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Geoff Bibby
Consultant
Admitted:
1971
Qualifications:
BA, LLB (Victoria University)
Specialties:
Property Law
Farming and Commercial
Trusts and Estate Planning
Interests:
Geoff, who has been with the firm since 1971, owns a share in a farm forestry property, plays golf, and enjoys tramping, food and wine. He is an active member of Unity Theatre and Gisborne West Rotary Club, as well as a former President of the Gisborne Rotary Club and Gisborne District Law Society. He has two daughters, Suzanne and Sarah, and a partner, Jenny.
Email: geoff.b@woodward-chrisp.co.nz
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Ross Revington
Partner
Qualifications:
LLB (Victoria University)
Admitted:
1977
Specialties:
Property
Trusts
Business advice
Commercial and Company
Background:
Ross joined Woodward Iles & Co in 1982.
Interests:
He is a keen musician and together with his wife, Mary Jane has established the very successful Revington Vineyard. They have two children Pete and Anna.
Ross was a trustee of the Eastland Energy Community Trust and chairman of Ruamano 2000 Ltd, a joint venture between the Gisborne District Council and Te Runanga O Turanganui A Kiwa, which organised Gisborne's millennium dawn ceremony. He is a keen fitness enthusiast, running, swimming and yoga.
Email: 
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Adam Simperingham
Partner
Admitted:
1995
Qualifications
Graduate of the University of Auckland
BA, LLB (Hons), MComLaw (Hons), PG Dip LS
Specialties:
Civil and Commercial Litigation
Partnership and land disputes
Employment Law
Crime
Traffic
Background:
Five years’ experience in the Civil litigation Department of one of Auckland’s bigger Queen Street firms, with particular emphasis on employment law matters, civil and commercial litigation. Staff Solicitor at Woodward Iles & Co. from April 1999 to April 2001. Assisted Crown Prosecutor from 1999 until 2006. Partner at Woodward Iles/Woodward Chrisp since April 2001. Interests:
Adam is the Vice President of the Gisborne District Law Society, is an executive member of the Gisborne Chamber of Commerce and a Judicial Officer for the Poverty Bay Rugby Football Union. He enjoys surfing and snow skiing. Last year (2007), Adam successfully completed the Auckland marathon (his first) in 4 hours and 42 minutes. Adam has competed in the 2.8 km Devonport – Auckland Sovereign Insurance Open Water Swimming race in the past four years, since 2003. Adam speaks French. He is married to Michelle and they have three awesome children.
Email: adam.s@woodward-chrisp.co.nz
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Jeff Allen
Staff Solicitor
Admitted:
1988
Qualifications:
LLB, Dip Business Studies (Dispute Resolution)
Specialties:
Family law
Conveyancing – domestic and commercial
Trusts
Maori Land Law
Disputes Resolution
Background:
Jeff has had extensive experience with Care and Protection of Children, spending six years with the Department of Child, Youth & Family Services.
Interests:
Fruit wine making, running (with a smile!) and family activities. Jeff and his partner Stephanie have three children.
Email: jeff.a@woodward-chrisp.co.nz
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Yvonne deVries-Smith
Staff Solicitor
Admitted:
2005
Qualifications:
LLB (Hons), B.S.W., GDip.Arts (Psychology)
Specialties:
Family law - including parenting orders, protection orders.
Hague Convention
Relationship Property division
Wills
Basic Trusts
Employment law, including personal grievances
Background:
Years of social work nurtured a passion for Family law with emphasis on the protection of children. Yvonne came to our firm after seven years with Child, Youth & Family Services. A prior stint in the United Kingdom assisted with learning in the Child Protection area and her Psychology degree gives a further grounding in mental health issues.
Interests:
Physical fitness including running – Yvonne has completed one quarter marathon and is keen to do more, socialising, Food & Wine festival participation, reading and travel. She is married to Craig and is stepmother to his two sons.
Email: yvonne.d@woodward-chrisp.co.nz
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David Ure
Staff Solicitor
Admitted:
2002
Qualifications:
LLB; BA (Engl Lit)
Specialties:
Conveyancing
Trusts
Leases
Business acquisitions
Financing
Civil litigation
Employment
Background:
Having grown up in Gisborne, David returned home and started at Woodward Chrisp in 2006. He was previously employed at a commercial firm in Wellington for two and a half years gaining a broad range of experience in property & commercial law and civil litigation. Following that he travelled to Britain, partying a little and working for the prosecutor in Glasgow and for various government agencies in London dealing with property law disputes and medical negligence claims.
Interests:
David spends most of his spare time being involved with football at some level and currently plays for Gisborne City. He enjoys a beer with friends and wishes he could travel more.
Email: david.u@woodward-chrisp.co.nz
Chloe Davenport
Staff Solicitor
Admitted:
2004
Qualifications:
BA/LLB
Specialties:
Family Law
Background:
Chloe was born in Gisborne but grew up in the Bay of Islands. After graduating from Victoria University, Chloe worked for a research institute in Wellington on election issues in the Pacific and spent time in Fiji and Papua New Guinea on various projects. From 2005 to 2007 Chloe and her partner Justin traveled around the world following the wine seasons. They lived in Margaret River, Australia for a year, Chile for 2 vintages and traveled around South America, Mexico, Jamaica and Canada for nearly 2 years.
Interests:
Chloe is a real beach girl and loves spending time soaking up rays with a good book or running the length of the beach. While in South America Chloe learnt Spanish and has continued with lessons in NZ to keep it up. Chloe loves snowboarding in the winter and camping with her friends in the Far North in the summer. She also looks forward to spending time with her family in Kerikeri.
Email: chloe.d@woodward-chrisp-co.nz
Katherine Hall
Staff Solicitor
Admitted:
2007
Qualifications:
LL.B
Specialties:
Katherine is developing a sound knowledge in the areas of:
family law
conveyancing
basic trusts
wills
Background:
Katherine, who was born and bred in Gisborne, returned to her home town after completing her studies at the University of Waikato.
Interests:
Katherine enjoys spending time with her family and friends. She also tries to keep fit with walking and aerobics. She and her partner Mike have recently purchased their first home.
Email: katherine.h@woodward-chrisp.co.nz
Belinda Andrew
Legal Executive
Specialties:
Estate Administration
Background:
Belinda commenced work with Woodward Iles in 1992 and returned later to Woodward Chrisp after breaks to have her two children.
She specialises in Estate Administration and attends to a large number of our firm’s Estate Administration files.
Interests:
Biking, keeping fit, gardening. She is married to Peter and they have two children Ella and George.
Email: belinda.a@woodward-chrisp.co.nz
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Rebecca Boley
Staff Solicitor
Specialties:
Rebecca is developing a sound knowledge in the areas of:
Basic trusts
Conveyancing
Wills and estates
Admitted:
2002
Background:
Rebecca is originally from Wairoa. She studied at Victoria University then relocated to the UK for 4 years. She returned to Gisborne in 2006.
She attends to a large number of our firm’s Trust files.
Interests:
Rebecca appreciates the Gisborne lifestyle for allowing her more time with her husband and 2 daughters. She enjoys exercising, running, yoga, aerobics and not so recently soccer, which she intends to return to very soon.
Email: rebecca.b@woodward-chrisp.co.nz
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Lyn Oppler
Legal Executive
Specialties:
Residential Conveyancing
Background:
Lyn has been a Legal Executive with the firm since 1987.
She has worked for the Department of Maori affairs in Gisborne, for the Minister of Education in Wellington, an export firm in Wellington and prior to returning to her hometown in Gisborne, as secretary to the Dean of Wellington Cathedral.
Interests:
Drama, home, garden and family. She has two daughters Helen & Kate, one son John and four lovely grandchildren Ella-Rose, Emily, Jackson and Oliver.
Lyn is also an avid (and noisy) armchair cricketer.
Email: lyn.o@woodward-chrisp.co.nz
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Susan Cameron
Legal Executive
Specialities:
Conveyancing
Background:
Sue has worked for Woodward Iles & Co and now Woodward Chrisp since she left school in December 1988 apart from short breaks to have her two children. In 1995 Sue completed her NZLS Legal Certificate through The Open Polytechnic of New Zealand.
She advises on and prepares agreements, subdivision documents and all other types of property related documents as well as Company registrations.
Interests:
Susan is married to Pete and they have two children, Steffi and Regan. Her interests include fishing, cooking and her family.
Email: sue.c@woodward-chrisp.co.nz
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Nick Witters
Staff Solicitor
Admitted:
2008
Qualifications:
LL.B
Specialities:
Criminal Law
Litigation
Background:
Nick recently moved to Gisborne from Auckland following his admission.
Interests:
Tennis, surfing and cars
Email:
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