Our People

    Our People

    M: 027 228 9727
    P: 03 218 2833

    Chris Ward 

    Partner
    L.L.B., FNZTA, Registered Trustee

    Chris has been practicing law in our firm since 1971 and in that time has worked in almost every area of the law. Chris obtained his law degree from Otago University in 1971 and was admitted to the bar in 1972. He now practises predominantly in the areas of property, commercial, trusts, liquor licensing, law of charities, gambling law, civil law, arbitration and dispute resolution, wills and rural law. 

    Chris is a registered trustee and a fellow member of the New Zealand Trustees Association and is a trustee of the ILT Foundation and many private trusts.  

    He is a past member and chairman of the Southland Legal Aid Committee (1980-1989), a past Council member (1983-1987), Treasurer (1987-1989), Vice President (1989-1991) and President of the Southland District Law Society (1991-1993), and was a member of that society’s disciplinary tribunal from 2001 to 2008. Chris is also a past member of the Executive Committee of the New Zealand Law Society (1992-1993). Chris also served as a board member on the New Zealand Law Society from 1994 to 1998 and was Vice President (South Island) of the New Zealand Law Society from 1998 to 2000. He was also a member of the New Zealand Law Society Finance & Administration Committee from 1996 to 2000.  

    Chris has been a member of the NZLS Presidents Working Party on Automation Land Titles since 1998 and still serves on that committee which has helped manage the digitilisation of landonline and New Zealand’s transfer to the electronic land system.

    Chris is married to Pauline, enjoys playing football, golf and tennis.

    Areas of Speciality:
    • Property
    • Commercial
    • Trusts
    • Liquor Licensing
    • Law of Charities 
    • Gambling Law
    • Civil Law
    • Arbitration and Dispute Resolution
    • Wills
    • Employment
    • Rural law
    • Elder Law

    Paul Adams

    Partner 
    L.L.B

    When not on the golf course, Paul practices in the areas of estate administration, trusts, wills, conveyancing and advising the rural and business sectors.

    Paul is also a long standing member of the firm, having commenced his legal career here in 1973, joining the partnership in 1975. Paul served on the Southland Branch of the New Zealand Law Society for nearly 20 years. He is a current and long standing member of the Southland Master’s Golf Team. Paul is also a past President of the former Southland District Law Society.

    Paul is married to Diane, has 2 adult daughters and 3 grandchildren and is proud to say that after 20 years he still holds the course record of 60 at the Arrowtown Golf Club.

    Areas of Speciality:
    • Wills and Estate Planning
    • Farming and Rural Law
    • Buying and Selling of Property
    • Trusts
    • Elder Law
    • Estate Administration

    M: 027 228 9745
    P: 03 218 2833
    E: paul.adams@wardadams.nz
    M: 021 466 962
    P: 03 218 2833
    E: debbie@wardadams.nz

    Debbie Bryan-Lamb 

    Partner 
    L.L.B., B.Com (Management), PGDip(Ch.Adv), 
    G.Dip (Business Studies), Disputes Resolution AAMINZ (FDR)

    Debbie is passionate and committed in providing her valued clients with practical legal solutions in all areas of her practice. As an experienced litigator specialising in family law, Debbie has a particular interest in division of relationship property matters involving complex trust and company entities. Debbie also has expertise in Care of Children Act and Protection of Personal Property Rights Act proceedings, assisting clients in other general practice areas - including the sale and purchase of property, employment, immigration, wills and trusts, elderly law, retirement village and small business advice.

    Debbie joined the firm in 2000. She became an Associate in 2003 and the firm’s first female partner in 2004. Debbie is an approved AMINZ (Arbitrators’ and Mediators’ Institute of NZ Inc.), FDR Mediator and Provider, an Associate FDR member and an accredited member of the NZ Law Society’s Panel of Mediators as a Family Specialist.

    Debbie is a credentialed Associate member of the Arbitrators’ and Mediators’ Institute of New Zealand Inc., Family Dispute Resolution (FDR) Mediator and Provider. Debbie has a Graduate Diploma in Business Studies (Dispute Resolution) and is an experienced mediator renowned for helping parties reach resolution in all kinds of disputes. As a “people person” Debbie has had extensive experience in working collaboratively with parties from all walks of life. Debbie has mediated for parties involved in deeply personal family conflict, employment disputes, complex relationship property and difficult long-standing commercial disputes. Debbie’s passionate commitment to the mediation process assists her to help parties develop smart skills and strategies to manage future conflict and find ways to achieve prompt and practical solutions to their dispute. 

    Debbie is Chair of LANZ (“Law Alliance NZ Ltd”) being a national alliance of independent law firms having previously served as a Board Director since 2010. Debbie is Chair of Stopping Violence Southland (Inc.) and an Executive member on the Governance Committee of the Southland Community Law Centre.

    Areas of Speciality:
    • Family Law
    • Separation and Relationship Property
    • Care of Children Act/Domestic Violence Act and Protection of Personal Property Rights Act
    • Buying and selling property
    • Elderly Law/Retirement Village
    • Small Business advice
    • Dispute resolution
    • Employment Advice
    • Mediation

    Karen Poff

    Partner 
    L.L.B. B.A (Political Studies)

    Karen is results driven and known to be extremely competent in her field. Karen offers her clients professional and practical legal advice across a wide range of legal areas - all types of conveyancing, general property matters, small and large business advice (agribusiness and commercial), liquor licensing, trust and estate law.  

    Karen is a lawyer who prides herself in assisting all of her clients to achieve results that help to ensure their futures are secured.  

    Since starting with the firm in 2001 (and becoming a partner in 2008) Karen has become a proud Southlander and is passionate about seeing our province develop to its full potential. As part of that ambition Karen is a director of charitable company Stadium Southland Limited the company responsible for overseeing the day to day operation of one of Invercargill’s most prominent and enjoyed facilities - ILT Stadium Southland and the SIT Velodrome.

    Areas of Speciality
    • Commercial
    • Property
    • Buying and Selling Property
    • Rural 
    • Business Advice
    • Elder Law
    • Estate Law and Administration
    • Trusts
    • Wills
    • Employment Advice
    • Liquor Licensing
    M: 021 567 157
    P: 03 218 2833
    E: karen@wardadams.nz
    E: sandy@wardadams.nz

    Sandy Gilmete  

    Partner 
    L.L.B., B.A. (American History)

    Sandhiya Gilmete (Sandy) completed Bachelor of Law and Bachelor of Arts degrees at the University of Canterbury in 2006 and was admitted to the bar in 2007.

    Sandy worked as a Law Tutor and Law Facilitator for Pacific Island Students at the University of Canterbury before joining Ward Adams Bryan-Lamb in 2008. She became a partner of the firm in 2017. She practices predominantly in the areas of conveyancing both rural and property, estate and succession planning, trusts and wills and immigration.

    In her spare time, Sandy enjoys cooking, entertaining, reading and spending time with family and friends.

    Areas of Speciality:
    • Immigration
    • Property
    • Commercial
    • Trusts
    • Wills
    • Estate Administration
    • Rural
    • Business Advice
    • Employment 
    • First home Buyers

    Andrew Ward

    Associate
    L.L.B, B.A.

    Andrew is a born and bred Southlander and a 4th generation lawyer. He has been with the firm since 2011.

    Andrew’s work includes almost all areas of legal practice with a focus on civil litigation and disputes. He is passionate about helping people resolve their legal disputes and getting a positive result for his clients.

    Andrew is also a regular volunteer at the Community Law Centre.

    Away from the office, Andrew enjoys spending time with his family; his titles being husband and dad. Andrew also loves sport. He is a diehard Arsenal supporter and a cricket fan. If he isn’t watching sport he is probably out playing golf or cycling.  

    Areas of Speciality
    • Dispute resolution
    • Commercial law
    • Residential Property
    • First Home Buyers
    • Civil Law
    • Wills
    • Employment Advice
    • Trusts
    M: 027 558 201
    P: 03 218 2833
    E: andrew@wardadams.nz
    M: 021 180 5581
    P: 03 218 2833
    E: nicola@wardadams.nz

    Nicola McLeish  

    Practice Manager
    Legal Executive Cert, Dip in Business Management

    Nicola has worked for Ward Adams Bryan-Lamb since 1981 when she started as our Office Junior. Over the years Nicola has held various other positions, gaining valuable knowledge of how the firm works before becoming the firm’s Practice Manager some years ago. Nicola works closely with the Partners and is involved in all aspects of the businesses management and is responsible for all aspects of the firms staff and office management.

    We at Ward Adams Bryan-Lamb consider our client care extremely important. If you have any queries or concerns please do not hesitate to contact Nicola.
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