Welcome to
Wellington Family Law Chambers.
Wellington Family Law was established in 1994 by Simon Maude (who is now a Family Court Judge). Wellington Family Law closed in September 2019 and the three partners, Caroline Hannan, Chris Dellabarca and Sija Spaak, commenced work as Barristers, working from the same premises, now called Wellington Family Law Chambers. Sija Spaak moved to the Wairarapa in 2022 so is no longer with Wellington Family law Chambers.
The current barristers at Wellington Family Law Chambers are:
- Caroline Hannan;
- Chris Dellabarca;
- David Tyree;
- Amy Gulbransen; and
- Jennifer Wademan
All of the barristers at Wellington Family Law Chambers are members of the Family Law Section of the New Zealand Law Society.
Our offices are centrally located in the heart of the Wellington CBD.
Wellington Family Law Chambers
We provide a complete range of family law services:
Legal advice
Negotiation on your behalf
Court proceedings
Separation
Care/contact arrangements for children
Relationship property / including contracting out agreements
Dissolution (Divorce)
Care and protection of children
Adoption
Domestic Violence
Welfare Guardianship and Property Management - PPPR Act
Family protection and testamentary promises
Wellington Family Law Chambers
We are five specialist family law barristers. Collectively we have over 80 years’ experience in the practice of family law (although none of us is on a pension!)
We have experience, expertise and a pragmatic approach.
We offer a full range of family law services including advice, negotiation on your behalf and court proceedings where negotiation cannot achieve resolution.
Caroline Hannan – Barrister
caroline@wnfamilylaw.co.nz
T: (04) 494 7208
Caroline has been in practice as a lawyer since 1991 and joined Wellington Family Law in 2002. She has specialised exclusively in family law since then. Her years of specialist family law practice are preceded and complemented by 11 years of general practice, which included family law. Caroline is a senior lawyer for child.
Chris Dellabarca – Barrister
chris@wnfamilylaw.co.nz
T: 04 494 7203
Chris has been in practice since 1995. He worked in general practice for a number of years and has specialised exclusively in family law since 2007, when he moved to Wellington Family Law. Chris also spent several years teaching the Legal Professionals Course to budding lawyers. In 2018, Chris was appointed by the Minister of Justice to the Independent Panel which reviewed the 2014 reforms in the Family Court and was an author of Panels’ report, Te Korowai Ture a-Whānau, which was released in 2019. Chris is a senior lawyer for child, acts for subject persons in PPPR matters, as counsel to assist the Court and as counsel for the Central Authority. Chris enjoys physical exercise, cooking, gardening, and a good glass of red wine. His dog Tavi, is a regular guest at his Chambers.
David Tyree – Barrister
david@wnfamilylaw.co.nz
T: (04) 494 7206
David has been in practice since 2005. He spent 11 years practicing in Taranaki before moving to Wellington in 2016, and joining Wellington Family Law Chambers in late 2020. David specialises exclusively in family law, including regularly being appointed by the Court as Lawyer for Child, Lawyer for Subject Person and Lawyer to Assist the Court.
Amy Gulbransen – Barrister
amy@wnfamilylaw.co.nz
T: 04 494 7205
Amy has been in practice since 2013, initially in general practice and then specialising in all areas of family law since 2016. Amy started her practice in Nelson, moving to Wellington in 2018 and joined Wellington Family Law Chambers in 2022.
Amy undertakes work in all areas of family law, including being appointed to act for children in Care of Children Act proceedings.
Amy is one of the Wellington Regional Representatives for the Family Law Section.
Jennifer Wademan – Barrister
reception@wnfamilylaw.co.nz
T: (04) 499 6293
Jennifer’s bio coming soon…
Contact Us
7th floor Petherick Towers,
38-42 Waring Taylor Street,
Wellington 6011
PO Box 5251, Wellington 6140
T: (04) 499 6293
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