Joanna is a Senior Associate in Russell McVeagh's litigation team. She acts and advises on a broad range of complex disputes, with a focus on private client disputes (including in relation to trust and relationship property matters), construction disputes, and regulatory investigations and enforcement. With a previous career in the arts, Joanna also has a particular interest in matters relating to the arts and cultural sector.
 
Joanna has acted for clients in negotiations, mediations, arbitrations, adjudications and judicial settlement conferences, in proceedings before the District Court, Family Court, High Court and Court of Appeal, 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.