Senior Associate
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Jane has been practicing for a number of years and has a considerable experience in a wide variety of legal matters. Hailing from Taranaki she completed her legal studies at Victoria University before moving to Napier and eventually joining Bramwell Bate as a Senior Associate.
Jane specialises in the following areas of practice:
- Property including subdivisions
- Trusts
- Estates and succession planning
- Wills and Powers of Attorney
- Elder Law and Residential Care
Jane has a particular interest in:
- Assisting first home buyers
- Residential Conveyancing
- Assisting older clients
When not at work Jane enjoys tramping, cycling, and time with friends and family.
Senior Associate
Anna Bernie
Having been born and raised in Gisborne, Anna returned to Gisborne to practice law after graduating from Victoria University with a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts in Japanese in 2004.
Anna then continued her legal practice at a central Wellington firm before moving to Hawkes Bay in March 2015 with her Hastings born and bred husband and their two young children.
Anna works in the following areas:
- Property
- Trusts, estates & succession planning
- Wills & powers of attorneys
- Relationship property
Outside of work Anna likes to enjoy the Hawkes Bay lifestyle with family and friends.
Associate
Nick Aveling
After more than two decades in the UK, Nick has brought his wealth of experience and expertise back to Hawke’s Bay. Specialising in residential and commercial property, asset planning, Estates, and Trusts, Nick’s professional journey in London included serving a diverse clientele, from high-net-worth individuals and investors to public entities and first home buyers.
In his most recent role at Amphlett Lissimore Bagshaws LLP, Nick also managed a team of solicitors and paralegals. His leadership style is characterised by a welcoming and open approach that extends seamlessly to both clients and team members.
A graduate of the University of Canterbury with a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Arts, Nick’s early career involved working with a respected law firm in the Manawatu before he set off for Europe.
Now back in Hawke’s Bay, Nick enjoys the relaxed pace of life in one of New Zealand’s most spectacular regions. His return reunited him with family, allows him time to catch up with old friends, and enjoy the proximity of some of the world’s best vineyards right in his backyard.
Associate
Alex Fanning
Alex has a Bachelor of Laws from Otago University. Alex focused on family law at Otago University, and he received a research scholarship and prize due to his efforts in this area. Alex has been practising family law since approximately 2016. Alex started his family law career as a lawyer for Oranga Tamariki in Dunedin, regularly appearing in Court on behalf of the Chief Executive. Alex subsequently relocated to Hamilton where he worked in the family law team at a mid-sized firm. More recently, Alex worked at a large national firm where he specialised in resolving complex relationship property disputes. Alex is an experienced litigator and can assist with the resolution of a wide range of family law issues, whether by agreement, or via an application to the Family Court.
Alex works in the following areas:
- Relationship property disputes
- Contracting out agreements, or separation agreements
- Spousal support
- Dissolution of marriage
- Parenting orders and agreements
- Oranga Tamariki matters
- Paternity and adoptions
- Child support
- Other Family Court proceedings
In his spare time, Alex enjoys tackling a home DIY project and working in his garden.
Associate
Amy Cowan
Amy has wide ranging experience in property law, with a focus on subdivisions, property developments and commercial and residential conveyancing.
She is a Conveyancing Practitioner and Registered Legal Executive and has extensive experience advising on Lending and Regulated Financial Services, and has provided high level advice to lenders, borrowers, and guarantors in all types of commercial and private transactions.
Amy also serves as an Executive Board Member for the NZ Society of Conveyancers, a member of the Standards Committee, and an associate member of the NZ Law Society.
Amy has both managed and been involved with the following range of transaction:
- Joint ventures to apply for town planning changes to maximise future urban growth
- Subdivisions of urban housing, rural lifestyle estates and horticultural/viticultural land
- Freeholding of unit title and cross lease properties
- Large scale Auckland subdivisions (300 plus lots within numerous stages)
- The establishment and legal management of a mid-sized wholesale lending company in Auckland
- Establishment and ongoing management of owners’ associations and joint access ownership lots via encumbrances, covenants, and easements.
Amy moved down from Auckland recently and is enjoying the pace of life in Hawke’s Bay. She holds a Diploma in Dance and Theatre Arts and has an ongoing interest in musical theatre. While a known performer, Amy is also a Trustee of the Amici Trust and a committee member for the Napier Operatic Society.
Associate
Charlie Robson
Charlie has been practising relationship property and Family law since 2018 following completion of his studies at the University of Canterbury with a Bachelor of Laws. He joined Bramwell Bate as an Associate in March 2024 following his return to home to Hawke’s Bay and we’re thrilled to have him back.
But Charlie’s contributions extend beyond the office. He’s deeply committed to advocating for the rights of Māori and improving access to justice for Māori communities. As a member of the Te kōmiti ture-ā-whānau o te hunga Rōia Māori o Aotearoa (Māori Family Law Committee), he’s at the forefront of this mission. Charlie is also a Lead Legal Aid Provider (Family Law).
He adds to our firm’s growing number of sports enthusiasts and has previously played rep cricket for Hawke’s Bay and up until the end of 2023/24 cricket season was a keen member of the Weedons Cricket Club in Christchurch. Keep an eye out for his return to the Hawke’s Bay cricket scene this summer!
But Charlie is not just about work and cricket. He’s involved in giving back to the community, having lent his support to Ronald McDonald House and It Takes A Village charities while in the South Island.
Charlie specialises in:
- relationship property and spousal maintenance disputes.
- the protection of assets prior to a relationship.
- the division of assets upon separation including personally owned assets, companies and trusts.
- care of children, guardianship and family violence disputes.
Solicitor
Lois McLintock
Lois was born and raised in Hawke’s Bay, attending Hastings Girls’ High School before leaving for university. She graduated from Auckland University of Technology in 2020 with Bachelor of Laws and then from The University of Auckland in 2021 with a Master of Laws.
Lois returned to the Bay in mid-2021 and joined the team at Bramwell Bate in October 2021.
Outside of work, Lois enjoys spending time with her husband and extended family, playing classical piano, watching the NBA, and soaking up the Hawke’s Bay sun with her dog Winnie in tow.
Legal Executive
Kelly Henderson
ANZILE, NZLS DipLegalExec, BA
Kelly was born and raised in Hastings before spending time in Wellington and London. After returning from her OE, Kelly completed her Legal Executive Diploma in 2019. Outside of the office, Kelly is a bit of a social butterfly who enjoys spending time with her family and friends, the odd quiz night, a glass of wine and sampling what the local restaurants have to offer.
Estates Administrator
Michelle Hoy
Michelle is our dedicated Estates Administrator with a passion for law and a wealth of experience in the health sector. With a background in Case Management and Clinical Coding, she has brought invaluable expertise to our team. Currently pursuing her Legal Executive Diploma, Michelle is committed to expanding her knowledge and skills in the legal field.
When she’s not immersed in her work, you can find her spending time with family and friends, embracing the beauty of nature on the walking trails of Hawke’s Bay, and showing love to all animals, big or small.
Law Clerk
Bri Thorne
Born in Waipawa, and raised in Napier, Bri returned to Hawke’s Bay at the end of 2023 after graduating from the University of Auckland with a Bachelor of Laws. Prior to Auckland, Bri spent four years in New York at St. Thomas Aquinas College completing a Bachelor of Science with a Double Major in Psychology and Criminal Justice.
Over the past four years, Bri has spent her summer breaks working in the local horticulture sector involved in office administration and delivering various projects to improve efficiencies.
Outside of work, she is a qualified personal trainer who also enjoys playing hockey and keeping active. Bri is happy to be back in Hawke’s Bay closer to friends and family, the fabulous world-renowned wineries, and our infamous Hawke’s Bay summers.