What made you decide to become a lawyer?
I wasn’t so good at science and math while in High School – it became an apparent choice when I excelled in English and History.
When did you start at South Pacific Pictures? What were you doing before that?
Only a couple of months ago! Before this I was working at a firm called Corban Revell Lawyers. I was there for about 3 years doing commercial and employment work.
What’s the strangest case you’ve ever worked on/been involved with?
Not so much strange but different. Being a lawyer, you sometimes find yourself playing part-time psychologist. At times, clients will come to you with a query (which they may already know the answer to) but are just seeking validation. Most of the time, you rely on the law to support this validation but sometimes, you need common sense. One example was when a client asked me to review an employment agreement he was about to sign in light of a prior medical condition. The instruction was whether he should take the job on the table. I advised him to do so, which he was grateful for in the end.
If you could invite three people for dinner, dead or alive and excluding family and friends, who would they be and why?
Travis Barker – drummer. I have been a fan for a while since I play drums myself.
Mitch Albom – author. His books are a great read and his style is very down to earth.
Chris Tucker – comedian. To entertain us for the night. His impressions of Michael Jackson are the best.
Where’s the best place to go for a drink and/or dinner after work in Auckland?
Most people don’t know about this little place on K’Road called Uncle Man’s – it does really good authentic Malaysian food.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given (work or personal)?
Over deliver, do your due diligence on every client who instructs you and anticipate their needs.
Do you have any hobbies/interests outside of work?
I play drums, and this year I’ll be drumming for Carbolic Production’s “Revue” show.
Complete this sentence: If I wasn’t a lawyer, I would be…
In the music or advertising industry.
What do you think will be single biggest issue facing the legal space in New Zealand in 2015?
The housing crisis we are experiencing at the moment.
If you had John Key’s job for one day, what would you do?
Try and encourage more people to buy or live in apartments. One way to incentivise this could be a subsidy on body corporate fees.
What do you love about your job?
It’s fascinating working for a studio/production company. You get to experience all aspects of how a show is made from reviewing scripts, distribution and funding agreements, music contracts all the way through to issuing take down notices for stuff that’s illegally published on YouTube.
What would you change about your job right now if you could?
Everything is still new for me to change or critique.
