Ataga’i Esera – Vice-President Wellington 

Ataga’i (Ata) is a director in the law firm Family Law Specialists, in Porirua. A firm as explained by its name, specialising in family law, she has been in private practice since 2011. She represents children (Lawyer for Child), elderly people (Lawyer for the Subject Person), parents and whānau in proceedings before the Family Court.    

Ata is of Samoan and NZ European descent, and until recently was a co-President of the Pacific Lawyers Association. Ata is the Porirua Representative on the Family Law Section and an Advisor for the Grants and Scholarships Committee for the Borrin Foundation. Prior to practice Ata was a financial accountant, as well as an English teacher in Oita, Japan. Ata also holds a Bachelor in Accounting and Commercial Law and contributes her knowledge from a background in both law and commerce. 

Caroline Silk – Vice-President Central North Island 

Caroline is a founder of New Plymouth-based firm Legal Plus which also has a joint venture with New Plymouth firm Legal Solutions. She is passionate about addressing the justice gap, and became a lawyer to see justice available for all. A specialist employment lawyer, accredited mediator and criminal defence lawyer, Caroline was previously a partner at Auld Brewer Mazengarb and McEwen. Before that she worked for EMA Central (now Business NZ) and practiced in criminal defence and general civil law. She is the immediate past president of the Taranaki Branch of the Law Society. 

David Campbell – Vice-President Auckland

David is a partner in the dispute resolution team at Dentons Kensington Swan. He manages commercial and civil disputes and focusses particularly on competition law, product liability, liability insurance, and trust disputes. He has been involved in major multi-party litigation including class actions. He has also worked in London.  David is a past-President of the Auckland Branch of the Law Society, and was a member of the Women’s Advisory Panel. 

Frazer Barton 

Frazer Barton is a Partner at Anderson Lloyd and heads the Otago litigation team. He has been on the Anderson Lloyd Board for the last 16 years and been chairman for eight years. Frazer’s litigation experience includes civil, quasi-criminal, insurance (with a professional indemnity emphasis), insolvency, commercial disputes, Family Protection and estates. 

This is Frazer’s second term as the South Island Vice-President on the Law Society Board. He is also a member and former chairman of the Board of Presbyterian Support Otago, a former President of the Otago Branch of the Law Society, and a faculty member of the Law Society Litigation Skills Programme. He is a member of the Council of the University of Otago and chairs its Appeals Board and Health and Safety Committee. Frazer is also a member of the New Zealand Insurance Law Association, and the Restructuring Insolvency & Turnaround Association of New Zealand (RITANZ).  

The Board is led by President Jacque Lethbridge.  

The Law Society expresses its gratitude to the outgoing Vice-Presidents Arti Chand and Herman Visagie for their valuable contribution and service.