Tutaki ki te Kapa
Meet the Team
Meet the Team
Cuba Family Law
Our team is friendly and approachable. We will provide you with effective legal advice to assist you to navigate separation, Family Court or Criminal Court processes.

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

Bridie Henderson
Associate
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

Sarah McGovern
Associate
Sarah was born and raised in Ireland, and began her practice as a family lawyer in New Zealand in 2010. Her areas of practice include Oranga Tamariki matters, family violence, care of children, and relationship property. Sarah is a legal aid provider in both family and criminal matters. Sarah acts in cases as Lawyer for Child. She is also on the panel of lawyers appointed to assist clients with the Royal Commission of Inquiry into abuse in state care and is a volunteer for Mothers Project helping women who are in custody.
Email: sarahm@cubafamilylaw.co.nz

Jadeine McLeod
Senior Solicitor
Jadeine holds a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts (Criminology and Drama). She was admitted to the bar in 2016. She started her career at the Public Defence Service in Hamilton practicing in criminal law before joining Cuba Family Law in July 2020. She now also practices in family law and acts for both private and legally aided clients in care of children, family violence, and relationship property matters. She is also an approved legal aid provider for mental health proceedings. Jadeine can act for you in all criminal and traffic matters and has extensive experience applying for discharges without conviction. She is also an approved legal aid provider for parole matters and can appear for you before the New Zealand Parole Board.
Email: jadeine@cubafamilylaw.co.nz

Matt Taylor
Senior Solicitor
Matt practices across a range of family and property law areas, including parenting disputes (care of children), care and protection (Oranga Tamariki), separation and relationship property, family violence, and buying/selling property. He has a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Canterbury. Matt provides advice to private, legally aided, and Family Legal Advice Service (FLAS) clients. He is a member of the New Zealand Law Society Family Law Section and the Wellington Family Courts’ Association.

Deenie Roche
Senior Solicitor
Deenie practices in all areas of family law, but specialises in family violence and care of children. She can also advise you on criminal and traffic matters. Deenie regularly appears in the Family Court and District Court, and has also appeared in the High Court and the Young Adults Court pilot in Porirua. Before joining Cuba Family Law, Deenie worked at Wellington Women’s Refuge as a crisis line advocate. Deenie has been a member of the Wellington Women’s Refuge Governance Group since 2019 and also volunteers at the Wellington Community Law Centre.
Email: deenie@cubafamilylaw.co.nz

Nicole Mount
Solicitor
Nicole is a lead legal aid provider in family matters and a supervised provider in criminal, mental health and civil matters. She acts for legally aided and private clients with a special interest in all criminal matters, family violence and parenting disputes. Nicole volunteers at the Upper Hutt Citizens Advice Bureau and Wellington Community Law Centre including attending the Prison Outreach Centre. She grew up in Hawke’s Bay with Whakapapa to Ngāti Porou and Ngāti Kahungunu ki Heretaunga.
Email: nicole@cubafamilylaw.co.nz

Aimie Sisson
Solicitor
Aimie is a supervised legal aid provider for Family, Criminal, Civil and Mental Health matters. Before joining Cuba Family Law, Aimie volunteered for Wellington Women’s Refuge as a crisis line advocate. Aimie holds a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Arts (Social Policy and Criminology) from Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington. Aimie is a member of the New Zealand Law Society Family Law Section and the Wellington Family Courts’ Association. Aimie uses she/her pronouns.
Email: aimie@cubafamilylaw.co.nz

Patricia Chin
Support staff
Patricia Chin has a long history with the firm. She is in charge of our Conveyancing, Estates, Wills and Enduring Powers of Attorney.
Patricia’s hours are Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays 8:30am – 4:15pm
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.
Friendly and approachable.
Dedicated to looking after you and your Whanau.