PEOPLE | CARTERTON
SUSIE BARNES - PRINCIPAL
Susie came to the Wairarapa in January 2015 to work in the areas of criminal and family law. Susie joined WCM Legal Ltd as an Associate in April 2020 and since then has broadened her areas of practice to include property, commercial, trusts and estate work. In 2021, Susie became a Partner of the firm.
Susie grew up in Lower Hutt, studied at Otago University and then graduated from Victoria University in Wellington in 2000. Susie lived and worked in Sydney and in regional New South Wales and spent six years living and working in the Southern Alps of France where she met her husband, started a family, and learnt to speak fluent French.
Susie loves being a lawyer because she likes meeting people and problem solving. If Susie wasn’t a lawyer, her alternative dream career would be running a doggy day care so that she could hang out with her dogs and their friends all day long.
P: 06 379 4070 E: susie.b@wcmlegal.co.nz
VIRGINIA PEARSON - Associate
Virginia is an Associate in the Carterton office. She graduated from Victoria University in 2005 and worked for the Family Court for two years before joining the firm in 2008. Virginia's predominant areas of practice include Family Law, including Lawyer for Child, as well as Criminal District Court and Youth law. Virginia is approved as a lead provider of legal aid services for both family and criminal law.
Virginia has lived in the Wairarapa for more than 20 years. Outside work she is kept busy with her family and enjoys gardening and music.
P: 06 379 4070 E: virginia.p@wcmlegal.co.nz
Jess Hannon - Conveyancing Practitioner and Registered Legal Executive
Jess joined WCM Legal in 2013 and has since successfully completed her qualifications to enable her to become dual registered as both a Registered Legal Executive and a Conveyancing Practitioner.
Jess practices in all general legal work but particularly enjoys residential conveyancing with a keen interest in assisting clients with subdivisions.
Outside of work, Jess is a keen hockey player along with her husband and enjoys running around after her daughter, Daisy.
Cam Wilson – SOLICITOR
Cam joined WCM Legal in August 2021 during his third year of studying law and is based in our Carterton office. He works as a Law Clerk part-time around his studies and full-time over the summer months. Cam’s work is varied – he primarily assists Keith, Mark and Susie with trusts, estate planning, conveyancing and criminal matters.
Outside of work Cam is an avid traveller (or was until the border closed). When not travelling, he enjoys wine tasting or you might find him in a nice café with a good book.
P: 06 379 4070 E: cam.w@wcmlegal.co.nz
MARK HINTON – CONSULTANT
After 40 years of practice, Mark retired from practicing law in December 2021. Mark continues to provide mentoring and support for our team.
PEOPLE | WELLINGTON
KIRSTEN TOWNSLEY - PRINCIPAL
Kirsten joined the Firm of Wilson & Co in 2001 from a previous position with the Official Assignee in Wellington. Kirsten became a principal at Wilson & Co in 2009 and specialises in commercial, banking, credit union and securities law, all aspects of land law (both residential and commercial) and drafting and advising on commercial agreements of all types. Kirsten has advised on numerous large corporate acquisitions of land and business assets.
Kirsten is married to Clark, and they have twin daughters Paige and Samantha. She loves the outdoors spending her free time mountain biking, cycling, swimming, surfing and training for half and full Ironman triathlon events.
Kirsten is based in our Wellington Office.
P: 04 473 7537 M: 021 283 1393 E: kirsten@wcmlegal.co.nz
MICHAEL BALE - PRINCIPAL
Michael Bale has been practising all aspects of business and commercial law, dispute resolution, franchising, and conveyancing law since 1995 at Wilson & Co (12 years) and at other Wellington based commercial legal practices. Michael is based in our Wellington and Greytown Offices. Michael’s strengths are in all aspects of business and commercial law and dispute resolution including franchising, leases, conveyancing and subdivision, and corporate advice on commercial matters.
Michael’s interests include gardening and mechanical work, especially old motorcycles, particularly if they have sidecars.
P: 04 473 7537 M: 021 509 296 E: michael@wcmlegal.co.nz
Jon Parker - Consultant
Jon comes to us from another Wellington legal firm where he spent over two decades as Senior Litigation Partner heading the Insurance and Dispute Resolution Team.
Jon has specialised in insurance litigation for most of his professional career. He has acted for many New Zealand insurers and also overseas insurers. His speciality areas have been general and statutory liability, professional indemnity and disciplinary matters. Apart from providing opinion work he has also been engaged in litigation for insurance companies at all levels of Courts in New Zealand as well as extensive experience resolving disputes through alternative dispute resolution, particularly arbitration and mediation.
In addition to insurance he has extensive experience in dealing with estate claims, property disputes, lease disputes and construction disputes. He is currently involved in several large claims against insurers involving earthquake damage in Christchurch. He is a member of the New Zealand Insurance Law Association and also the Medico Legal Society.
P: 04 473 7537 E: jon.p@wcmlegal.co.nz
Harry Worth - Solicitor
Harry joined WCM Legal in May 2019 and primarily practices in the areas of general dispute resolution and civil litigation, business and commercial law (particularly insolvency and leases), estate disputes and employment law. Harry also has financial market experience through assisting a Credit Union with a transfer of engagements.
Harry is a fan of everything basketball and enjoys customising sneakers. He also loves the outdoors, particularly surfing, camping and hiking.
P: 04 473 7537 E: harry.w@wcmlegal.co.nz
RUSSELL BUSBY - Solicitor
Russell has previously been a corporate and commercial solicitor at MinterEllisonRuddWatts in their Wellington office. More recently, he worked as a senior analyst at the Ministry of Primary Industries where he gained specialist knowledge in the forestry aspects of the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS). Russell has an interest in trust law and conveyancing.
Russell grew up in Lower Hutt, and also has a strong rural background from farming sheep and beef in coastal South Wairarapa before transitioning to a legal career.
Outside of work, Russell loves the outdoors and enjoys spending time with his partner and three school-aged children.
P: 04 473 7537 E: russell.b@wcmlegal.co.nz
CAITLIN WHELAN - LAW GRADUATE
Caitlin joined WCM Legal in March 2023 during her final year at Victoria University, and is the process of obtaining her practicing certificate.
Caitlin enjoys a variety of work, primarily assisting Kirsten and Michael. Her experience to date includes conveyancing work, private matters including estate planning and relationship property, and commercial matters including leases and commercial agreements.
Prior to pursuing a legal career Caitlin worked in the travel industry and spent a number of years living overseas. In her downtime Caitlin can either be found running around the Wellington coast or relaxing with her head in a book.
P: 04 473 7537 E: caitlin.w@wcmlegal.co.nz
PEOPLE | GREYTOWN
MICHAEL BALE - PRINCIPAL
Michael Bale has been practising all aspects of business and commercial law, dispute resolution, franchising, and conveyancing law since 1995 at Wilson & Co (12 years) and at other Wellington based commercial legal practices. Michael is based in our Wellington and Greytown Offices. Michael’s strengths are in all aspects of business and commercial law and dispute resolution including franchising, leases, conveyancing and subdivision, and corporate advice on commercial matters.
Michael’s interests include gardening and mechanical work, especially old motorcycles, particularly if they have sidecars.
P: 06 304 9024 M: 021 509 296 E: michael@wcmlegal.co.nz
BRIDGET GRAY - ESTATES MANAGER
Bridget has worked for the legal profession since leaving secondary school, firstly in Wellington, and later, after returning to the Wairarapa to start a family, for two Masterton law firms. She began working for WCM Legal in their Greytown office in 2009, as PA to Juliet Cooke. She continues in that role for Juliet, and also as the Estates Manager.
She is married to Phil, has a son and daughter, and enjoys spending her leisure time with her family, working in her ever-evolving garden, walking in the Tararuas, and working on their farm block.
ed cooke – notary public
Ed was a partner in the firm from 1970 to 2012. He has not renewed his legal practicing certificate and so can no longer provide legal advice to clients.
Ed continues to act as a Notary Public, which enables him to certify documents for use in overseas countries. Ed is available by appointment for Notary purposes in the Greytown office.
Ed is married to Juliet, and they have three adult children: Merran, a Lawyer and professional oboist, Grayson, an Associate Professor of multi-media at Southern Cross University in Lismore, NSW, and Wendell, who is Film Censor and Film Maker. Ed’s outside interests include making string instruments (violins, violas and cello), tramping, and music. With Juliet, he organises and hosts house concerts for the Greytown Music Group.
juliet cooke – consultant
Juliet was a partner in the firm from 1989 to 2014. She has now ceased to be a partner and director of WCM Legal, as she is working her way towards complete retirement. Juliet has not renewed her practicing certificate but continues to provide mentoring and guidance to our staff.