Overview

Joanne has over twenty years’ experience as an attorney, with over 12 years in offshore law. Joanne is experienced in all aspects of offshore dispute resolution, and she has particular expertise in contentious cross-border trust and estate cases as well as fraud and asset recovery.

Joanne qualified in New Zealand where she practiced for a number of years in the litigation team of a leading commercial firm and as a barrister in a top chancery set. Joanne relocated to the Cayman Islands in 2012. During her time in the Cayman Islands she worked on a number of leading commercial cases, often appearing as counsel at all levels of the Cayman courts. She also regularly advised both individuals and trustees on Cayman Islands’ law governed trust structures.

In 2016, Joanne relocated to Hong Kong where she was a partner in the dispute resolution team of another offshore firm for a number of years before joining HSBC. At HSBC, Joanne advised HSBC International Trustee Limited on all aspects of its trust business and oversaw its contentious trust matters. In 2021, Joanne relocated to Singapore where she established the Singapore dispute resolution and private client practices for another offshore firm.

Joanne is also a qualified TEP (Trust and Estates Practitioner) for STEP, a member of STEP Global’s Contentious Trusts and Estates Special Interest Group Committee and holds a Post-Graduate Certificate in Law with Distinction specialising in Equity and Trusts from the University of London. She also regularly speaks at international conferences across the globe. Recent speaking engagements include the Private Client Global Elites’ Trust and Estates Litigation Forum, the Singapore Trustees Association Trust Conference and the Serle Court 5th International Trusts and Commercial Litigation Conference.

Expertise

Qualifications and Admissions

  • Admitted as a solicitor in England and Wales (non-practising), 2022
  • Admitted as a solicitor in the British Virgin Islands, 2022
  • Admitted as a solicitor in the Cayman Islands, 2012
  • Admitted as a solicitor and barrister in New Zealand, 2005
  • University of London – Postgraduate Certificate in Law (Equity and Trusts), 2021
  • Victoria University of Wellington – Bachelor of Laws (LLB) and Bachelor of Arts in Criminology, 2003

Prior Career History

  • Port Nicholson Chambers, New Zealand
  • Ogier, Hong Kong
  • Bedell Cristin, Singapore
  • Harneys, Hong Kong
  • HSBC Private Banking, Hong Kong
  • Walkers, Cayman Islands
  • Izard Weston, New Zealand
  • Stout Street Chambers, New Zealand
  • Chapman Tripp, New Zealand

Professional Associations

  • New Zealand Bar Association
  • New Zealand Law Society
  • Solicitors Regulation Authority (England)
  • STEP

Recognition and Awards

Joanne has been ranked as a Leading Individual in Legal 500 (Offshore Singapore); Legal 500 Caribbean (Foreign based Expertise); Chambers Asia-Pacific (Offshore: Dispute Resolution) and Chambers Global (Offshore: Dispute Resolution). She is described by Chambers Global as “a wonderful lawyer that you will definitely like to have on your side.”