Our People
Paul Adams
ConsultantL.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
M: 021 466 962
P: 03 218 2833
Debbie Bryan-Lamb
Partner L.L.B., B.Com (Management), PGDip(Ch.Adv), G.Dip (Business Studies), Disputes Resolution AAMINZ (FDR)
Debbie is 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 a Lawyer For Child and Lawyer for Subject Person, AMINZ (Arbitrators’ and Mediators’) Institute of NZ Inc., FDR Mediator/Provider, a credentialed Associate FDR Member, a Voice of Child Specialist and an accredited member of the NZ Law Society’s Panel of Mediators as a Family Specialist.
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 Past 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 Lighthouse (previously Stopping Violence Southland (Inc.)). Debbie is also Chair of the Southland Community Law Centre and on the governance team of Disability Resource Centre.
Areas of Speciality:
- Family Law
- Separation and Relationship Property
- Care of Children Act/Domestic Violence Act and Protection of Personal Property Rights Act
- Voice of Child Specialist
- Buying and selling property
- Elder Law/Retirement Village
- Small Business advice
- Dispute resolution
- Employment Advice
- Mediation
Karen Poff
Partner L.L.B. B.A (Political Studies)
Karen provides practical results based legal advice to her clients. Karen enjoys variety and works across a wide range of legal areas, including small and large business advice (agribusiness and commercial), all types of conveyancing, general property matters, refinances, succession advice, trust and estate law, wills and enduring powers of attorney, employment agreements and liquor licensing.
Karen 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 taken to life in Southland and is passionate about seeing our province develop to its true potential.
Outside of the office, Karen enjoys socialising with family and friends, reading, fitness and spending quality time with her husband and 2 school aged daughters.
Areas of Specialty
• Commercial
• Property
• Buying and Selling Property
• Rural
• Business Advice
• Refinances
• Succession Advice
• Elder Law
• Estate Law and Administration
• Trusts
• Enduring Powers of Attorney
• Wills
• Employment Agreements
• Liquor Licensing
M: 021 567 157
P: 03 218 2833
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
Partner
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 on the Southland Standards Committee and is a member of the Southland Branch Panel of Friends. He also regularly volunteers at the Southland Community Law Centre.
Away from the office, Andrew enjoys spending time with his family. He also enjoys playing golf and is a current board member of the Invercargill Golf Club.
Areas of Speciality
- Civil Law
- Dispute resolution
- Commercial law
- Residential Property
- First Home Buyers
- Employment Advice
- Wills
- Trusts
- Relationship Property
M: 021 558 201
P: 03 218 2833
Jonathon Amtmann
Associate
L.L.B., B.Com (Management)
Jonathon joined our firm in April 2019. By the end of 2017, he completed his Law and Commerce degrees with the University of Canterbury. He was admitted to the Bar in 2018.
Jonathon was initially employed with the Southland Community Law Centre which gave him exposure to a wide range of legal issues. Jonathon also volunteered with the Community Law Centre in Canterbury during his studies. Since Jonathon has been with us, he has continued to assist our clients with their many different and varying legal needs.
He has been involved with our family law team, assisting clients in and out of the family court setting. Jonathon continues to assist on private client matters as well as employment and conveyancing. Jonathon has lived in a few different countries growing up and therefore appreciates that clients come from all different walks of life. Jonathon is practical solutions driven.
When not in the office, Jonathon likes to spend his free time with his family and particularly enjoys going out mountain biking, hiking and completing walking trails..
Teena Malik
Staff Solicitor
L.L.B., B.A. (Eng. Hons.), M.B.A. (HR)
P.G.Dip (Business Enterprise)
Teena joined our Ward Adams Bryan-Lamb team in January 2024 having graduated from Otago University and admitted to the bar in 2023. Teena provides legal advice and assistance for our family law team advising clients in all aspects of family matters including shared care arrangements, family violence, separation and division of relationship property and dissolution of marriage. Teena also provides weekly voluntary assistance to the Southland Community Law Centre.
Outside of work Teena enjoys travel, listening to music and trying different cuisines with friends and family.
Areas of Speciality:
- Family Law
- Care of Children Act/ Domestic Violence Act
- Separation and Relationship Property
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.
