My Approach
I am an experienced lawyer who found my passion in resolving disputes as efficiently, economically and amicably as possible through mediation. Protracted and expensive litigation in which I was involved which ended in a mediation or mini trial, convinced me my skills were better utilised as a mediator.
I bring an understanding of legal issues, communication styles, conflict analysis, human vulnerabilities, psychology and a focus on well being and safety to my mediation practice. I value self empowerment, providing a respectful environment where difficult conversations can be had where parties feel heard, understood and acknowledged. I believe in assisting people to find solutions which achieve satisfaction of as many psychological, procedural and substantive needs as possible.
Qualifications
BA(Hons), LLB(Hons), LLM Cambridge, FAMINZ
Career Summary
- Dispute Resolution Lawyer – Russell McVeagh McKenzie Bartleet and Co, 1982 – 1988
- Dispute Resolution Lawyer – Mckenna and Co, Hong Kong, 1989 – 1991
- Senior Associate – Simpson Grierson, 1992 – 1993
- Consultant – Brookfields, 2000
- Barrister specialising in mediation and facilitation from 1994
- Member Human Rights Review Tribunal from 2003 to 2010
- Lecturer in Dispute Resolution, Auckland University Law School 1994 – 2004
Appointments
- Founding Member LEADR NZ 1993
- Board Member and Chair LEADR NZ 1993-2004
- Board Member LEADR 2013-2014
- Convenor Auckland District Law Society Mediation Month Working Group 1998
- NZLS Dispute Resolution Committee and Convenor, 1997-2001
- AMINZ Disciplinary Committee since 2002
- Human Rights Review Tribunal 2003- 2010
- Auckland High Court Mediation Panel 2009
- Family Court Review Reference Group 2011-2012
- Real Estate Agents Authority, Complaints Assessment Committee 2013-2016
- State Housing Appeal Authority Chair from 2013
- Contractor Mediator for Employment disputes with MBIE since 2017
- Mediator for Sports Disputes since 2021
- Mediator on Franchise Association NZ Panel since 2023
Professional Memberships
- NZLS
- ADLS
- Fellow International Academy of Mediators until 2018
- Advanced Mediation Panel of LEADR (now Resolution Institute) since 1998
- Fellow and Mediation Panel Member AMINZ since 2002
- Health and Disability Commissioner Mediation Panel 2004
- Weathertight Homes Resolution Service Mediation Panel since 2003
- Domain Names Commission Mediation Panel since 2005
- Family Court appointed Mediator
- FDR provider on Fairway Resolution Panel
- NZDRC Mediation Panels
- MBIE Employment Mediator
- Mediator for Sports Recreation Complaints Mediation Service since 2021
Dispute Resolution Training and Conferences
- End Dispute Mediation workshop (Hong Kong) 1991
- LEADR Mediation workshop 1993
- Harvard Programme on Negotiation workshop 1996
- Baruch Bush “Mediation as a Transformative Process” workshop 1997
- CDR Associates Effective Dispute Management Systems Training Programme 1997
- Public Conversations Project (Sally Roth) workshop 1997
- LEADR “Personality, Mediation and Mediators” workshop 1998
- Trillium Group & University of Melbourne Negotiation and ADR workshop 1999
- LEADR Advanced Mediation workshop 2001
- Bond University Mediation Masters Class 2003
- CDR Associates Multi Party Mediation workshop 2004
- Public sector Mediator Forum Judy Mares Dixon 2005
- WHRS Mediator training with Gary Fitzpatrick 2005
- ABA Dispute Resolution Section Conference on the Golden State of ADR 2005
- Ken Cloke Mediation workshop October 2006
- Dr Turchin Workshop Psychology of Mediation and Negotiation 2006
- Family Mediation workshop 2009
- Robert Benjamin Masterclass 2011
- Dr Sandra Fenton High conflict Personalities workshop 2011
- Shoshana Faire Dealing with High Emotion workshop 2011
- LEADR /IMI Cross Cultural workshop 2011
- Powell and Quinn Neuro competency workshop 2012
- Dr Fiona Howard Supervision workshop 2012
- Family Dispute Resolution workshops 2014
- Nina Harding Mediation Business Planning Workshop 2015
- Allan Parker Negotiation workshop 2015
- International Academy of Mediators Conference Harvard Boston 2006,
- Portland Oregon 2007, London 2009 , Washington 2012, San Francisco 2015, Queenstown 2016.
- Resolution Institute and AMINZ Conferences in New Zealand and Australia over the past 20 years
- Langley Institute Diploma in Positive Psychology 2022-2023
Training
- Trainer, coach and accreditation assessor for LEADR (now Resolution Institution) since 1995
- Trainer and FDR Accreditation assessor AMINZ
- Coach and mediation supervisor for government agencies and private individuals
- CDR Workshop coach for the original Employment Mediators appointed under the ERA 2000
- Trainer for Malaysian Government Mediators (2006)
- Trainer with the New Zealand Human Rights Commission Delegation to business and government in the Cook Islands (2007)
- Mediation trainer for law firms, the judiciary, local authorities and companies
MEDIA RECOGNITION
- Who’s Who Legal Recommended for Commercial Mediation 2023
- Who’s Who Legal Mediators NZ 2022
- Doyles Leading Family Law Mediators NZ 2022
- WHO’S WHO Legal 4 New Zealand Mediators 2021
- WHO’S WHO Legal 4 New Zealand Mediators 2020
- Law Fuel Top 10 Mediators 2019
- WHO’S WHO Legal 4 New Zealand Mediators 2018
- WHO’S WHO Legal Top 5 New Zealand Mediators 2017
- NBR Top 10 Commercial and Family Mediators 2016
- Law Fuel Top 4 Commercial Mediators 2016
- WHO’S WHO Legal Top 5 New Zealand Mediators 2016
- WHO’S WHO Legal Top 5 New Zealand Mediators 2015
- NBR Top 10 Commercial and Family Mediators 2014
- WHO’S WHO Legal Top 5 New Zealand Mediators 2014