L - R: Stephanie Ball, Laura Murphy, Brittany Ivil, Anna Needham, Sophie Law

Partner John Mackay said, ‘the promotion of five new Associates strengthens the senior level of lawyers over a wide range of practice areas. As the firm has grown significantly over recent years it is important that our specialist teams each have succession and depth within their teams.’

Stephanie Ball (aka Stephanie Berkahn) – Associate, Employment  

Stephanie holds an LLB and BA from Waikato University. Previously she worked at a specialist boutique employment law firm in Auckland and in the employment teams at two Magic Circle law firms in London. Stephanie returned to New Zealand to join Holland Beckett Law’s employment team in July 2021. 

Stephanie has been involved with employment matters including restructuring and complex cases that arose out of COVID-19. She has also acted for some of the firms leading clients.  

Stephanie has been a board member of Merivale Community Incorporated for over a year, helping them navigate through recent changes. 

Laura Murphy – Associate, Environment and Resource Management 

Laura holds an LLB (Hons) and a BA from Victoria University. Laura joined the firm in 2020 after returning from London in between waves of COVID. She has delivered legal services in the Environment and Resource Management space for Holland Beckett Law’s key corporate clients and land developers. Laura spent seven weeks in a High Court hearing on a customary marine title claim. 

Laura contributes to the committee of the Resource Management Law Association for the Bay of Plenty, is a Board member of Priority One and is a Project K mentor through the Graeme Dingle Foundation. 

Brittany Ivil  – Associate, Property and Commercial  

Brittany holds an LLB (First Class Honours) from the University of Waikato and joined Holland Beckett Law in 2016 to practise law where she grew up.  

Brittany is in the Property Team and specialises in all matters relating to private trusts and charitable organisations.

Brittany is keen give back to the community and has become a shadow board member of the Tauranga Arts Festival Trust. She assists staff with professional growth and regularly contributes to the firm’s systems and processes. 

Anna Needham – Associate, Civil Litigation and Dispute Resolution 

Anna holds an LLB (First Class Honours) and BSC from Canterbury University. She started her career in South Island firms where she was quickly promoted to senior positions. She moved to Holland Beckett Law in November 2020. 

Since joining Holland Beckett Law, Anna has been involved in some of the firms most complex litigation cases. She has appeared in several High Court trials and has assisted with commerce commission and cross-border cases, as well as being involved with large trust and estate disputes.   

Anna is a board member of Q-Awards Charitable Trust and is a successful triathlete. Her background in sport is something she also carries into her work, providing assistance to athletes and clubs in sports related disputes.  

Sophie Law – Associate, Employment and Relationship Property 

Sophie holds an LLB from Waikato University. A Tauranga local, she started her career at a Magic Circle firm in London before returning home to Tauranga. Sophie joined Holland Beckett’s employment and family law team in 2018. 

Sophie has recently resolved substantial relationship property and employment matters.  

Sophie has provided ongoing pro-bono assistance, which has included judiciary matters for rugby clubs and operating a legal clinic at Tautoko Mai for women who have been the victims of sexual assault.