What is collaborative law?

Collaborative Law aims to assist you with resolving your issues, with dignity and respect. It helps put a non-confrontational spin on things, to achieve a win-win outcome privately.

The focus remains solely on the best outcomes for you and your children. Both parenting and financial issues are able to be resolved.

Sessions are face-to-face, and if necessary other experts can be brought in, including psychologists, accountants, etc. Negotiations, and options are discussed and considered immediately, meaning there is no longer a long wait between lawyers letters. 
 

Why we practice it 

Collaborative practice enables you to sit around a table with your own legal advisor and any other agreed professionals, to directly negotiate, find mutually acceptable solutions and plan your own future in a dignified and respectful way. You are able to keep control of the process and decisions being made.

To find out more, contact Minka or Bella.

 

Our team

Not everything goes smoothly all of the time so when a conflict arises - particularly a family conflict you need people on your side who get it and can work with the issues to find the best resolution for your situation.  These are the people who can help you resolve your issues.

Chat with us
Bella

Isabella Hutchison

Senior Solicitor

Born and bred in Christchurch, Bella now calls Queenstown home, after spending six years in Auckland studying and starting out her legal career alongside one of Auckland’s leading senior family law barristers.

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Micah Neville

Micah Neville

Associate

Micah has a wealth of knowledge across multiple practice areas including family law and relationship property, trusts, wills and estate planning.
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Minka Bodde

Minka Boddé

Special Counsel and Family Law Specialist

Minka is an accomplished litigator who excels at mediation and helping to resolve conflicts. She’s passionate about helping families navigate separation and after two decades working in family law, Minka has a huge depth of knowledge and expertise to draw on.
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Articles and Events

Family Law - Relationship breakdown

Resolving relationship breakdowns during stressful times, part 1

One of the many unfortunate and tragic consequences of Covid-19 is the dramatic increase in couples looking to separate or divorce. The stress of lockdown and the resultant changes to how we live, including working from home, couples forced to spend more time together than they normally would, and economic pressures means many relationships are struggling under the strain.
Relationship & Family Collaborative Law
Family Law - Relationship breakdown 2

What you need to know about Collaborative Practice, part 2

In Part 1, we considered the benefits of Collaborative Practice as an alternative to the traditional separation or divorce process. In Part II we answer some of the most frequently asked questions about Collaborative Practice.
Relationship & Family Collaborative Law
Family playing outside

What you need to know about Collaborative Practice - collaborative law, part 2

In Part I we considered the benefits of Collaborative Practice as an alternative to the traditional separation or divorce process.

Collaborative Law
Couple looking unhappy

Relationships and breakdowns during stressful times - collaborative law, part 1

One of the many unfortunate and tragic consequences of Covid-19 is the dramatic increase in couples looking to separate or divorce.

Relationship & Family Collaborative Law
Boy plays with toys by himself

Child Relocation Disputes: Remember when it was just February back-to-school blues?

February has always been a stressful month for parents and children going back to school. But March is proving even more stressful with the threat of self-isolation looming for many parents of school-age children.
Relationship & Family Collaborative Law Care of Children
Couple at a cafe

Relationship property law's changing face – are you properly protected?

It might be more than 40 years old, but recent research reveals a concerning lack of understanding still prevails around who gets what under the Property (Relationships) Act 1976 in the event of a break-up or one partner dying.
Residential property Relationship & Family Relationship property Collaborative Law
Family icon

De facto relationships: not always cut and dried

When it comes to the evolution of intimate relationships, there is no textbook timeline – some people tightly entwine their lives within mere weeks; others keep it casual for years.
Relationship & Family Collaborative Law
Grandparents at table with grandchild

Accessing the assets of a trust

When a marriage, civil union or de facto relationship breaks down, the couple will usually divide their property according to the Property (Relationships) Act 1976 (the PRA). However, these two people often hold property in a trust rather than personally.
Relationship & Family Relationship property Collaborative Law Trusts and Life planning Managing a Trust
Family icon

The modern-day “pre-nup” – do you need one?

Once largely the domain of the well-heeled, personalised agreements about what will happen to assets in a relationship should a couple separate, or one partner die, are becomingly increasingly mainstream.
Relationship & Family Relationship property Collaborative Law
Unhappy couple

Getting divorced: timing is critical

Some separated couples start divorce proceedings the very day they’re legally entitled to. Others wait years before bothering.

Relationship & Family Collaborative Law