The Best Family
Lawyers In Nelson

PITT & MOORE LAWYERS

We are a Nelson/Tasman based law firm, established in 1864, with expertise across the full range of legal services from business and commercial contracts to personal legal matters. We are proud to act for an impressive list of local, national and international clients.

We strive to deliver the highest quality legal work and service to our clients.

Our core values also include our commitment to being accessible, efficient and responsive; to find real solutions; to communicate clearly; and to conduct ourselves with honesty and integrity.

We are passionate about the people and the businesses we serve, locally, nationally and around the world.

HAMISH.FLETCHER LAWYERS

Hamish.Fletcher Lawyers opened its doors in 2003 when Hamish Fletcher, a third-generation Nelson lawyer, decided to continue the family’s legacy. Our team consists of dedicated, talented and hard-working individuals that genuinely care about our clients’ interests.

The values that underpin the way in which we engage with each other and our clients are Connected, Attentive, Tenacious and Dynamic. Our vision is to provide the best end-to-end legal service possible for our clients. In doing so, we will consistently deliver:

A valued service;

Advantageous advice; and

Meaningful outcomes.

Whether our clients are facing challenges or opportunities, we leverage our expertise, diversity and experience, and work hard to achieve their objectives, both legal and non-legal.

FLETCHER VAUTIER MOORE LAWYERS

PROVIDING LEGAL SERVICES TO THE NELSON PROVINCE AND BEYOND

Established in 1950, Fletcher Vautier Moore is a progressive 7-Partner practice with a wider team of 40+ people.

As one of the largest law firms in the upper South Island, our footprint extends throughout New Zealand. Our commercial clients include multinationals and listed companies, large corporations, and regional businesses.

To support our ever-expanding local client base, the firm operates three permanently-staffed offices in Nelson, Richmond and Motueka (and in Takaka by appointment).

Technology allows us to seamlessly serve our clients throughout New Zealand, and we travel as-required. We’re fortunate to live and work in the stunning Te Tau Ihu region; enjoying the best of both worlds.

STEVENS ORCHARD LAWYERS

Our rural roots have always been in serving provincial areas. It began in 1935, with what was described at the time as a ‘very distinguished’ Buller practice founded by Michael Scully. It evolved through various partnerships with highly respected lawyers who went on to become Senior Magistrates and District Court Judges (Scully & Sullivan and DJ Sullivan & Smith).

David Orchard ran the Westport law firm for four decades from 1966. Bravely in 2001, during a regional downturn, David opened the Nelson law office (Stoke). In 2007, Lee James (previously Stevens) took over the management of the Nelson and Westport law offices, and in 2012, the firm was incorporated as Stevens Orchard Lawyers Limited. Margot Harkness and Jane Duncan joined Lee as Co-Directors. Driven by the same community values and desire to do good – all are highly experienced lawyers with a reputation for being tenacious in support of their clients. Meet all Stevens Orchard, Westport and Nelson lawyers, solicitors, registered legal executives and support staff here.

We are proud of how our provincial law firm has grown from a small local Westport law firm to providing legal services to the wider regions of Nelson, Tasman, Marlborough, and the West Coast. We are active members of Law Alliance New Zealand. We will remain provincial in our provision of legal services as it allows us to specialise and be hands-on “involved” in the way we know works best for people. We have developed a structure that allows us to be more agile and responsive to clients’ legal needs, and run our practice as a caring efficient business. This means clients can enjoy senior lawyer attention for good fair value. Our specialist legal areas are Rural Law, Property Law and Commercial Law – and we offer the full range of legal services in Asset Protection and Planning, Civil Dispute and Family Law.

C & F LEGAL LTD

C & F Legal Limited is a Nelson law firm featuring an experienced and cohesive team of lawyers with a professional support team.

Why clients choose C & F Legal Limited

Solutions – Our focus is on providing solutions for our clients’ needs in language they can understand.

Specialisation – Our team have developed recognised expertise in their chosen fields, in particular civil litigation, asset restructuring, commercial and company law, financing and property transactions.

Service – A strong team ethic is key to the level of service C & F Legal provides. We work to understand the needs of our clients and provide sound, cost effective service accordingly.

PAULINE SHOEMACK LAWYER | MEDIATOR

Pauline Shoemack (LL.B/B.A.) has a depth of legal knowledge and experience having practised as a lawyer since 1983. Pauline specialises in all aspects of family law, and is a member of the New Zealand Law Society Family Law Section. As a qualified mediator she assists people, where appropriate, to settle their disputes through mediation.

Pauline enjoys the satisfaction and challenge of having her own legal practice and helping people reach solutions.

ZINDELS BARRISTERS & SOLICITORS

Social justice and fairness have formed the quintessential elements of Steven Zindels childhood, his belief in equal access to justice climaxed on 1 December 1994 when he departed the commercial arena and established Zindels Barristers & Solicitors in the historical building at 21 New Street.

Zindels aims to level the playing the legal playing field by increasing each persons access to justice. We are hard workers committed to creating avenues for justice, whether that be with legal aid or without, we aim to act within the law to make a difference and achieve a positive outcome in each individual case.

The firm has been privy to in excess of 9,000 cases over the years in variety of areas including family, civil, employment, ACC, wills and trusts and criminal. We continue to grow our expertise and are one of the only firms to encourage the development of young and upcoming graduates. Our team of lawyers and support staff provide a wide array of expertise well suited to assisting each individual with the legal challenges before them.

DMK LAW LIMITED

Family law covers a wide range of issues both big and small which may be affecting you or someone you care about. These issues can be very difficult to navigate. They can have a huge impact on you and your family. We are passionate about family law and want to help you find a way forward.

Issues that May Arise in Family Law

• Separation & Division of Relationship Property
• Family Violence & Protection Orders
• Parenting day to day care & contact disputes
• Guardianship Disputes, for example relocation of children, schooling disputes, medical disputes, name change
• Paternity
• Adoption
• Oranga Tamariki Proceedings or assistance (previously Child Youth and Family)
• Representation of children in Court proceedings (appointed by the Court only)

Our team provides legal advice and representation to clients who are eligible for legal aid. To find out if you are eligible for legal aid please use the financial eligibility calculator on the Ministry of Justice website, or contact Shelley at our office who can assess whether you can apply for legal aid.

DANIEL-SMITH BARRISTERS & SOLICITORS

Daniell-Smith & Co is a small law firm specialising mostly in court work which has been serving Nelson people for over 25 years.

We offer a full range of representation in the areas of:

Family Law such as

• Care and custody of children
• Family violence
• Protection orders
• Paternity orders
• Relationship property
• Mediation

We are an accredited legal aid provider through the Ministry of Justice.

Fiona Emery specialises in family law and mental health with many years’ experience with Child Youth and Family as a supervisor and has a special interest in both care and protection matters and domestic violence litigation.

We are friendly, practical and approachable.

BAMFORD LAW LIMITED

We have expertise in advising and representing clients on a wide range of issues in the Family Law area.

This includes relationship property agreements, the division of relationship property following separation, taking cases to Court and representing parties to disputes over relationship property matters, often where businesses or family trusts are involved.

We represent clients in relation to care of children cases where parties are working through the stresses associated with the breakup of a relationship where children are involved. Additionally we take on cases where protection orders are needed and also where they are to be defended.