Presenters

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.


Tara Grant, Partner, Martelli McKegg
Tara Grant is a partner at Martelli McKegg, specialising in relationship property, trust and estate law. Her legal career began shortly after the 2001 reforms to the Property (Relationships) Act came into force, an alignment that shaped the direction of her work from the outset. Studying the PRA under Mark Henaghan at Otago University sparked a lasting interest in the intersection of personal relationships and property law, and she has maintained a strong focus on this area ever since. Tara is Martelli McKegg’s principal advisor on these matters, with oversight of all such agreements prepared or reviewed across the practice. Tara remains actively involved in the work itself, with a particular interest in drafting well-considered, enduring clauses and navigating bespoke, complex agreements. She also advises on relationship property, estate and trust disputes and settlements, often involving layered asset structures and intersecting legal frameworks.  This has meant that over the course of her practice, Tara has seen section 21 agreements put into effect in a wide range of circumstances — as well as challenged in others — each experience providing valuable insight into how these agreements operate in real life and how they may be strengthened. Her approach is pragmatic and resolution-focused, informed by both technical experience and a strong understanding of the human dynamics involved.


Elise Rogers, Senior Solicitor, Martelli McKegg
Elise Rogers is a Senior Solicitor at Martelli McKegg, with a practice focused on relationship property, trusts, and estate planning. She regularly advises on agreements under sections 21 and 21A of the Property (Relationships) Act, and has experience guiding clients through the complexities that arise when considering contracting out. Elise also works on a wide range of private client matters, including trust structuring, succession planning, and contentious estate issues. She is known for her calm, considered approach and her ability to support clients through emotionally charged and often complex legal matters. Elise has a strong interest in the practical application of relationship property agreements and has seen first-hand how these agreements operate in practice, including in situations where they are later challenged. These experiences continue to inform her approach to drafting and advising, with a focus on clarity, durability, and anticipating future risk.