Sarah is a skilled and insightful litigator within Lane Neave’s Family and Employment Law teams, bringing a broad and well‑rounded background in dispute resolution to her work.
Working closely with our Wellington office, Sarah is based in Blenheim, Marlborough, and regularly represents and supports clients in adversarial processes and disputes across New Zealand. In 2026, she was named a Future Legal Leader by NZ Lawyer magazine, recognising her as one of the brightest young lawyers in the Australasian legal profession.
Areas of expertise:
- Advising on all matters relating to termination of employment, including misconduct, performance processes, redundancy, medical incapacity, and negotiated exits.
- Providing specialist advice and representation in all aspects of personal grievance processes.
- Advising on family law issues arising from separation, including relationship property division, marriage dissolution, parenting orders, guardianship matters, and protection orders and related applications under the Family Violence Act 2018.
- Drafting and advising on nuptial/contracting‑out (pre-nup) agreements under the Property (Relationships) Act.
Before joining Lane Neave in 2024, Sarah was a Partner at a general practice firm in Blenheim. In that role, she advised both private and corporate clients on a wide spectrum of legal matters and maintained an extensive litigation practice.
She has appeared in the Family, District and High Courts on a diverse range of claims, developing a deep and practical understanding of how to navigate complex legal issues. Her time in Blenheim has also included acting as a family lawyer, with clients relying on her for practical advice in challenging circumstances.
Now at Lane Neave, Sarah is building on her experience in a more specialised capacity, focusing on employment and relationship property matters.
This includes assisting with divorce property settlement work and relationship property dispute and division – areas that require both technical expertise and sensitivity to the challenges that arise in workplaces and personal relationships.
In the employment sphere, Sarah acts for both employees and employers, offering clear, strategic legal advice. She is a confident advocate in mediation, the Employment Relations Authority, and the Family Court.
Her approach is analytical and thoughtful, with a strong commitment to securing the right outcome for clients in an efficient and effective way. Delivering exceptional legal service is something she takes genuine pride in.
Recent conferences & speaking engagements:
- 2025: Presenter, Legalwise not‑for‑profit webinar: Employment Law for Charities and Not‑for‑Profit Organisations.
- Regular presenter of educational seminars and webinars on emerging and practical employment law issues.
