Antoinette Besier – Director

Antoinette provides specialist legal advice and representation in the areas of resource management, local government and criminal law. Antoinette is also accredited as an RMA Commissioner.

Antoinette was admitted to the High Court as a Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court in 2005. She started her legal career in Wellington practising environmental and resource management law with a large national firm. In other positions in Wellington, Antoinette practised in civil litigation, family and criminal law, gaining well rounded experience as an advocate.

Antoinette grew up in the Tasman region leaving the area after finishing secondary school and returning with her family in 2010. Since 2010 Antoinette has provided advice and representation to three local authorities based in the Top of the South for a wide range of matters as well as undertaking work for private clients.

Antoinette worked as a planner both in local government and in private practice in New Zealand and United Kingdom before qualifying as a lawyer in 2004.

Antoinette is an author for Thomson Reuters Workflow product called “Environment & Resources” and has presented papers at conferences on resource management topics.  She is also a published author and her article on the scope of the RMA and private nuisance law won the Robert Orr McGechan Prize.

For more details check out Antoinette’s profile on LinkedIn.

EDUCATION

• Bachelor of Laws (First Class Honours), Victoria University 2004

• Masters of Regional and Resource Management (awarded with Distinction), Otago University 1996

• Bachelor of Arts (History and Political Science), Victoria University 1994

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

• Resource Management Law Association (past chair and conference convenor)

• New Zealand Law Society

• Trustee of the Snowden’s Bush Trust

Kate provides legal advice and representation in the areas of resource management, aquaculture, local government and Māori legal issues.

Kate was admitted to the High Court as a Barrister and Solicitor in 1999. She began her legal career working for over two years in a large national firm in Wellington in the areas of Māori and Treaty of Waitangi law, and resource management. During this time, Kate appeared as counsel in judicial review litigation proceedings brought by Ngai Tahu which proceeded through the Courts to the Privy Council. Her work required a variety of skills including litigation, commercial negotiations and advising on corporate structures.

In 2001 Kate moved to England where she worked for two years as an environmental lawyer. On returning to New Zealand in 2003, Kate returned to work in her first place of employment before returning ‘home’ to Nelson where Kate worked for a local law firm in the areas of resource management and public law. Kate grew up in Mapua in the Tasman region and has family there.

Kate is presently based in Christchurch due to her husband’s work commitments but regularly commutes to Nelson.  She has worked for Tasman Law since 2016, providing advice and representation to three local authorities based in the Top of the South, as well as undertaking private client work.

For more details check out Kate’s profile on LinkedIn.

EDUCATION

• Bachelor of Arts (History and Maori), Canterbury University 1998

• Bachelor of Laws, Victoria University 1999

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

• New Zealand Law Society

• Chairperson, Board of Trustees, Ilam School, Christchurch

Evie Rainey – Solicitor

Location

Level 1, 176 Bridge Street, Nelson 7010 (enter off Harley Street).
PO Box 469, Nelson 7040.