Ecclesiastical law (specialist area)

Litigation and non-contentious advice as to compliance with governing documents or (private) statutes, disciplinary issues, variation of trusts, human rights aspects

• Judicial review
• Breach of Trust/ interpretation of trust deeds
• Breach of contract: Matamu v Si'itia [2016] NZHC 2516 (substantive)
• Equitable relief
• Mediation and litigation: Matamu v Si'itia [2016] NZHC 3137 (Costs)
• Interpretation of private or general statutes

Experience derived from being a disciplinary prosecutor for the Presbytery of Auckland 1999-2003, acting as current legal adviser to the Northern Presbytery, previously acting for Assemblies of God New Zealand Inc in an internal schism; doctoral candidate “Religious Property Litigation in New Zealand”; updating author of Laws of New Zealand "Religion and Religious Institutions" (LexisNexis Ltd, Wellington)