Our People
LLB (Auckland)
Debra’s first law job was for a sole practitioner, primarily carrying out conveyancing work and subdivisions, administering estates, incorporating companies and setting up incorporated societies. She then spent a number of years working for a large Auckland city firm practising in the areas of civil litigation and employment before joining Wood Ruck in 1998. She was a partner of Wood Ruck Manukau from early 2001 until the partnership dissolved on 30 September 2010.
Debra is results driven and enjoys working alongside clients to achieve sound commercial outcomes. With her extensive litigation background she recognises the benefit of Alternative Dispute Resolution and in 2010 became a LEADR accredited mediator.
In her spare time Debra helps wrangle alpacas on her lifestyle property.
- Debra practises in the following areas:
- Conveyancing
- Commercial and Corporate
- Trusts and Estates
- Relationship property
- Civil litigation
- Employment
- Building disputes
LLB (Auckland 1984)
Tony commenced his legal career as a Law Clerk with Wood Ruck, when its offices were situated in Otahuhu, and was admitted to the bar as a barrister and solicitor whilst at the firm.
He has since then gained varied legal experience. Following his time with Wood Ruck he worked in London for 2 years with firms specialising in Criminal and Personal Injury law.
On his return to New Zealand he worked in Panmure for 3 years, with his primary areas of work being Family and Civil litigation. He then worked as Senior Associate and then Partner in an Auckland City firm specialising in Civil and Commercial and Civil litigation, before returning to the southern suburbs of Auckland, and to general practice.
At Law & Associates he continues in general practice with an emphasis on Estates, Trusts, Relationship Property, and Civil and Commercial litigation.
Tony’s philosophy in legal practice is to provide timely legal advice and representation to clients in a personal and when appropriate, informal manner. Throughout the process Tony’s aim is to ensure the best possible outcome for the client, both economically and personally, no matter how small or major the issue may be.
LLB (South Africa 2004)
Chantal Helm has been employed at Law & Associates since August 2022 after working at a mid sized law firm in South Auckland for 2 years. Chantal has a LLB degree in South Africa where she managed her own law firm since 2008 until 2015 as a general practitioner protecting the rights of vulnerable clients, women and children. Subsequent to that, Chantal was headhunted to manage one of the branches of Legal Aid South Africa as a Supervisory Legal Manager from 2015 till 2020.
A few days before the New Zealand borders shut due to Covid 19 in March 2020 Chantal and her family arrived in New Zealand. With settling in and exploring our beautiful country Chantal and her family has made New Zealand their forever home.
Chantal enjoys the “kiwi lifestyle” and passionate about travelling and exploring what life has to offer while drinking “good wine as life is too short not to” Her teenage kids keep her busy and she enjoys stargazing experiences with her hubby.
Chris first joined Wood Ruck in 1981 and (apart from a period of absence in 2007/2008) worked continuously for Wood Ruck Manukau and its predecessor until the practice dissolved. She has extensive knowledge of the practice and our clients.
Marie has been employed by Law & Associates since January 2021 after working in a central city law firm for over 20 years. With a passion for conveyancing, she is part of our busy property and commercial law team.
Marie began her career as a junior Legal Secretary in a local law firm in 1998 while she studied and qualified as a Legal Executive in 2001. Marie became a Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Legal Executives in March 2019.
Marie enjoys the busy working environment with the team at Law & Associates, loves a nice glass of Sav and outside of the office is kept busy with her run series events and managing her hockey mad family.
Dominique is the daughter of Debra Law, who twisted her arm into joining the Law & Associates team in April 2021. Her natural abilities at bossing people around make her ideal for this role.
She is also a published author, so if you catch her staring off into the distance, she could be plotting her next fantastical literary adventure.
When she is not at the office, she is managing the family’s equine farm and surrounding herself with a menagerie of animals from dogs to alpacas to horses.
