Meet the Team
Cuba Family Law
Marieke van den Bergh
Director
Marieke has over 10 years of experience practising in family law. She graduated from the University of Canterbury in 2003 with a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. Marieke’s practice covers a wide range of family matters, with a focus on care of children and relationship property. She gained approval to act as
Email: marieke@cubafamilylaw.co.nz
Liz Lewes
Director
Liz has over 20 years experience as a specialist family lawyer. She graduated from the University of Otago in 1996 with a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Political Studies. She has practised in both the United Kingdom and New Zealand. Liz practises in all areas of family law but with a special interest in family violence, children and mental health work. Liz became l
Email: lizlewes@cubafamilylaw.co.nz
Margaret Powell
Consultant
Margaret has practised family law since 1985 joining the firm in 1989. She obtained an LLB in 1974 and a Diploma in Social Work in 1981 and previously worked at the Wellington Community Law Centre. She has been regularly appointed as a lawyer for children since the early 1990’s, and as lawyer to assist the Court particularly in cases with an international aspect. She has also been appointed by the New Zealand Central Authority to deal with cases involving abduction or retention of children under the Hague Convention.
Email: margaret@cubafamilylaw.co.nz
Wendy Davis
Consultant
Wendy graduated LLB (Hons) from the University of Auckland in 1979 and LLM(Hons) from Victoria University in 1995. Wendy convened the Law Society’s Family Law Section Domestic Violence Standing Committee from 2004 – 2009, served as a lay member of the Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal from 2004 – 2009, and was inaugural chair of the Family Violence Death Review Committee from 2008 – 2011. She specialises in lawyer for subject person in PPPR cases and surrogacy and relationship property work.
Email: wendy@cubafamilylaw.co.nz
Bridie Henderson
Solicitor
Bridie graduated from Victoria University of Wellington and was admitted to the bar in 2004. She practised in family law and criminal law in Tauranga before travelling to the United Kingdom and working in child protection for two years. She then worked exclusively in family law in both private practice and for a community law centre that specialised in domestic violence in Brisbane, Australia. Bridie returned to practice in New Zealand working for the Public Defence Service in Wellington before joining Cuba Family Law in April 2019. Bridie has extensive courtroom experience and will work with you to achieve pragmatic outcomes focussed on your needs.
Email: bridie@cubafamilylaw.co.nz
Deenie Roche
Solicitor
Deenie practices in all areas of family law, but specialises in family violence and care of children. Before joining Cuba Family Law, Deenie worked at Wellington Women’s Refuge as a crisis line advocate. Deenie has graduated from Victoria University with a Bachelor of Law and a Bachelor of Arts (Media Studies and Spanish). Deenie is a member of the Wellington Family Courts Associate and the Family Law Section of the New Zealand Law Society.
Email: deenie@cubafamilylaw.co.nz
Patricia Chin
Legal Executive
Patricia is an Associate member of the New Zealand Institute of Legal Executives and has worked as a legal executive for the past 24 years. She is experienced in conveyancing work, estate administration, wills, sale and purchase of businesses and family trust work. She has been with Cuba Family Law for 25 years.
Email: patricia@cubafamilylaw.co.nz
Liz Nikora
Support staff
Liz is a member of our reliable and efficient support team. Liz has a long history with the firm and has been with us since 2001.
Chris Johnstone
Support staff
Chris is a member of our reliable and efficient support team. Chris joined us in 2008.