Penny is a solicitor with expertise in family law, specialising in care of children and protection proceedings.

‘When people come to me, they are often going through the most difficult time of their life. I am focused on guiding them through the process in a way that is understandable and watching that transformation to a fresh start is the most rewarding motivation for my work.’

Penny is dedicated to her work seamlessly blending the professionalism and efficiency one would expect from a family lawyer, with the warmth and support as a trusted advisor. Penny’s legal career began in commercial property where she gained comprehensive knowledge of trust work. She has drawn from this skillset to complement her core practice in relationship property, namely contracting out agreements, property sharing agreements and division of relationship property on separation. 

Penny aims to provide exceptional service to her clients, she will listen carefully to understand their needs, to then assess and advise on their unique situation. Penny will tell clients that the Contracting Out Agreement is an important insurance policy for any relationship. She will provide practical advice on, and draft, an agreement with the purpose of protecting particular assets and liabilities, effectively setting them up in the knowledge they can move forward in confidence. Penny appreciates that when there has been a breakdown in a relationship that emotions can run high – in this regard clients appreciate her supportive, warm manner anchored with her attention to detail and solutions focused approach, working collaboratively to strategise and resolve matters efficiently. 

Penny also brings significant expertise with PPPR (Protection of Personal and Property Rights). She specialises in this area and works with a broad range of clients to put in place arrangements so their affairs are managed. Clients appreciate her upfront communication, she is approachable and relatable to those she advises. With Penny you can be assured that her dedication to helping her clients underpins all that she does. 

Background

Penny grew up in the beautiful far south, then after graduating in 2006 she worked for AWS Legal in Invercargill. She developed her interest in family law at Hope & Associates, Oamaru, before embarking on her OE. In London Penny worked as a legal case officer for the Health Service Ombudsman, then LexisNexis and a prominent London firm before eventually returning to NZ. She settled in Papakura where she worked with Rice Craig for six years before relocating to Queenstown where Penny now works remotely. 

Penny really loves the fact that she is able to work remotely, offering the same level of expert care and service she provided when living in Auckland. This is enhanced by the collaborative way in which the Rice Craig family and property teams work alongside each other. 

Outside interests

Outside of work Penny is kept busy with her family. She spends her time exploring the beautiful Otago region and is active in her children’s sports and school community.