Presenters

Maree Cross, Barrister, Lorne Street Chambers
Maree practices in criminal and civil litigation. In addition to her LLB (Hons)/BA from the University of Auckland (graduating with a Senior Prize and Senior Scholarship respectively), she holds an LLM (graduating as a Scholar) from Columbia University, New York. Maree was full-time junior to David PH Jones KC as well as a Senior Associate in litigation at MinterEllisonRuddWatts. She joined the independent bar in 2016 at Lorne Street Chambers with Mr Jones. She has acted for a number of high-profile individuals and appears regularly in the District and High Courts, with particular expertise in the criminal jury trial jurisdiction. She is Convenor of one of the Auckland Standards Committees, member of the NZLS National S30 Interview Panel, and contributing author to the Thomson Reuters’ text, “Privacy Law in New Zealand”. Maree also conducts Certificate of Character interviews on behalf of NZLS.


Anoushka Bloem, Principal, Bloem & Associates
Anoushka Bloem founded Bloem Law as the largest specialist criminal defence practice in Auckland. She has established a large team of criminal lawyers who focus solely on criminal law, offering transformative outcomes for her clients. Anoushka specialises in jury trials for serious crime. She conducts jury trials in the Auckland region District Courts and the High Court. Anoushka represents people charged with the full spectrum of criminal charges including sexual, violence, drug and dishonesty charges. Anoushka has 21 years’ experience in the area of criminal law.