Presenters

David Amodeo, Barrister, Hobson Chambers
David is a barrister who specialises and practises in all areas of relationship and family law, and has done so for over a quarter of a century. David represents a wide variety of clients, including individuals, families and organisations in situations and proceedings across the wide diversity of situations involving people and property that are encompassed within the relevant jurisdictions. Throughout his time in practise David has presented many seminars to lawyers and other professionals working within the area and continues his involvement in a variety of roles within professional associations working in Aotearoa.

Debbie Bryan-Lamb, Partner, Ward Adams Bryan-Lamb
Debbie is committed in providing her valued clients with practical legal solutions in all areas of her practice. As an experienced litigator specialising in family law, Debbie has a particular interest in division of relationship property matters involving complex trust and company entities. Debbie also has expertise in Care of Children Act and Protection of Personal Property Rights Act proceedings, assisting clients in other general practice areas - including the sale and purchase of property, employment, immigration, wills and trusts, elderly law, retirement village and small business advice. Debbie joined the firm in 2000. She became an Associate in 2003 and the firm’s first female partner in 2004. Debbie is a Lawyer For Child and Lawyer for Subject Person, AMINZ (Arbitrators’ and Mediators’) Institute of NZ Inc., FDR Mediator/Provider, a credentialed Associate FDR Member, a Voice of Child Specialist and an accredited member of the NZ Law Society’s Panel of Mediators as a Family Specialist. Debbie has a Graduate Diploma in Business Studies (Dispute Resolution) and is an experienced mediator renowned for helping parties reach resolution in all kinds of disputes. As a “people person” Debbie has had extensive experience in working collaboratively with parties from all walks of life. Debbie has mediated for parties involved in deeply personal family conflict, employment disputes, complex relationship property and difficult long-standing commercial disputes. Debbie’s passionate commitment to the mediation process assists her to help parties develop smart skills and strategies to manage future conflict and find ways to achieve prompt and practical solutions to their dispute. Debbie is Past Chair of LANZ (“Law Alliance NZ Ltd”) being a national alliance of independent law firms having previously served as a Board Director since 2010. Debbie is Chair of Lighthouse (previously Stopping Violence Southland (Inc.)). Debbie is also Chair of the Southland Community Law Centre and on the governance team of Disability Resource Centre.

Shelley Stevenson, Barrister, Kumutoto Chambers
Shelley is an experienced family lawyer based in Wellington, New Zealand. She specialises in all aspects of family law and has special interest in relationship property and cases involving Oranga Tamariki. She is regularly appointed by the Family Court to represent children in parenting disputes and child protection cases. Earlier in her career Shelley was a youth advocate, criminal defence lawyer and civil litigator and has worked in family law since 1995.