LL.B (Hons) University of Canterbury

Tim acts for a wide range of clients, locally, nationally and international. He provides friendly, pragmatic advice and will talk to you about your legal problem in language that you can understand.

Tim has considerable experience in property, commercial, civil claims, insurance, relationship property law, estates and trust litigation. He also regularly acts for employers and employees in personal grievance claims and drafting employment agreements.

He has acted for clients in the District Court, Family Court, Employment Court, Employment Relations Authority, Canterbury Earthquakes Insurance Tribunal, High Court and Court of Appeal.

Tim was a member of the NZLS Standards Committee for 9 years.

LL.B University of Canterbury

His areas of practice have involved acting not only for private individuals but also companies, Government Departments, SOEs and off shore clients.

His Court appearances include the District Court, Family Court, Employment Court and High Court.

He has extensive experience in litigation covering most aspects of the law.

Areas of Expertise:
Business and commercial law, residential property, trusts, family law, relationship property, employment law.

LL.B University of Canterbury

In 1987 John began his legal career in Christchurch before spending several years in the UK advising local authorities, returning to New Zealand in 1992. He joined Purnell Creighton in 1994.

John has extensive experience in several areas of general practice, advising and representing clients in a wide range of property transactions, family law (including relationship property, care of children, family violence, and PPPR Act matters), Wills, trusts and estates administration.

He is also a Canterbury District Inspector for Mental Health.

Bachelor of Laws (Canterbury)
Diploma of English Language & Literature (Distinction)

Background:
Colleen has extensive experience spanning over 32 years advising local and international private clients and investors

on a broad range of property and business transactions.

Fervently trying to live off the land and keeping healthy. Currently skilfully morphing into a multistreaming services devotee.

Languages:
English, the Cantonese, Mandarin and Hokkien dialects of the Chinese language and Malay.

Areas of Expertise:
Commercial and residential property together with business related transactional work including lease matters.

Sally graduated from the University of Otago in 1986 and began her career in Auckland before moving to London and then to Melbourne where she completed a Master of Laws at Monash University in 1995.  She returned to New Zealand in 2004 and has been with Purnell Creighton since 2016.

Sally was admitted as a Barrister and Solicitor to the High Court of New Zealand in 1986 and to the Supreme Courts of New South Wales and Victoria in 1993.

Sally is an experienced senior family law practitioner with over 35 years’ experience and specialises in all areas of family law.  Sally is also a Court-appointed Lawyer for Child and a member of the Family Law Section.

Sally is dedicated to achieving the best possible outcomes for her clients whether this be by way of negotiation and settlement or Court proceedings and litigation.  She provides a professional, effective and supportive approach during what is often a very emotional time for clients.

Languages

Indonesian

Areas of Expertise

• Relationship Property, Separation and Contracting Out Agreements
• Relationship Property Proceedings
• Paternity issues
• Family Violence matters including making Protection/Occupation/Property Order applications
• Care of Children (day to day care and guardianship disputes)
• Wills and Enduring Powers of Attorney
• Oranga Tamariki/Ministry for Children matters
• Family Protection Act matters

Bachelor of Laws (Auckland)
Bachelor of Theology (Geelong)

Robert graduated from Auckland University in 1990. He established his own legal practice in Palmerston North before taking a break from law. During this period, he completed a theological degree, served as a minister of a church and then worked as a senior manager/in-house lawyer. He returned to private legal practice in 2021.

Robert has a passion for problem-solving and strives to find effective solutions for clients. He finds working with people from all walks of life immensely rewarding, particularly when he is able to help them navigate life’s challenges more confidently.

Areas of expertise:
Family law (including relationship property), employment, commercial law (including disputes), conveyancing, wills and enduring powers of attorney.

Bachelor of Laws (University of Otago)

Known for her calm and reassuring presence, clients value not only Jen’s legal skill, but also her ability to make the process feel manageable and human.

Since being admitted to the Bar as a Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand, Jen has helped clients navigate a wide range of legal issues and can assist in the following areas:

• Criminal law (representation in court and limited licence applications).
• Family law (protection orders, contracting out agreements, relationship property separation and care of children proceedings).
• Employment law (employment right breaches, personal grievance and constructive dismissal).
• Property law (residential sale/purchase, occupation right agreements, leases, subdivisions and tenancy issues).
• Commercial law (business sale/purchase and debt collection court proceedings).

–      Private client (wills, enduring powers of attorney and trusts).

Jen has a strong background in voluntary work including providing legal advice for Citizens’ Advice Bureaux for a number of years, reflecting her commitment to accessible and fair justice.

Jen has been approved by the Secretary for Justice to provide legal aid services in criminal law and she is also able to assist in a legal aid capacity in family law.

LL.B., CertArts – University of Canterbury.

Grace graduated from Canterbury University in 2022 with a Bachelor of Laws and a Certificate in Arts where she explored her interest in Psychology and Politics.

Grace was admitted as a Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court in June 2025, and works closely with senior lawyers on a range of Family Law matters including parenting, family violence, relationship property, and contracting out agreements. Grace provides compassionate legal support for clients during challenging times and she is committed to ongoing growth in her legal career to better serve her clients and community.