaining their trust in his abilities to represent them effectively. One of Alfred’s strengths lies in his exceptional people skills, enabling him to connect with clients from diverse backgrounds and effectively understand their needs. He has had the privilege of representing clients at all levels, ranging from high-net-worth individuals to companies and charitable organizations. Alfred’s scope of assistance extends beyond local clients in New Zealand; he has also successfully helped clients from overseas, navigating legal complexities and achieving favorable outcomes for their cases. With his wealth of experience and reputation as a respected legal practitioner, Alfred is well-equipped to handle a wide range of legal matters. With his can-do attitude and wealth of connection in different industries, Alfred is dedicated to securing the best possible results for his clients, no matter the complexity or nature of the cases. With Alfred’s dedication to provide suburb legal services to the community, Alfred co-founded Croftfield Law in year 2016. Alfred and his team aim to differentiate the firm from traditional and conventional law firms. The firm’s vision is to provide a unique approach to provide legal services by breaking away from the old-school practices commonly found in the industry. |
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James Song, Director | James has been practicing law since 2005, having qualifications from both Victoria University and University of Auckland in Law, Accounting and Finance. James applies his skills and knowledge in solving his clients’ problems and taking into account all relevant matters to protect his clients’ assets. With nearly 15 years of legal practice, James is experienced in commercial, immigration and property conveyancing law. James speaks fluent English and Korean. |
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Heritage Law | Founded as “Yu Lawyers” in 2004, the firm has served the Auckland community for over 15 years. Over that period, the firm has built up a large Chinese client base, and has grown into a well-respected, highly regarded law firm within the Auckland legal fraternity. In 2019 the firm made a strategic decision to rebrand as Heritage Law in order to expand its practice and to cater for the needs of the wider community. As a part of that strategic decision, it has relocated from its previous premises on Dominion Road to its new offices on Shortland Street in 2020. |
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David Liu, Director | David is a Taiwanese immigrant who moved to New Zealand with his family in the mid-1990s. Raised in modest circumstances, David attended his local high school, where he adapted to a new culture while staying connected to his roots. After graduating from the University of Auckland with a Law Degree, David was admitted to the bar in 2004. As the co-founder of Heritage Law, David has built a successful practice serving the needs of the ethnic Chinese community and he has worked hard to promote their interests. David specialises in civil litigation, frequently appearing in the District Court and the High Court. His successful representation of clients across all levels has led to many of his cases being reported in the law reports. |
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Anita Yang | Anita is the property partner of the firm. She specialises in trusts, succession planning and property/commercial transactions with a strong focus on complex subdivisions and residential developments. Anita is task oriented. She offers clear and pragmatic advice to her clients and always have their best interests at heart. Anita holds a Bachelor’s Degree in both Law and Commerce. |
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Rice Speir | Rice Speir specialises in litigation and dispute resolution. We offer expertise in many areas of litigation, with particular emphasis on local government and insurance matters. | |
| Jade Magrath | ||
| Nick Ravaji | ||
| Shamika Pujara | ||
| Tina Fu | ||
| Vanessa Falcunitin | ||
Professional Members
| Name | Profile |
|---|---|
| Aimee Yang | Partner at Bird & Yang Law Firm Aimee leads the commercial and property law practice at Bird & Yang. She has extensive experience in commercial and/or property related matters, including day- to-day contracting and legal issues that may arise in business operation, business structure, company law matters, property development, and leasing. She has previously worked in corporate & finance teams at a leading international law firm in Hong Kong, specialising in public offerings and merger and acquisition. Aimee has advised and appeared in Court on a wide range of commercial and civil litigation disputes including contractual issues, tortious liability, insurance, liquidations, statutory demands, caveats, enforcement of and resisting enforcement of foreign judgments. Aimee also deals with a broad range of visa applications, with a focus on residence and business/investment visas. Amy has a BCom/LLB from the University of Auckland, and a BMGT from the Nanjing University of Economics and Finance, China Corporate and Commercial law, Property, Financing, and Immigration |
| Angelita Tapayan | Barrister and Solicitor |
| Ann-Margaret (Anne) Broughton | Principal Lawyer at Matt + Zen Law Limited Anne has previously practiced in property, immigration and commercial law in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch since first working as a Barrister and Solicitor in the 1990s. Being exposed to a formative education and living in Singapore and Malaysia with her Asian family during the 1970s and into the 1980s, as well as family military connections, Anne was also fortunate to have travelled as a child extensively through a number of countries such as America, Singapore, India, the Netherlands, Hong Kong, China and Russia, and this sparked an interest in travel, migrant law, and trade. Some of Anne’s career highlights include working with the Law Reform, Human Rights and Charities Commission in both constitutional, public and international law matters. She has in addition worked as research counsel for judiciary and Queen’s Counsel providing legal advice and preparing briefs, and court submissions for the High and Supreme Courts, and professionally engaged to assist on Supreme Court matters by former senior law associates of Chen Palmer – Law; statutory interpretation, litigation. Anne has also worked directly to former NZ Police Commissioners, working in conjunction with US authorities and current associates of the practice include former NZ CIB Police staff, now leading investigation companies able to work on complex criminal and immigration matters nationwide. |
Arthur Loo | Partner at Loo & Koo Arthur Loo co-founded Loo & Koo in 1995 and since then has overseen its growth into Australasia’s largest South-East Asian focused law firm. He entered the legal profession because he felt a calling to make the law and legal advice accessible to people who are constrained by language barriers, such as the Chinese community. Noted for his common sense approach to legal matters, Arthur combines more than 40 years of legal experience with business and financial savvy to assist businesses and create wealth for his clients. In his practice Arthur enjoys the challenge of buying and selling properties and businesses and structuring deals. He also enjoys giving investment and asset planning advice. He is currently an executive board member of the New Zealand China Council. |
Arthur Pan | Litigation Solicitor at Duncan Cotterill Arthur has a Bachelor of Law and Bachelor of Arts from the University of Auckland. He was admitted as a solicitor and barrister in 2021. |
| Anmol Shakar | Employment Relations Lawyer at Fonterra Anmol is a solicitor with a demonstrated history of working in the law practice industry. He is skilled in Labor Relations, Organizational Development, Legal Advice, Performance Management, and Team Leadership. He has a BHSc/LLB (Hons) focused in Population Health and Law from the University of Auckland. |
Brandon Lim | Solicitor at Cygnus Law Brandon holds a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting) from the University of Auckland. He was admitted as a Barrister & Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand in 2018. Prior to joining Cygnus Law, Brandon worked at a law firm advising on property, trust and estate matters. Before starting his career as a lawyer, Brandon worked at the Inland Revenue Department. He brings that experience to Cygnus Law to assist clients to review and prepare commercial agreements, understand their obligations at law (including under company law and financial markets law), and to find innovative ways to meet their regulatory obligations. |
Claudia Shan | Partner at Cone Marshall Claudia completed her conjoint degrees BCom/LLB at the University of Auckland. Prior to entering practice in a leading New Zealand law firm in 2004, she worked in the Auckland office of Ernst & Young, focusing on tax. She has also worked in the Island of Guernsey, the Channel Islands, for almost 6 years for two leading offshore law firms and was at the time enrolled and admitted to practice as a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales. Claudia specialises in all aspects of trust, private client, and international wealth planning. Claudia is recognised as a specialist and has been appointed for a second term to 2 Auckland District Law Society committees, namely, The AML/CFT Law Committee and the Trust Law Committee. She is a full member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners. She has published a number of articles in Private Client Practitioner, Tax Planning International and Trust & Trustees. Claudia also contributes to the New Zealand chapter of The Private Wealth & Private Client Law Review for the International Comparatives Legal Guide (ICLG). |
Christine Liang | Relationship Manager at Covenant Trustee Services Limited Christine has a LLB(Hons) from the University of Waikato and has worked as a barrister and solicitor for a number of law firms. She has had experience in litigation, residential and property law, and compliance and enforcement. |
| Edward Yoo | Edward is a solicitor based in Auckland, and acts for insurers and their clients across a diverse range of practice areas. His experience to date has primarily been focused on employment practices liability claims, and related disputes. Edward also assists with professional indemnity matters, defending insurers and their clients in claims brought against solicitors, pre-purchase inspectors, and healthcare practitioners. He has provided his expertise in mediations and for claims to the Employment Relations Authority. |
Elaine Deng | Solictor at Dentons Kensington Swan Elaine was admitted to the bar in 2018 and is current working as a property solicitor. She has also had a range of experience in other areas of the law including trusts, employment, litigation, and tax law. |
| Ethan Lee | Senior Solicitor at Buddle Findlay Ethan has a Bachelor of Law/Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Auckland. He was admitted to the Bar in 2019. |
Evelyn Jones | Partner at Lane Neave Evelyn leads the banking and finance practice at Lane Neave. She has extensive experience in corporate and institutional lending transactions, property finance, leveraged and acquisition finance. Evelyn has advised on domestic and international transactions and her experience includes the coordination of offshore counsel in relation to the granting of local law governed securities and guarantees, as well as acting as New Zealand counsel on international transactions. Evelyn is a technical and solution-focused adviser. She has particular expertise in securitisation and other structured and financial products (including derivatives). She also provides advice on financial sector regulation, including recent changes to the consumer credit legislation in New Zealand. Before joining Lane Neave, Evelyn has worked at other major law firms in New Zealand and in London. She has also worked in-house (on secondment and on contract) at a major bank and a leading consumer finance product company in New Zealand. Evelyn is personally ranked as a “Leading Individual” by Legal 500, and by Chambers and Partners as an “Up and Coming” partner, and by Best Lawyers and IFLR1000 as a leading lawyer in the banking and finance space in New Zealand. |
Feifei Zhou | Solicitor at Solomons Feifei completed her law degree at the University of Otago. In addition, she holds a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Engineering from the Anhui University of Architecture in China, and a post graduate diploma in Environmental Science from the University of Otago. She is fluent in both English and Mandarin. Her practice areas include Dispute Resolution, Relationship Property, Trust Formation and Succession Planning, Immigration, Property, Commercial, and Employment Law. |
Grace Zhang | Solicitor at K3 Legal Grace holds a Master of Law degree from Emory University (Georgia, USA) as well as a Bachelor of Law degree from China Jiliang University. She also finished her study at the University of Auckland in New Zealand before admission in New Zealand. With a strong academic background in New Zealand, China and the USA, she delivers professional and quality service to clients from all walks of life, with a strong focus on establishing and maintaining client relationships. Having worked in general practice firms in Auckland for the last five years, Grace specialises in complicated immigration and property matters across a wide range of areas, including compliance investigations, deportation matters, ministerial requests and appeals. Grace is amiable and approachable, taking her clients’ needs as a priority while thriving on achieving the best possible results. She also speaks fluent English and Mandarin. |
Himanshu Trivedi | Barrister & Solicitor at ACS Lawyers Himanshu holds a BSc and LLB from India, and has been enrolled as a barrister and solicitor at the High Court of New Zealand since 2011. He is also a mediator, trained in USA and India. He was a Judge at the Ahmedabad City Civil Court in Gujrat, India from 2002 to 2004. He is now a general practitioner. |
Isabelle Kwek | Isabelle is an associate with specialist insurance litigation firm, Wotton+Kearney. She has experience in handling a wide range of liability claims and particularly focuses on the areas of public liability, professional liability, and statutory liability. She has a strong focus on dispute resolution, having assisted with defending insureds in court and tribunal proceedings, and appropriate dispute resolution approaches, including mediation and judicial settlement conferences. She is an accredited mediator. Isabelle also assists with advising insurers on indemnity disputes and the impact of evolving regulatory frameworks for financial services in New Zealand. She has subject expertise in medico-legal law and life sciences, drawing on her experience and studies in population health and health systems. Isabelle began her career with a major New Zealand life insurer in 2016 and has since worked with law firms specialising in insurance law, joining Wotton+Kearney in 2022. Isabelle was named the 2023 Arbitrators and Mediators Institute of New Zealand Consensual Scholar and the Young Insurance Professional of the Year at the 2023 Australian and New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance awards. |
Iswari (Ish) Jayanandan | Barrister Sole Ishwari was originally born in Sri Lanka but moved to New Zealand as a child. She graduated from the University of Auckland with a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Commerce. She has been a barrister sole since 2010 and practises in South Auckland. Her trial work is varied in nature and includes single/multiple defendant homicides, multi-accused Police operations, sexual offending, assaults of varying degrees, fraud matters and cases that are governed by the Criminal Procedure Mental Impaired Persons Act. Ishwari is a legal Aid PAL 4 provider, and is on the Duty Lawyer, PDLA and Amicus Panel for Manukau District Court. She is a member of the NZBA, ADLS, AWLA, South Auckland Bar Association, IBA and CLA. Ishwari sits on both the NZBA and ADLS criminal committees. She is on the executive committee of the SABA. She has been a member of working groups including the Auckland Custody Project implemented at eh Auckland District Court and the Remote Participation National Court to Court Custody Operating Model in September 2018. |
| Jennifer Din | Partner at Bespoke Legal Jennifer holds a Bachelor of Law degree (LLB) and Bachelor of Science. Jennifer was admitted to the bar in 2012. Prior to joining Bespoke Legal, Jennifer worked as a police prosecutor and as in-house counsel for Government Departments. Jennifer undertakes a wide range of legal work, covering traffic offences, limited licences, family, property, wills and estate and minor criminal matters. Jennifer speaks both Hindi and English and is a member of the Family Law Section of the New Zealand Law Society. |
Jessica Wei | Associate at Duncan Cotterill Jessica is a corporate and commercial lawyer, specialising in mergers and acquisitions, capital raising and joint ventures. She regularly advises on cross-border transactions and investments and Jessica works with a range of domestic and international clients, including multinational corporations, listed companies, SMEs and start-ups. In addition, Jessica has experience advising on a wide variety of corporate advisory and commercial contracting matters. She enjoys helping clients grow and achieve their strategic goals. |
Junichi Nishimura | Principal Lawyer at Rosebank Law Junichi Nishimura was born and raised in Japan and has lived in New Zealand since 1986. He worked as a teacher in Osaka, Japan for seven years before coming to New Zealand. Upon his arrival in New Zealand he worked as a student counsellor at a language school. His duties included assisting foreign students to assimilate into New Zealand lifestyle and culture. In performing his duties he came to realise that there were communication gaps between the students and the systems in New Zealand. He decided to study law to broaden his knowledge of New Zealand law and his understanding of the systems in New Zealand. After completing his studies he decided to put his knowledge to practice and joined the legal profession with a view to assisting Japanese businesses and individuals in New Zealand. Since December 2007 he has been running his own law firm, Rosebank Law. He is the first Japan-born registered lawyer in New Zealand. |
Khushbu Sundarji | Partner at Stewart Germann Law Office Khushbu is admitted as a Barrister and Solicitor in Auckland in 2010 and was admitted as a Barrister and Solicitor in Melbourne in 2011. She is experienced in the sale and purchase of property, sale and purchase of businesses and also has expertise in franchising and licensing and drafting commercial contracts. Khushbu worked in Melbourne prior to joining SGL in 2017. |
Kim J. McCoy | Kim was born in Hong Kong but grew up in New Zealand. After his admission to the Bar in 2011, he practised as a barrister in Christchurch and Auckland. In 2013 he moved to Hong Kong to complete further post-graduate studies before joining the Hong Kong Bar in 2016. Kim has recently returned to New Zealand and works as a Senior Associate with K3 Legal in Auckland. He still retains his Hong Kong practising certificate and is a member of Bernacchi Chambers. Kim’s practice areas are mainly in criminal and public law. Additionally, he has a keen interest in animal law, as well as wildlife crime both locally and internationally. He is also the Director and Founder of the Hong Kong Animal Law and Protection Organisation. Kim speaks fluent Cantonese and continues to travel to and from Hong Kong for legal matters. |
Leena Kumaran | Director at Easy Law Leena holds a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Business with a double major in Accounting and Finance. She has experience ranging across the business and legal industries in several different roles. She is passionate about criminal justice. The creation of Easy Law Limited reflects this as its goal is to eliminate barriers to justice and increase accessibility to legal assistance. |
 | Lion was born in Wuxi, China, and is a barrister specialising in commercial litigation, construction dispute and regulatory defence. He is fluent in Mandarin and written Chinese. Lion completed his LLB/BCOM(1 st Hons) at the University of Auckland, where he is also currently completing his LLM. Outside of work, Lion is an accomplished tournament chess player, music teacher (classical piano and guitar) and wood sculptor. |
Maricel Weischede | Director of Lawspace Limited / Associate at Alex Lee Lawyers Maricel had been practicing in the area of immigration law for the past 20 years, initially as a licensed immigration adviser, and later as a Solicitor after being admitted to the bar. She had been a staunch supporter of the protection of migrants from rouge unlicensed people giving immigration advice. She has successfully advocated for hundreds of complex cases involving deportation appeal, residence appeals, character waivers, medical waivers, special request to the Minister/Associate Minister of Immigration. The dedication to helping people blossomed into working with both private individual clients and businesses in relation to other areas of the law such as family, property, conveyancing and small business requirements. She launched Lawspace – a firm that specialises in assisting new kiwis legal requirements. She understands the need of migrants for clarity, representation and utmost assistance. |
| Mei Fern Johnson | Partner at Russell McVeagh Mei Fern advises on complex commercial contracting and on mergers and acquisitions, with particular expertise in investment in (and procurement of) infrastructure, technology, transport and energy (including oil and gas) projects. She advises on foreign inbound investments and divestments, the establishment of joint ventures, significant outsourcing contracts (including contracting with the Government), and the introduction of new technologies. Mei Fern is experienced in stakeholder management, having worked on various high profile and sensitive projects. She provides expert advice in major procurement and tendering processes, including responding to Government tender processes. She also advises on a full range of Board and statutory risk management and governance matters. Mei Fern works with private sector and public sector clients, including having been (Acting) General Counsel for a significant Crown Entity for 18 months. |
| Michael Ip | Criminal Defence Lawyer at Public Defence Service Michael was admitted to the bar in 2014. Prior to obtaining a Bachelor of Law at the University of Auckland, he had also obtained a Master of Science in Pharmacology. He has worked as a Research Assistant conducting academic research into the decisions made by the Health Practitioners’ Disciplinary Tribunal. |
| Nacha Lakshaman | Nacha current practises in criminal law. |
| Nathan Tse | Banking and Finance Solicitor at Russell McVeagh Nathan holds a Bachelor of Commerce/Bachelor of Laws (Honours) conjoint degree, majoring in Finance and Economics, from the Victoria University of Wellington. He had taken many leadership positions throughout his studies, including roles as the president of the Victoria University of Wellington Law Students’ Society and the Asian Law Students’ Association, and the president of the New Zealand Law Students’ Association |
Nicole Lee | Director at CL Law Nicole has a LLB/BA from the University of Auckland, majoring in Chinese. She was also the Vice President of the Korean Students Association while she was studying, and has been the President of the Society of Korean Lawyers of New Zealand (SKLNZ) from 2010-2012. She was admitted to the Bar in both New Zealand and New South Wales. She is currently the Secretary and Committee Member of the National Unification Advisory Council – Auckland branch. |
Noon Sirisamphan | Noon specialises in defending professionals in complaint processes, disciplinary proceedings, and negligence claims. She has extensive regulatory experience across various industries, including professions and business services, property and real estate, healthcare, and life sciences. Noon previously acted as a prosecutor on cases before the Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal and the Real Estate Agents Disciplinary Tribunal and has held several in-house roles with health, legal, and real estate regulators. She has also worked as an investigator – involved in substantial investigations into governmental ministries, and separately involving conduct of health practitioners. Noon’s regulatory and public sector experience means she provides valuable insight and perspective for her clients. |
Nura Taefi | Barrister at Shortland Chambers Nura is an experienced civil lawyer. She deals with complex and novel legal problems across a range of areas. Her areas of practice include commercial matters, intellectual property, trusts, human rights, employment, professional negligence, and relationship property matters. Nura regularly appears in the courts at all levels – ranging from specialist tribunals to the Supreme Court. Nura receives instructions to act for individuals, companies, public bodies, and as counsel to assist the courts. Nura also works as an independent investigator and represents parties in investigations and inquiries. Nura is a member of the New Zealand Bar Association Diversity and Inclusion Committee and supports a number of pro bono initiatives in the community. |
Orison Wu | Solicitor at K3 Legal Orison has obtained his Bachelor of Law degree in China and passed the National Judicial Examination. After obtaining his Master of Laws degree from Waikato University (hons), Orison started to work in an Auckland law firm. Orison worked as a legal executive mainly in the property and commercial law field more than six years. He also finished his study in Auckland University of Technology before admission in New Zealand. Orison’s overseas and local law background provides him more knowledge and skills to understand and help both local and immigrant clients. |
Raymond Huo | Asian Practice Development Principal at Shieff Angland Formerly a partner, Raymond recently rejoined Shieff Angland after a second term as a Labour MP. As chair of the Justice Committee (one of the busiest in Parliament), he contributed to the reform of key New Zealand laws including the Trusts Bill, Privacy Bill, Arbitration Bill, Courts Matters Bill and the Administration of Justice (Reform of Contempt of Court) Bill. Working closely with Shieff Angland partners, he sponsored a member’s bill in Parliament, the Insolvency (Private Administration of Personal Bankruptcy) Amendment Bill, seeking to bring New Zealand into line with Australia and the United Kingdom. Raymond is the founding trustee of the New Zealand Chinese Language Week Charitable Trust, a Kiwi-driven initiative designed to increase Chinese language learning in New Zealand. The first of its kind in any Western country, NZCLW seeks to bridge the cultural and linguistic knowledge gap between China and New Zealand. Qualified in statute law in China and case law in New Zealand, Raymond has broad experience in local and international transactions and has a keen interest in Overseas Investment Act-related due diligence, property, commercial and trust law. He is an honorary professor of law at his alma mater, China University of Political Science and Law in Beijing. He has published nine books, including The Power of the Rule of Law – Navigating established common law cases《法之力》(Beijing 2019), a book designed for Chinese judges, lawyers and businesspeople. With Dr Wayne Mapp, he is co-editor of the bilingual guide Doing Business in New Zealand – information and advice from leading experts, to be released in mid-2021. |
| Shaheen Paul | Lawyer at Castlefinn Law Shaheen was admitted as a Barrister and Solicitor at the Auckland High Court in 2019. Shaheen has a LLB and BCom, and a Diploma in Business. |
| Shawn Sharma | Lawyer at Grant MacDonald Barrister Shawn was admitted to the Bar in 2023. He practises in criminal law. |
Somee Chung | Director at CL Law Somee has a LLB/BA from the University of Auckland, majoring in Japanese. She was admitted to the Bar in New Zealand in 2005, and admitted to the Bar in New South Wales in 2007. She has been involved with the Korean Women’s Association of New Zealand (KWANZ) and the Society of Korean Lawyers of New Zealand (SKLNZ). |
Sonia Pinto | I started in a criminal defence background for the private bar. I have now moved to the Inland Revenue where I specialize in criminal tax prosecution, I am also involved with some civil tax and insolvency matters. I am also presently studying towards my L.L.M and plan to graduate at the end of this year I am the current convenor for the Auckland Young Lawyers and am taking up a position this year as the managing editor of the New Zealand Women’s Law Journal. |
Sophia You | Solicitor at Pidgeon Judd Sophia is a part of the specialist team at Pidgeon Judd. She advises clients on practicing in property, commercial and asset planning law. |
| Stella Gu | Solicitor at MinterEllisonRuddWatts Stella has a Bachelors degree in Law(Hons) and BBus (Finance) from the Auckland University of Technology. She speaks fluent Korean. |
Thilini Karunaratne | Lawyer at Grayson Clements Thilini has a LLB (Hons), LLM (Hons), BEd (Primary), GradDip (ECE), GradCert (Business), and is also a PhD Candidate. She specialises in family law. |
Vaishnavi Thayaparan | Solicitor at McVeagh Fleming Vaishnavi has a Bachelor of Laws and Health Science, Public Health from the University of Otago. She has previously been a volunteer and leader at Community Law Otago, a volunteer at Otago Corrections Facility, and an active member of University of Otago student groups including being on the executive of the Otago University Sri Lankan Association and an academic mentor for the Otago Asian Students of Law Association. |
Wei Jie Chong | Lawyer (Projects and Real Estates) at Bell Gully Wei Jie assists the Projects and Real Estates team and advise clients on various aspects of commercial real estate transactions and projects, including real estate acquisitions and disposals, leasing, projects, development, property finance, overseas investments, subdivisions, insolvency, and property advisory matters. She completed a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and Bachelor of Commerce (majoring in Accounting) at the University of Auckland, and has been admitted as a Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand since October 2022. Her professional interests lie strongly in commercial law, with a particular focus in property law, property financing, company law and business mergers & acquisitions. |
Student Members
| Name | Profile |
|---|---|
| Alicia Lo | |
| Alyssa Le | |
| Andrew Huang | |
| Chuchu Lin | I am a year 3 Law student at AUT and am deeply interested in Law in both the academic and professional realms. |
| Emily Zhu | |
| Frazer Tam | |
Grace Chen | LLB/BSc (Computer Science) Student at the University of Auckland Grace is a second year Law and Computer Science student at the University of Auckland. She is passionate about innovation and future-proof ideas, and interested in global issues and pushing for equity. Grace aspires to constantly challenge herself, try new things and strive for excellence. |
| Isaac Chan | |
| Jessica Sui Harborne | LLB Student at the Auckland University of Technology Jessica is a qualified Legal Executive and a qualified New Zealand translator and interpreter in Mandarin. She has previously obtained a BBUS in International Business & Economics in China, and a BBUS in Accounting at AUT. She is experienced in working with families and people in vulnerable circumstances, and determined to help those who have language barriers to succeed in disputes. |
| Jonson Chin | |
| Karmela | |
| Kent Cheng | |
| Kiu Hei Chloe Yip (葉蕎熙) | LLB/BSc Student at the University of Auckland Kiu Hei Chloe is currently studying at the Waipapa Taumata Rau – University of Auckland towards a conjoint degree in Law and Science, majoring in Geography and Geographic Information Science. She is particularly interested in employment law, environmental law, and public policy. Outside of her studies, she is passionate about youth engagement and civic participation. She currently works at Auckland Youth Voice as the General Manager and at InsideOUT Kōaro as a Workshop Facilitator. |
Krishan Tikaram | PhD Student in Philosophy Ethics Law at the University of Auckland. Krishan is about to complete his PhD at the University of Auckland in the areas of surveillance, privacy, and human flourishing. As of December 2021, he has commenced a role as a Lecturer at the AUT Law School. His areas of interest are constitutional law, administrative law, law of torts and the intersection between law and other disciplines in particular, philosophy and sociology. |
| Lily Chen | |
| Min Wang | |
Nivarni Gounder | LLB/BA Student at The University of Auckland Nivarni is doing a conjoint LLB/BA majoring in psychology. She is in her fifth and final year of studies and looking to graduate early 2024. Her interests in the legal profession include criminal justice, psychiatry and the law, family, litigation dispute resolution and wills. Her psychological passions lie in the clinical psychology forum looking into prevailing mental health factors like neurodivergence in addition to counseling and therapeutic platforms. |
| Otago Asian Law Students' Association (OALSA) | The Otago Asian Law Students’ Association, established in 2019, is a student-elected body that promotes the interests of Asian-identifying law students. It aims to be a safe space for Asian law students at Otago University, particularly as there are a lot of first-generation Asian students entering law school and looking for support from their peers. OALSA hosts regular academic workshops, social events, and a mentoring programme for first- and second-year students to connect with senior Asian students. The current President is Amy Xie. |
Regan Ujara | Regan is currently in his final year of studying law. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Conflict Resolution and Criminology and a Master's degree in Human Rights. He was employed as a District Court registrar / Issuing Officer at the Manukau District Court, where he worked for four years in the Criminal Jurisdiction. Currently, he works at Landmark Chambers for Deborah Manning, focusing on Immigration and Refugee matters. He will soon join MMC Law to practice conveyancing, trusts, wills, powers of attorney, and family law. |
Rosanna Wu | LLB/BSc (psychology) Student at the University of Auckland Rosanna currently works as a Law Clerk at McVeagh Fleming, and is a helpline counsellor at Lifelife Aotearoa. Her legal career interests are in family, youth, mental health, criminal, and medical law. She is also a member of the Auckland District Law Society, Auckland Women Lawyers’ Association, Legal Research Foundation, Equal Justice Project, and Asian Legal Network. |
Sama Alomar | LLB(Hons)/BCom Student at The University of Auckland Sama is currently a Law Clerk at Public Law Toolbox Chambers. |
| Siv Eang Chea | |
Ted Wu | Ted Wu is currently studying a Law and Property conjoint at Waipapa Taumata Rau – The University of Auckland. Ted is particularly interested in exploring the various career fields in law, currently taking an interest in litigation. Outside of his studies, Ted works as a contact co-ordinator for a supervised contact center, working on the front lines of family law, as well as practicing Muay Thai in his spare time. |
| Tina Yee | PhD Student at the University of Cantebury Tina is doing her PhD in deportation law. |
Vivienne Bunquin | LLB/BA Student at the University of Auckland Vivienne currently works as a Resident Advisor at the University of Auckland. She is passionate about debating and mooting. She is also a member of the Public Policy Club, Amnesty International, Women in Law, Equal Justice Project, and the Mooting Society. |
| Zainab Aktar | LLB Student at the Auckland University of Technology Prior to studying law, Zainab earned a certificate in Biological Sciences. Zainab currently works as a Legal Intern at JustCommunity. |
Zaza Yin | Born and raised in China, educated in China, Egypt and New Zealand, Zaza is trilingual in English, Chinese and Arabic. The cultural competence, derived from Zaza’s education, work and travelling, gives her maturity and insights in working with people from diverse backgrounds, identities and cultures and navigating complex issues. Zaza has a degree in Arabic and Literature from Xi’an International Studies University in China and Suez Canal University in Egypt. Zaza is currently working as an executive assistant to the Race Relations Commissioner at the New Zealand Human Rights Commission while studying for a Bachelor of Laws at Victoria University of Wellington. Zaza began her career as an executive secretary to the Ambassador of the Syrian Arab Republic in Beijing. Zaza then worked as an internal audit and public relations secretary at Saudi Aramco, one of the world’s largest integrated energy and chemicals companies. Most recently, Zaza worked at PwC as a business assistant to the managing partner before joining the New Zealand Human Rights Commission. |
Honorary Members
| Honorary Members | Profile |
|---|---|
| Glenda Macdonald | General Manager Representative and Auckland Branch Manager at New Zealand Law Society Glenda has been at the New Zealand Law Society for 14 years. We thank her for all of her support and encouragement since the establishment of NZ Asian Lawyers in 2020. |
Jacqui Thompson | Executive Director at New Zealand Bar Association (NZBA) Jacqui has been the Executive Director of the New Zealand Bar Association for 3 years. She is the NZBA's Secretariat's representative on its Criminal, Law Reform, Technology and Training Committees. She also works as a private legal researcher. The NZ Asian Lawyers Board asked Jacqui to be an honorary member as the NZBA has been one of our greatest supporters, without which we could not have got to where we are today - incorporated as a standalone entity and with our own website. |
Michael Stephens | Managing Director at Stephens Lawyers Michael is one of New Zealand’s leading film & entertainment lawyers. Over his 30-plus year legal career, he has advised clients on matters relating to film and entertainment law, property, general commercial matters for local to international entities, securities law, and advisory and overseas investment. He has close ties to Wellington’s film and creative industries and has a strong interest in fostering business between New Zealand, Asia and the US. He is a former Chair of the Korea New Zealand Business Council, member of the NZ Film and Literature Board of Review, and International Delegate for the Shanghai International Film Festival. |
Paul Dacre KC | Criminal Specialist Paul Dacre was appointed a King's Counsel in 2013. He is a highly experienced trial and appellate lawyer specialising in all areas of criminal law including fraud, murder and drug trials. Paul has successfully appeared in courts at all levels throughout New Zealand and the Pacific both for the defence and the prosecution. He has also appeared on a number of occasions in the Privy Council in London. In 2003, he was appointed Public Defender for the Pitcairn Islands and defended one of the most complex criminal cases in UK history. He also appeared successfully in a death penalty trial in California. Paul’s ability to assess and explain complex legal issues in simple language means he is approachable and is able to focus on success and resolution. |
Rosemary Thomson | Criminal Barrister A strong and tenacious advocate for her clients’ interests, Rosemary has successfully worked on a wide range of high profile and complex cases within the Court system. With an increasing number of alleged offenders experiencing significant mental health and addition issues, Rosemary brings compassion to her work and a thorough knowledge of New Zealand’s mental health framework. Rosemary has held a warrant from the Ministry of Health as a District Inspector for mental health since 2003, assisting people detained under the Mental Health (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Act 1992. In 2017 she was also appointed District Inspector under the SACAT Act - Substance Abuse and Addiction (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Act 2017. Rosemary is an approved provider on the highest level of legal aid CAT4. She has a BA/LLB (1987) and an LLM (2006) from The University of Auckland. |