Kesia has practised family law exclusively since 2009, having gained a Bachelor of Laws at the University of Otago (as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Social Science). She handles all types of matters, including ones involving parenting and guardianship disputes, domestic violence, relationship property and financial support, adoption, surrogacy and embryo donation, paternity issues, Family Protection Act claims, and applications under the Protection of Personal and Property Rights Act.
Kesia’s clients benefit from her various modes of operation: whilst she is a personable and perceptive negotiator when settlement options are being explored, equally, she is an unyielding and persuasive advocate when litigation is necessary. Kesia prides herself on providing advice which is pragmatic and carefully considered, endeavouring to find resourceful and creative solutions for her clients where possible. Her clients and colleagues describe her as efficient, energetic, strategic, and as having a genuine desire to achieve the best result for her clients, whatever that may look like in their unique circumstances.
Kesia enjoys making contributions to the legal profession beyond the work she does in practice. She is a member of a number of committees, including the Auckland Women Lawyers’ Association, and has been appointed as an ambassador of White Ribbon New Zealand, in recognition of her work assisting and supporting victims of domestic violence. Kesia has written and presented legal seminars on family law issues, authored articles for the New Zealand Law Society publications, LawTalk and LawPoints, and is a contributor to the quarterly magazine of the Family Law Section, The Family Advocate. Kesia is an appointed member of the New Zealand Law Society Lawyers Standards Committee. Kesia is also a mentor for the New Zealand Law Society, a member of the College of Law / New Zealand Bar Association Mentoring Panel, and regularly judges competitions for both the University of Auckland and the AUT Law School. She was a member of the Family Courts Association committee at its inception and, in her earlier years, was a founding committee member of the New Zealand Law Society Young Lawyers Group.
Out of the office, Kesia enjoys spending time with family and friends, travelling, and being active, which counteracts (at least some of) the time she spends enjoying the fruits of her labour in the kitchen.
Kesia is a member of the New Zealand Law Society Family Law Section and Auckland District Law Society.
