Gain advanced, practice-focused insights into contemporary probate disputes, including the evidential and strategic foundations of fraudulent calumny claims, emerging approaches under the Family Protection Act, executors’ ‘claw back’ claims and managing conflict-of-interest allegations. Take away practical decision-making tools for navigating multi-claim estates—prioritising and sequencing claims, assessing evidence and settlement options, managing costs, and managing beneficiaries’ expectations. Gain essential insights through drawing on the experience of leading barristers and specialist practitioners.

Presenters

Dr Rhonda Powell, Barrister, Kate Sheppard Chambers
Dr Rhonda Powell is a Christchurch barrister specialising in equity & trusts, estates, relationship property and the Protection of Personal and Property Rights Act 1988.  Rhonda appears in Courts at all levels and appeared for the successful party in Cooper v Pinney [2024] NZSC 181. She has experience in resolving a range of trust and estate related disputes both in and out of Court.

Sally Morris, Partner, Morris Legal
Sally is the founding partner of Morris Legal. She is admitted as a Barrister and Solicitor in New Zealand, New South Wales and New York and has a Master of Laws Degree from Columbia University in New York. Sally has an established reputation in the field of trust, estate and relationship property disputes, appearing regularly in the Family Court, High Court and Court of Appeal on behalf of trustees, beneficiaries, executors, charities and private clients.

Sam Jeffs, Barrister, Mills Land Chambers
Samuel Jeffs is a barrister at Mills Lane Chambers specialising in commercial and civil disputes. He has advised and acted for parties in a wide range of disputes arising from contracts, joint ventures, shareholdings, construction projects, and trusts and estates. Sam has appeared in a number of courts, including successfully in the Supreme Court, and various specialist tribunals, including arbitrations. Sam graduated from Oxford with a BCL (Distinction) and the University of Auckland with BA/LLB(Hons) degrees, where he was a Senior Scholar for both Law and Arts. Sam has spoken at conferences and has also published a number of articles.

Sonja Clapham, Barrister, Shortland Chambers
Sonja Clapham is a barrister practising from Shortland Chambers, Auckland. She specializes in advice and litigation regarding deceased estates including Probate, administration, challenges to wills, and disputes concerning deceased estates. She has presented a number of papers in the past including to seminars and conferences for the Auckland District Law Society Inc. and the New Zealand Bar Association.

Vicki Ammundsen, Director, Vicki Ammundsen Trust Law
Vicki is the director at Vicki Ammundsen Trust Law Limited, which she established in 2015. Vicki is also the author of a number of books on trusts and trustees including Taxation of Trusts, ed 5, Trustee Liability, ed 2 and the Trustee’s Handbook, ed 5 (all published by Wolters Kluwer). She has presented at conferences in New Zealand and internationally on trust-related topics. Vicki also writes the blog Matters of Trust, which is a valuable trust and estate law resource. Vicki uses her day-to-day experience with trusts and estates and her deep knowledge of relevant case law to underpin her practical, solutions-focussed approach to dealing with a range of matters touching on trusts and estates. She firmly believes that trusts have an important role to play in inter-generational asset management, but that this is risked by a lack of understanding of effective or appropriate trust management that too often leads to misunderstanding or abuse.

Miranda Gray, Partner, Tavendale + Partners
Miranda is a distinguished litigator with a formidable track record in managing high-stakes cases. Her practice spans a broad spectrum of issues including relationship property disputes, contentious estate matters, and intricate trust conflicts including resolving disputes involving blended families. Miranda also advises on commercial disputes. With her high emotional intelligence and calm, centred demeanour, Miranda skilfully guides her clients through fractured relationships and strained family dynamics, finding solutions where others see no way forward. Her approach is direct and her pragmatic mindset, ensures clients receive clear, actionable advice tailored to their unique circumstances. Furthermore, Miranda is a highly sought-after instructing solicitor for barristers, including Kings Counsel. Over and above her practice, Miranda makes a significant contribution to the legal profession. She is a current Canterbury Law Review Trustee and presented at the NZLS Property (Relationships) Act Intensive 2024 and sits on the committee responsible for developing the UC Pacific Implementation Plan, designed to strengthening Pasifika legal education at UC. Miranda further supports in the community and currently sits on the board of Canterbury Basketball." Miranda is an effective advocate and regularly appears in the Family, District and High Courts. Miranda is based in our Christchurch office.