Firm Profile for Parry Field Lawyers - Christchurch

Peter van Rij

Peter joined Parry Field in 1975 and is the senior partner at the firm.

He focuses on business and company matters including commercial problem solving, negotiations, litigation, leases contracts, intellectual property and software, superannuation, finance and securities, international contracts, supply and distribution agreements. Peter has extensive civil litigation experience and has appeared for clients at the Privy Council twice on commercial issues.

Peter is a director of several companies, is the Chairman of the Board of Directors for Tait Electronics Limited and Postie Plus Group Limited. He is also actively involved in his church and has been a member of the Middleton Grange School Board of Trustees for some time.

Email: petervanrij@parryfield.com

Ken Lord

Ken joined Parry Field in 1980 becoming a partner with Peter in September 1980. Ken's focus is on Property and Personal law with strong interests in issues relating to the charitable sector, assisting the elderly and charitable trusts. His practice specialises in trusts and asset planning, but spans (by means of delegation) to all property, litigation and commercial law, with an interest in resource management law.

Ken has served, or is still serving, on the boards (inter alia) of YMCA Christchurch, Christian Resource Centre International, CRY For The World Foundation, Hagar New Zealand, Sexual Abuse Survivors Trust, Living Springs Trust, Garden City Rotary Charitable Trust, La Vida Youth Trust, Parry Field Charitable Foundation, Wilding Foundation, is an active member of a Rotary Club (President in 2002) as well as a keen musician and more recently - a competitive road cycling racer, chairing The Papanui Cycling Club Incorporated.

Graduating LLB form the University of Canterbury in 1977, Ken completed a BA in English and Russian literature in 2004. He takes an active part in the New Zealand Law Society, having been a member of property law committees, seminar/conference organisation committees, and is Convenor for the Trusts and Wills Committee. He is one of the contributing authors to the Lexis Nexis Law of Trusts, having written and reviewed the chapter devoted to charity law.

Email: kenlord@parryfield.com

Grant Adams

Grant began practising law with a large Christchurch legal firm in 1980 and then transferred to Parry Field in 1986, becoming a partner the following year. Grant specialises in Commercial/Business law. He has advised on the sales and purchases of Businesses, Farms and the sale and purchase and protection of Intellectual Property. He has helped restructure business entities as well as build asset protection and succession structures for individuals. Grant has some significant clients operating in farming, tourism and the IT industries.

Grant has a particular interest in working with the owners of businesses, which often involves asset planning, trusts and personal asset protection. He is recent past chairman of Burnside High School Board of Trustees and is presently chairman of St Christopher's Community Trust, a trust associated with St Christopher's Anglican Church in Avonhead, Christchurch, where he is also involved.

In his spare time Grant enjoys squash, mountain bike riding and debates with friends over anything from philosophy to sport. When asked what he enjoys most about working as lawyer he replied: "Getting to understand clients and what they really want to achieve, and helping them get there".

Email: grantadams@parryfield.com

Paul Cowey

Paul leads our litigation and dispute resolution team. His innovative and enthusiastic approach, developed over twenty years litigation experience, puts him in an excellent position to not only resolve disputes but also advise clients how to avoid them.

He has acted for individuals, SME's, trading banks, charitable companies and insurers. His specialist areas include shareholder and business law, building and construction, estate litigation, insurance, and Relationship Property. He has appeared in most Courts in New Zealand, from the Family and Environment Courts to the Court of Appeal. He is admitted in New Zealand, Australia and Fiji.

Paul understands business, having several years experience as a director of companies in the not-for-profit, aged care and property sectors.

Paul enjoys his work. This he balances with his love of sailing, tramping, travel and music. Paul and his wife have two teenage children and one large boisterous dog.

Email: paulcowey@parryfield.com

Lois Flanagan

Lois leads our family and employment team. She specialises in relationship property and care of children matters, and advises employers and employees on all aspects of Employment Law including redundancy, dismissals and employment agreements.

Lois was admitted to the bar in 1997 after a varied teaching career both in New Zealand and overseas, and now has 14 years experience in resolving all kinds of family and employment disputes. She is passionate about assisting people in resolving their conflicts in a constructive and practical manner and, like most clients, prefers a mediated approach (where possible) to expensive court processes. She has recently completed a mediation training course for lawyers.

Lois enjoys gardening, travel and music, and brings extensive life and pastoral experience to our firm. Her family activities include keeping in touch with her three lawyer sons (one of whom has appeared before the Privy Council) between Auckland and Canada, and spending time with her young grandchildren.

Email: loisflanagan@parryfield.com

Tim Rankin

Tim is Parry Field's most recent partner and a key member of our property and commercial team. He acts for a wide range of commercial and not-for-profit clients in the areas of business acquisitions and disposals, commercial leases, franchises and charitable trusts, and frequently advises directors and shareholders on corporate governance issues. Tim has particular expertise in commercial and residential subdivisions, having been involved in some of Canterbury's larger recent subdivisions.

Tim seeks to provide clients with common sense, pragmatic advice that is, importantly, correct. He has led our property team in seeking solutions to the often complex issues arising out of the recent Canterbury earthquakes in a manner that is clear, timely and reassuring to clients.

After commencing his legal career with Parry Field in 1996, Tim spent five years from 2002 in Dublin and London at a major Investment Bank. He returned to New Zealand and Parry Field in September 2007, becoming a partner in October 2010.

He and his wife Christine have three young children who are almost always a delight to them and who, along with a love of all things sport and coffee, and church and charitable commitments, fill out what it left of his spare time.

Email: timrankin@parryfield.com

Hannah Carey

Hannah joined Parry Field in 2005, following two years general litigation experience with another Christchurch law firm. She focuses on property law, family law, employment law and litigation.

Hannah presently works two days per week (Tuesdays and Thursdays).

Email: hannahcarey@parryfield.com

Kris Morrison

Kris joined Parry Field in 2002. He focuses on commercial/business law, governance, property, trusts and intellectual property, and has advised both commercial and residential clients on a variety of lease and insurance issues arising from the recent Canterbury earthquakes.

Kris has written on New Zealand environmental law and property law and regularly advises on contractual and property issues. He is currently the chairman of the Emmanuel Christian School Board of Trustees, and is also actively involved in his church. Kris's previous experience included two years as the research counsel for Principal Family Court Judge Mahony. He also tutored Contract Law at Victoria University of Wellington and Tort Law and Land Law at the University of Canterbury.

Kris's hobbies include guitar, gardening and sport, but running around after his six children occupies much of his free time.

Email: krismorrison@parryfield.com

Paul Owens

Paul joined Parry Field in January 2009. He focuses on commercial/business law and property transactions. Paul has recently arrived back to New Zealand following a year living and working in the United Kingdom. He has three years experience in commercial law and property transactions with another Christchurch law firm.

Email: paulowens@parryfield.com

Christy Corlett

Christy joined Parry Field in July 2011 after previously working in Rangiora and Invercargill. She was admitted in 2006.

Christy has a litigation background, which has continued at Parry Field. She has a particular focus on family (both children and property), employment (employers and employees) and civil litigation. This has seen her regularly appear in a variety of courts including the Family Court, District Court and Employment Relations Authority. Although she enjoys the challenge of the court room environment, she equally finds it just as rewarding resolving disputes for clients outside of the court room. This will often provide a more satisfactory, cost-effective and timely result for the client.

Christy takes a pragmatic approach to the advice she gives which ensures individuals and businesses are equipped with the knowledge of how to resolve current disputes and prevent future ones.

Outside of work, Christy can often be found in the outdoors; tramping, walking, biking, skiing and travelling.

Email: christy.corlett@parryfield.com

Joseph Morris

Joseph joined Parry Field in 2009 having graduated from Otago University with a double degree in Law and Classical History. He focuses on commercial, property and family law. Joseph volunteered in his final year of study at the Dunedin Community Law Centre where he experienced a wide range of legal disciplines. Outside of work, he enjoys surfing and spearfishing along with most other water sports.

Email: josephmorris@parryfield.com

Viv Zhang

Viv Zhang attained a Legal Executive qualification from Christchurch Polytechnic, a Law degree from China, and a Masters in Law from the University of Canterbury. Her areas of interest are Commercial, Property, Trust and Immigration Law.

Viv is fluent in Mandarin and has considerable experience in translating for Asian clients in legal matters. When her studies have permitted (which can't have been often!), Viv's interests include swimming and reading.

Email: vivzhang@parryfield.com

Vinesh Prakash

Vinesh joined Parry Field in 2008 and assists with property conveyancing matters.

Vinesh has come to New Zealand from Fiji with his wife and son. He built up fourteen years experience working in Fiji with a law firm based in Lautoka City as a junior conveyancing clerk and later as the senior conveyancing clerk.

Email: vineshprakash@parryfield.com

Andrea Lambie-Shaw

Andrea joined Parry Field in 2011, bringing with her extensive experience in the management/leadership of Law Firms over the last 20 years; including serving on the Law Society Law Management Committee both in New Zealand (2 years) and England/Wales (4 years). Andrea commenced her career in Chartered Accountancy, qualified as a Legal Executive, and then graduated in 1992 with a MBA from the University of Auckland. Andrea has throughout been actively involved in many professional organisations, more recently, as a Chamber of Commerce Board Member and a long-term Rotarian.

Andrea will help Parry Field to enhance the delivery of client services, encourage strategic thinking and planning, and be actively involved in business development.

Email: andrea.lambie-shaw@parryfield.com