Joanna is a Special Counsel in Russell McVeagh's litigation team. She acts and advises on a broad range of complex disputes, with a focus on trust, estate and relationship property disputes. Joanna is also frequently instructed on regulatory investigations and enforcement proceedings, particularly in the financial sector, and other commercial, tort, statutory, cross-border and class action disputes. With a previous career in the arts, Joanna has a particular interest in matters relating to arts and culture.
 
Joanna has acted for clients in negotiations, mediations, arbitrations, adjudications and judicial settlement conferences, in proceedings before the District Court, Family Court, High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court, and in disciplinary matters before the Legal Complaints Review Officer, the Real Estate Agents Disciplinary Tribunal, and the Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand.
 
She publishes and speaks regularly on legal issues.

Joanna began her legal career in the litigation department of another top tier commercial law firm before working as a prosecutor, undertaking criminal prosecutions on behalf of regulatory agencies and the Crown. Joanna joined Russell McVeagh in 2020. 
 
Prior to qualifying as a lawyer, Joanna completed a Masters degree in Art History (First Class Hons) then worked for a number of years in galleries in Auckland and London.