Welcome to
Wellington Family Law Chambers.
Wellington Family Law was established in 1994 by Simon Maude (who is now a Family Court Judge). Wellington Family Law closed in September 2019 and the three partners, Caroline Hannan, Chris Dellabarca and Sija Spaak, commenced work as Barristers, working from the same premises, now called Wellington Family Law Chambers. Sarah Morrison joined Wellington Family Law Chambers in November 2019.
All of the barristers at Wellington Family Law Chambers are members of the Family Law Section of the New Zealand Law Society.
Our offices are centrally located in the heart of the Wellington CBD.
Wellington Family Law Chambers
We provide a complete range of family law services:
Legal advice
Negotiation on your behalf
Court proceedings
Separation
Care/contact arrangements for children
Relationship property / including contracting out agreements
Dissolution (Divorce)
Care and protection of children
Adoption
Domestic Violence
Welfare Guardianship and Property Management - PPPR Act
Family protection and testamentary promises
Wellington Family Law Chambers
We are four specialist family law barristers. Collectively we have over 80 years’ experience in the practice of family law (although none of us is on a pension!)
We have experience, expertise and a pragmatic approach.
We offer a full range of family law services including advice, negotiation on your behalf and court proceedings where negotiation cannot achieve resolution.
Caroline Hannan – Barrister
caroline@wnfamilylaw.co.nz
T: (04) 494 7208
Caroline has been in practice as a lawyer since 1991 and joined Wellington Family Law in 2002. She has specialised exclusively in family law since then. Her years of specialist family law practice are preceded and complemented by 11 years of general practice, which included family law. Caroline is a senior lawyer for child.
Chris Dellabarca – Barrister
chris@wnfamilylaw.co.nz
T: (04) 494 7203
Chris has been in practice since 1995. He had a number of years on general practice (12), including family law, before joining Wellington Family Law in 2007. He has specialised exclusively in family law since then. Prior to joining Wellington Family Law, he also tutored budding lawyers at the Institute of Professional Legal Studies. Chris is a senior Lawyer for Child. He acts as counsel to Assist the Court, for the Central Authority on Hague Convention matters and for subject persons in Protection of Personal Property Rights matters. In 2018, Chris was appointed to the Independent Ministerial Panel which reviewed the 2014 changes to family justice services and was an author of the subsequent report, Te Korowai Ture ā-Whanau, which was published in June 2019.
Sija Spaak – Barrister
sija@wnfamilylaw.co.nz
T: (04) 494 7205
Sija has been in practice since 2000 and has specialised in family law throughout her legal career. Sija joined Wellington Family Law in 2003. Before training as a lawyer, Sija had a background in social work. She is a senior lawyer for child. Sija is a member of the Wellington Family Courts Association.
Sarah Morrison – Barrister
sarah@wnfamilylaw.co.nz
T: (04) 494 7206
Sarah joined Wellington Family Law Chambers in 2019. She has been in practice since 1999, practising family law exclusively since then, and specialises in relationship property matters. Sarah has particular expertise in separations and contracting out agreements (‘pre-nups’) that involve complex arrangements for trusts and companies. She is also regularly appointed by the Court as Lawyer for Child, Lawyer to Assist the Court and Lawyer for Subject Person.
Contact Us
7th floor Petherick Towers,
38-42 Waring Taylor Street,
Wellington 6011
PO Box 5251, Wellington 6140
T: (04) 499 6293
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