Gerard is a civil litigation and dispute resolution specialist, who has been in practice since 1979.

Gerard is a tenacious supporter of his client’s rights and has deep commitment to fairness and achieving a just outcome. His fields of expertise include insurance law, insolvency, employment issues, contract disputes, debt management and recovery, and education issues. Gerard appears regularly in the District Court, High Court, Court of Appeal, Employment Relations Authority and Employment Court.

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Gerard leads a team of lawyers who undertake cases for both large corporate entities and individuals.

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Gerard serves as Chairman of the Wellington Rugby Union Disciplinary Committee and is on the Board of Te Omanga Hospice. He also advises a significant number of local charities.

As well as being our managing partner, Louise leads the criminal law team at TDSL. Louise specialises in criminal law and youth advocacy and has accumulated extensive experience in the field since 1984. She has seen and supported clients through their darkest hours with skill, insight and compassion. Louise plays a major role in the training and mentoring of our young lawyers.

Louise is appointed as a District Inspector for Mental Health under the Mental Health (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Act 1992, the Intellectual Disability (Compulsory Care and Rehabilitation) Act 2003 and the Substance Addiction (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Act 2017.

Gerard leads the family law team at TDSL and is a specialist family, relationship property and trust lawyer. He commenced practice in 1993. Gerard takes the time to drill deep down into a client’s situation, mastering and understanding the minute detail. He provides excellent strategic advice and practical guidance to support clients to a fair solution during a stressful period of their lives.

Gerard accepts appointments as Counsel for Child in care of children, child protection and estate proceedings and as Counsel for Subject Person in PPPR proceedings.

Gerard has been involved in various community organisations and is currently the Law Society appointee to the Board of the Personal Advocacy Trust (PAT).

Clare has practiced since 1998 and oversees our property and local government teams. Clare has acted for a number of local councils for more than 20 years on a wide range of matters, including rating issues, property and development, infrastructure and prosecutions. She enjoys guiding clients through their property and finance transactions, breaking down complex legal concepts in a direct and understandable manner. 

Clare also practices as a criminal court lawyer and youth advocate. She regularly appears in the District and Youth Courts, including jury trials. Clare is a great supporter of rehabilitative and restorative justice practices.

Matt provides advice and representation in all civil litigation matters but has a particular focus on construction litigation, relationship property and trust litigation. He acts for a wide range of private, corporate, and institutional clients. Matt combines intellectual rigour with practical strategy to assist clients resolve complex problems.

Matt is a Fellow of the Arbitrators and Mediators Institute of New Zealand both as an arbitrator and mediator.

Gavin heads up our trusts and estates team and has over 20 years’ experience as a lawyer specialising in all aspects of elder law including trusts, wills, estates, enduring powers of attorney, property manager & welfare guardianships and family protection & testamentary promises claims. Gavin guides clients skilfully through their life journey in planning their property arrangements. Working closely with the firm's property team, Gavin also deals with general property law matters and conveyancing. Gavin accepts appointments from the Family Court to assist the Court and act for subject persons under PPPR proceedings.

In addition to private legal practice, Gavin has extensive trustee industry experience having worked as legal counsel for Public Trust and having managed the Private Wealth legal unit at Trustees Executors Limited. Gavin is a member of STEP, being a global professional body for specialist trust and estate practitioners.

Greg has 40 years' experience in all Courts as a litigator and in general legal practice. He is able to give practical advice on disputes, negotiation, litigation and alternative dispute resolution. His fields of expertise include estate litigation, contractual disputes, and relationship property and trust litigation.

Greg was a partner at Thomas Dewar from 1995 to 2013. Greg retired from the partnership and became a consultant partner on 1 January 2014.

Greg has been involved in various community organisations and is presently Chair of E Tu Awakairangi Hutt Public Art Trust.

Rosie works in the areas of family law, trust law, estate law and health law. She joined Thomas Dewar in 2015 and has a wealth of experience having worked Miriam Menzies & Co in Upper Hutt, Bell Gully in Wellington, Freshfields in London, and as an in-house solicitor with the AMP Society.  Prior experience includes work involving the Misuse of Drugs Act, ACC Reviews, Fair Trading Act compliance, employment law, commercial trusts, superannuation, employee benefits schemes, and insurance law in New Zealand and the EEC (prior to Brexit).

Jamie began his legal career with Thomas Dewar in 1999 where he became an Associate. He subsequently practiced as a Barrister on his own account and worked as a Senior Instructor at the Institute of Professional Legal Studies, where he played a significant role in the review and enhancement of the course with a specific focus on litigation skills. Jamie took some time out of practice to focus on his young family and during that time had an active involvement in the community and remains on two school boards. Jamie has extensive litigation experience across all jurisdictions and has returned to Thomas Dewar as Special Counsel to recommence practice and provide litigation and professional development support to the legal team.

Lucy works in the fields of family, criminal and civil law. Lucy graduated from the University of Otago where she studied Law and Chinese (BA). Lucy began working at Thomas Dewar Sziranyi Letts in May 2021 as a Law Clerk, and was admitted to the Bar later that year.

Hannah works in the fields of family, criminal and civil law. Hannah graduated from the Victoria University of Wellington where she studied Law, International Relations and Political Science. Hannah began working at Thomas Dewar Sziranyi Letts in May 2021 as a Law Clerk.

Hannah practices in the areas of criminal and civil litigation as well as dealing with estate matters (including preparing wills and EPOAs). Hannah graduated from Victoria University of Wellington where she studied Law and also graduated with a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Criminology. Hannah joined TDSL as a solicitor in 2022 after working for a specialist family law barrister in Wellington.

Robert works in the fields of family and criminal law as well as civil litigation. Robert graduated from the University of Otago where he studied Law and History (BA). Robert began working at Thomas Dewar Sziranyi Letts in December 2021 as a Summer Law Clerk before beginning work as a Solicitor from October 2023.

Tim graduated from Canterbury University in 2021 with a double degree in Law and Commerce, majoring in Taxation and Accounting. He then spent a year working as a Deputy Registrar in the Wellington District and Family Courts before joining TDSL in 2022. Tim primarily works as a Family lawyer but he also provides assistance to our other teams at TDSL.

Georgia works in the fields of family and criminal law as well as civil litigation. Georgia graduated from the University of Otago where she studied Law and also graduated with a Bachelor of Arts majoring in History. Georgia began working at Thomas Dewar Sziranyi Letts as a Law Clerk in July 2023, and was admitted to the Bar in December 2023.

Olivia completed her LLB / BA (majoring in Sociology and Maori Studies) at Otago University in 2023. She joined TDSL as a Law Clerk in 2024, working across all areas of practice, and was admitted to the Bar in September 2024.

Georgia completed her studies in 2023, with a Law degree and an Arts degree (majoring in International Relations, Asian Studies and Economics). She commenced working part time for TDSL in June 2023 and was admitted to the bar in June 2024. Georgia orks across the civil, criminal and family teams.

Sophie works in the fields of family and criminal law as well as civil litigation.

Sophie graduated from the University of Canterbury where she studied Law and also graduated with a Bachelor of Criminal Justice. Sophie was admitted to the bar in June 2024.

Tavia practices predominantly in the civil litigation sphere, but also undertakes some criminal and family work. Tavia graduated from the University of Canterbury in 2021 with both a law degree and a Bachelor of Criminal Justice. Tavia worked as part of a large team of lawyers at the Community Law Canterbury for two years before joining TDSL in 2024.

Sophia graduated from Victoria University of Wellington in 2022 and was admitted to the Bar in 2023. She worked in the litigation of Oranga Tamariki before joining TDSL in 2024. Sophia works across the civil, criminal and family teams at TDSL.

Brenda is Thomas Dewar's senior legal executive, dealing predominantly with the firm’s conveyancing and subdivision work. Brenda has over 35 years of experience in various legal fields, and in recent years has also been involved in the development of conveyancing workflow software. Brenda joined Thomas Dewar in November 2015.

Julie joined Thomas Dewar Sziranyi Letts in 2007 as the firm's Receptionist and graduated as a Legal Executive in June 2019. Julie works in the fields of conveyancing and estate administration.

Jamie joined Thomas Dewar Sziranyi Letts in 2017 as the firm's Accounts Assistant and graduated as a Legal Executive in 2020. As well as managing the firms Trust Account operations, Jamie also works in the fields of conveyancing and estate administration.

Hannah joined TDSL in 2021 and is studying part-time towards her Legal Executive qualifications.  She works with the property, trusts and estates teams.

Robyn is the firm's Family Team Administrator and started with Thomas Dewar Sziranyi Letts in 2019.  Robyn assists with the management of family law work within the firm and is the first point of contact and support for new clients.  She also provides direct secretarial support to a number of the family lawyers.  Robyn has worked in the legal profession for over 20 years as a legal secretary and administrator.