Presenters

Dr Rhonda Powell, Barrister, Kate Sheppard Chambers and Clarendon Chambers
Dr Rhonda Powell is a Christchurch barrister specialising in equity & trusts, estates, relationship property and applications under the Protection of Personal and Property Rights Act 1988. She is regularly appointed by the Family Court as Lawyer for Subject Person. Rhonda regularly appears in the Family Court and the Senior Courts and appeared for the successful party in Cooper v Pinney [2024] NZSC 181. She has experience in resolving a range of trust-related disputes both in and out of Court.

Ayleath Foote, Partner, Duncan Cotterill
Ayleath specialises in litigation, arbitration and dispute resolution, and provides advice and advocacy in cases before Courts at all levels. She has acted on many high value claims for insurers, trustees, beneficiaries and companies across a broad range of fields. Her focus is on high value, complex litigation as well as emergency relief. Before joining Duncan Cotterill, Ayleath worked as a senior associate in the litigation team at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer in London as part of the insurance and financial services group. There she worked on large scale litigation and advice for insurance syndicates and markets, listed companies, financial institutions and regulators. Ayleath has particular expertise in trust disputes. She has been involved in many high profile trust disputes. This included acting for the Great Christchurch Buildings Trust which successfully stayed the demolition of the Christchurch Cathedral, as well as well known beneficiary and trustee claims such as interests in the Kain v Hutton litigation. Ayleath understands that the mix of commercial enterprises, high value assets and family dynamics can be challenging to manage. As well as private trusts, she undertakes the restructuring and resettlement of Charitable Trusts, which require Court approval.