Capabilities
Timothy is a partner specialising in trusts, estates, property
and commercial law.
Trusts
Timothy regularly advises settlors, trustees and beneficiaries
on the establishment, administration and winding up of trusts. He
specialises in situations where trustees and beneficiaries require
level headed advice in matters where there are complex legal and
relationship issues. He takes a practical approach to resolving
problems faced by clients, ensuring that the advice meets their
needs, expectations and budget.
Tim advises a range of charitable trusts, incorporated societies
and organisations in respect of their duties and obligations. He
also provides a wide range of advice to these clients in relation
to matters including trust structure, documents, liability of
trustees, reporting and distributions.
Estates and Disputes
Timothy assists clients in respect of all aspects of estate
administration. This includes:
- obtaining grants of probate and letters of administration
- transfer of assets by survivorship or to executors
- advice in relation to insolvent estates and winding up of an
estate.
He has particular experience in assisting clients where
there may be a claim made against an estate under the Family
Protection Act, the Property (Relationships) Act and other
matters.
Tim, together with the Australasian Meritas member
firms, has put together a comprehensive guide to Wills & Estates in Australia and New
Zealand. This guide covers everything from preparing and
executing a will to appointing executors and managing estate
disputes.
Personal Assets and Estate Planning
Timothy can help clients to put in place a clear system that can
ensure their assets are used properly and their wishes will be
respected should they become incapacitated or when they die. He
regularly drafts wills, enduring powers of attorney and other
documents that clearly reflect clients' expectations while avoiding
the mistakes that can result in expensive and difficult disputes.
This includes advising attorneys and property managers on their
responsibilities and the manner in which they are permitted to
act.
Real Estate
Timothy has advised large numbers of clients in relation to a
wide range of property matters ranging from first home purchases
and investment properties to large real estate developments and
commercial properties. Timothy's knowledge of all aspects of
property law has made his advice invaluable to his clients and he
ensures that clients' timeframes and needs are always met.
Background
Originally from Northern Ireland, Timothy graduated from the
University of Dundee with a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) in 2008. He
assisted an NGO at the UNHCR in Geneva and then ran a legal aid
team in Mombasa, Kenya providing legal advice on a wide range of
criminal and family matters. Upon returning to the UK, Timothy
worked on a high profile Public Inquiry under a former Court of
Appeal Judge. Arriving in New Zealand in 2010, Timothy qualified as
a lawyer in New Zealand and was a manager for ADLSI responsible for
overseeing a wide range of legal forms and precedents including the
standard Agreement for Sale and Purchase of Real Estate and the
Deed of Lease. Timothy also worked closely with various Ministries,
the Law Commission and the Courts on a wide range of law reform
issues, particularly those relating to trusts and property law.
Timothy then worked as a Senior Solicitor in a well-established
medium sized law firm in Auckland specialising in trusts, estate
and property law.
Recent articles
What do you mean I'm not the trustee of mum and dad's
trust?
The Cafe: Martelli McKegg and The Engine on Trust
Law Changes for early 2021
RNZ: New Trust laws set to surprise
beneficiaries