John Holmes establishes law firm Thompson & Holmes in Christchurch, known today as Lane Neave
1868
Senior-level diversity at Lane Neave
Different things drive three of Lane Neave’s current crop of partners; this highlights the diversity at the senior levels of the firm.
Lane Neave announced the promotions of Sarah Duncraft, Julia Strickett and Carlo Wan to the partnership last year. Wan officially became a partner last 1 October, while Strickett and Duncraft stepped into their new roles on, respectively, 1 January and 1 May this year.
For Duncraft, the ascension has been the biggest highlight of her career thus far. The University of Otago graduate was inspired to go into the law as a “logical progression” given her inclination towards words-based subjects as a student, as well as by the example of her uncle, a lawyer. Today, she has built a successful legal career focusing on commercial property law, and advocates for the profession to focus on “the progression of more women in leadership roles and diversity in general”.
Strickett shares a similar passion for promoting access to justice across all groups in the country. Her initial goal in enrolling in law school was to provide legal assistance to Indigenous causes, but a uni lecturer’s offer of a part-time job with the late immigration and refugee law barrister Rowland Woods caused Strickett to pivot. It has been 12 years since Strickett made immigration law her forte, and she remains “very grateful for this unplanned exposure”.
“I soon realised it is the best area if you want to practise administrative law on a daily basis, as you are always up against a government department. We live and breathe ‘natural justice’ – and regularly remind government of this!” she explains.
Meanwhile, Wan may have initially picked a legal career because of a childhood TV show, but the dynamic day-to-day of the job has become his favourite part of being a lawyer.
“I am going into 2023 with cautious optimism as everyone expects this year to be choppy – in saying that, this year has turned out to be filled with opportunities so far,” he says.
“Last year we introduced a scheme to top up the majority of government parental leave payments in line with our staff members’ usual salaries. As one of the first recipients of this, I can say it is a fantastic initiative,” Strickett says.
“We have made so much progress with the support given to women in the profession to continue their careers once they become parents, but I feel the focus now needs to be on supporting families generally – to support and even celebrate men who want to reduce their hours or take time off to be the primary caregiver. Once we have this, I feel we’ll be on the road to having much happier and more fulfilled parents in the workplace.”
Strickett also feels that her immigration law work at Lane Neave has enabled her to contribute to New Zealand’s growth as a whole, particularly during the lockdowns under the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I am really proud of the work Lane Neave did during the border closure period. While you would think that having a closed border would be the worst possible situation for an immigration lawyer (and it was initially), it eventually moved into a constant stream of really complex border entry instructions. Necessity made us leaders in this area,” she explains.
“Developing workforce mobility programs for some of New Zealand’s largest projects over this time was very challenging but very fulfilling work. There were so many pieces to the puzzle (including securing the coveted MIQ spaces!), but when the specialist workers did arrive and you saw these projects taking shape over time, it felt very rewarding to feel like we had helped in a small way to grow New Zealand.”
Between the three of them, Duncraft, Strickett and Wan have more than 30 years of experience in the industry. Over this period, they have watched the legal profession increasingly welcome technology into operations, making life easier for lawyers.
“Certainly the role that AI has in law is an interesting one. There is some excellent technology out there that can improve efficiency and allow us to focus on the legal work, but keeping abreast of changes in this area, particularly for larger firms with more embedded systems, can be challenging,” Strickett says. “Understanding and taking the time to consider potential implications of new technology as it comes to market will be important.”
Duncraft sees climate change issues also having a big impact in her field of specialisation given the prevalence of climate-change-related natural disasters.
As the three partners settle further into their positions and help bring Lane Neave into the future, they share the important life lessons that have helped them to get where they are today. For Duncraft, the encouragement from a flatmate she had in her 20s had a lasting effect on her.
Spotlight
Among the opportunities on offer at Lane Neave has been the chance for all staff to expand their knowledge and understanding of te reo Māori, and to pitch in on improving the environment.
“We’re currently being offered lunchtime sessions learning te reo Māori, which is obviously a great opportunity and highly relevant,” Duncraft shares.
She adds that the firm has joined a tree-planting challenge led by Conservation Volunteers “with the aim of enhancing the biodiversity of rivers in both Christchurch and Auckland” – an initiative she describes as “awesome”. Strickett also highlights the firm’s CSR efforts, which includes “placing a real focus on reducing our carbon emissions”.
Not all of Lane Neave’s opportunities are focused on external beneficiaries – the firm also looks to prioritise initiatives that make life better for internal stakeholders.
Lane Neave is recognised as one of New Zealand’s leading full-service law firms. The diverse nature of its lawyers means that it has the depth of knowledge and experience required for any job. Lane Neave has clients both locally and internationally, and its unique position in the legal market allows it to provide the legal capability and depth of resources of a large law firm while enjoying the ability of a boutique-sized firm to develop close and long-lasting client relationships.
Company Profile
180+
People throughout New Zealand
33%
Female partners
5
Recognitions in prestigious LEgal directories
4
Offices throughout New Zealand
5
Awards, APAC Women in Business Law Global Awards 2023
Bio
Spotlight
Milestones
Media
Accolades
Company Profile
“I am going into 2023 with cautious optimism as everyone expects this year to be choppy – in saying that, this year has turned out to be filled with opportunities so far”
Carlo Wan, Lane Neave
“The focus now needs to be on supporting families generally – to support and even celebrate men who want to reduce their hours or take a period of time off to be the primary caregiver”
Julia Strickett, Lane Neave
Share
Milestones
2011
2012
2015
2016
2019
2021
Curabitur feugiat eget leo id tempus. Maecenas commodo, nibh at ultricies pulvinar, ipsum erat porta metus, et tempus justo tellus euismod dolor.
2012
Curabitur feugiat eget leo id tempus. Maecenas commodo, nibh at ultricies pulvinar, ipsum erat porta metus, et tempus justo tellus euismod dolor.
2015
Curabitur feugiat eget leo id tempus. Maecenas commodo, nibh at ultricies pulvinar, ipsum erat porta metus, et tempus justo tellus euismod dolor.
2016
Curabitur feugiat eget leo id tempus. Maecenas commodo, nibh at ultricies pulvinar, ipsum erat porta metus, et tempus justo tellus euismod dolor.
2019
Curabitur feugiat eget leo id tempus. Maecenas commodo, nibh at ultricies pulvinar, ipsum erat porta metus, et tempus justo tellus euismod dolor.
2021
Senior-level diversity at Lane Neave
Karen Adams has had a remarkable journey to her current role as CEO of Fundserv. Originally from Toronto, Adams earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and economics at Queens University, followed by an MBA in international finance at the University of British Columbia. After graduating, she set off across the globe, holding various positions with HSBC that took her to London, Dubai, Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, Seoul and Mumbai.
That global experience gave Adams a unique perspective, prompting her to develop a leadership style that’s based on developing relationships with each individual, listening and understanding to help them reach their potential. That approach goes well beyond her own team, allowing Fundserv to succeed in creating solutions for its members.
“Having worked in many different countries, people ask if I am an expert in multicultural leadership,” Adams says. “I always say there is no such thing because that assumes you manage people based on their background. I have learned that people all want the same things: to develop our careers, give our kids a good future, etc. When she returned to Canada learned that people all
Spotlight
Fundserv is the indispensable connectivity hub for the Canadian investment industry. Headquartered in Toronto, we electronically connect Manufacturers, Distributors, and Intermediaries, enabling them to buy, sell, and transfer investment funds. With more than 100 employees, Fundserv serves hundreds of members—executing up to 63 million yearly network transactions—and provides online access to more than 70,000 investment fund products.
Established in 1993, Fundserv is a private corporation that is owned by the industry we serve. Our 10 shareholders are a cross-section of Manufacturers, Distributors, and Service Providers who represent our members.
We operate using a cost-recovery model, meaning any unused profit may be rebated back to our members. In addition to our network and applications, we lead and facilitate industry committees and working groups that promote automation initiatives and establish the industry’s electronic standards.
By ensuring every trade is processed timely, accurately, and securely, Fundserv has rightfully earned a reputation for service excellence—a hallmark of more than 25 years in the investment industry.
Company Profile
1983
PEOPLE THROUGHOUT NEW ZEALAND
33%
FEMALE PARTNERS
5
PROPORTION OF WOMEN AMONG FUNDSERV EMPLOYEES
4
PROPORTION OF WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP
63,514,128
NUMBER OF ORDERS PROCESSED IN 2019
Karen Adams
Before becoming CEO of Fundserv, Karen Adams held a variety of leadership roles around the world – and she learned that listening and understanding are key to both providing service and developing talent
Read on
Share
Share
Milestones
2011
2012
2015
2016
2019
2021
Curabitur feugiat eget leo id tempus. Maecenas commodo, nibh at ultricies pulvinar, ipsum erat porta metus, et tempus justo tellus euismod dolor.
2012
Curabitur feugiat eget leo id tempus. Maecenas commodo, nibh at ultricies pulvinar, ipsum erat porta metus, et tempus justo tellus euismod dolor.
2015
Curabitur feugiat eget leo id tempus. Maecenas commodo, nibh at ultricies pulvinar, ipsum erat porta metus, et tempus justo tellus euismod dolor.
2016
Curabitur feugiat eget leo id tempus. Maecenas commodo, nibh at ultricies pulvinar, ipsum erat porta metus, et tempus justo tellus euismod dolor.
2019
Curabitur feugiat eget leo id tempus. Maecenas commodo, nibh at ultricies pulvinar, ipsum erat porta metus, et tempus justo tellus euismod dolor.
2021
Senior-level diversity at Lane Neave
Karen Adams has had a remarkable journey to her current role as CEO of Fundserv. Originally from Toronto, Adams earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and economics at Queens University, followed by an MBA in international finance at the University of British Columbia. After graduating, she set off across the globe, holding various positions with HSBC that took her to London, Dubai, Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, Seoul and Mumbai.
That global experience gave Adams a unique perspective, prompting her to develop a leadership style that’s based on developing relationships with each individual, listening and understanding to help them reach their potential. That approach goes well beyond her own team, allowing Fundserv to succeed in creating solutions for its members.
“Having worked in many different countries, people ask if I am an expert in multicultural leadership,” Adams says. “I always say there is no such thing because that assumes you manage people based on their background. I have learned that people all want the same things: to develop our careers, give our kids a good future, etc. When she returned to Canada learned that people all
Strickett shares a similar passion for promoting access to justice across all groups in the country. Her initial goal in enrolling in law school was to provide legal assistance to Indigenous causes, but a uni lecturer’s offer of a part-time job with the late immigration and refugee law barrister Rowland Woods caused Strickett to pivot. It has been 12 years since Strickett made immigration law her forte, and she remains “very grateful for this unplanned exposure”.
“I soon realised it is the best area if you want to practise administrative law on a daily basis, as you are always up against a government department. We live and breathe ‘natural justice’ – and regularly remind government of this!” she explains.
Meanwhile, Wan may have initially picked a legal career because of a childhood TV show, but the dynamic day-to-day of the job has become his favourite part of being a lawyer.
“I am going into 2023 with cautious optimism as everyone expects this year to be choppy – in saying that, this year has turned out to be filled with opportunities so far,” he says.
From those forums, a common theme arose that has plagued the industry for years: the amount of paper required in transactions.
“We have a motto to ‘axe the fax,’ and we saw this opportunity where members didn’t want their staff going into the office, but there are still physical cheques going back and forth,” Adams explains. “We put in place, in just six months, Ad-Hoc Money Movement [A$M]. We responded to the industry and are in the process of replacing cheques, which I think is awesome. We launched in January and have seen so much volume. We think ultimately we are keeping people healthier by not having to travel into the office.”
“I am really proud of the work Lane Neave did during the border closure period. While you would think that having a closed border would be the worst possible situation for an immigration lawyer (and it was initially), it eventually moved into a constant stream of really complex border entry instructions. Necessity made us leaders in this area,” she explains.
“Developing workforce mobility programs for some of New Zealand’s largest projects over this time was very challenging but very fulfilling work. There were so many pieces to the puzzle (including securing the coveted MIQ spaces!), but when the specialist workers did arrive and you saw these projects taking shape over time, it felt very rewarding to feel like we had helped in a small way to grow New Zealand.”
While she’s proud of the strides Fundserv made in 2020, Adams acknowledges that it was a challenging time as a leader. Not only did she have to ensure Fundserv kept running efficiently as her team transitioned to working from home, but she was also filled with concern for her team members.
“I just worried about our employees, their mental health and if they would be OK,” Adams says. “I like to see people, so I set up one-on-ones just to connect with them.
Moving forward, Adams says Fundserv’s goals remain aligned with those of its members, and her team will continue listening and understanding what members need so the organization can evolve accordingly. She adds that she wants Fundserv to be so good at providing a secure and reliable service that members forget it’s there – and she wants the company to continue to inspire change in the industry.
“It is sad that it took a pandemic to recog-nize the cheque issue and solve it,” Adams says. “What we will do in the future is root out those things in the industry and not wait for a pandemic to ignite change. There is no reason we can’t change. Change, like auto-mation, will accelerate from now, and we’ll do our part to keep it going.”
Spotlight
Among the opportunities on offer at Lane Neave has been the chance for all staff to expand their knowledge and understanding of te reo Māori, and to pitch in on improving the environment.
“We’re currently being offered lunchtime sessions learning te reo Māori, which is obviously a great opportunity and highly relevant,” Duncraft shares.
She adds that the firm has joined a tree-planting challenge led by Conservation Volunteers “with the aim of enhancing the biodiversity of rivers in both Christchurch and Auckland” – an initiative she describes as “awesome”. Strickett also highlights the firm’s CSR efforts, which includes “placing a real focus on reducing our carbon emissions”.
Not all of Lane Neave’s opportunities are focused on external beneficiaries – the firm also looks to prioritise initiatives that make life better for internal stakeholders.
Fundserv is the indispensable connectivity hub for the Canadian investment industry. Headquartered in Toronto, we electronically connect Manufacturers, Distributors, and Intermediaries, enabling them to buy, sell, and transfer investment funds. With more than 100 employees, Fundserv serves hundreds of members—executing up to 63 million yearly network transactions—and provides online access to more than 70,000 investment fund products.
Established in 1993, Fundserv is a private corporation that is owned by the industry we serve. Our 10 shareholders are a cross-section of Manufacturers, Distributors, and Service Providers who represent our members.
We operate using a cost-recovery model, meaning any unused profit may be rebated back to our members. In addition to our network and applications, we lead and facilitate industry committees and working groups that promote automation initiatives and establish the industry’s electronic standards.
By ensuring every trade is processed timely, accurately, and securely, Fundserv has rightfully earned a reputation for service excellence—a hallmark of more than 25 years in the investment industry.
Company Profile
Karen Adams
Before becoming CEO of Fundserv, Karen Adams held a variety of leadership roles around the world – and she learned that listening and understanding are key to both providing service and developing talent
Read on
1868
2010
2014
2016
2016
2017
John Holmes establishes law firm Thompson & Holmes in Christchurch, known today as Lane Neave
1868
Opening of the Queenstown office
2010
Opening of the Auckland office
2014
Opening of the Wellington office
2016
Christchurch team transitions to purpose-built premises at 141 Cambridge Terrace, following Christchurch earthquakes of 2011
2016
Appointed to the All of Government Panel
2017
Milestones
Diving into diverse opportunities
The future is now
Diving into diverse opportunities
The future is now
Published 08 May 2023
Find out more
Find out more
Find out more
Find out more
News
Practice Areas
Surveys & Reports
Events
Best In Law
Resources
Subscribe
AU
NZ
Companies
About us
Authors
Policy
Terms of Use
RSS
People
Newsletter
External contributors
Copyright © 2023 KM Business Information NZ
Contact us
Being picked to lead ORDE's distribution team
career highlight
3 years
tenure at current position
25
Years of experience
More
Julia Strickett
Carlo Wan
Sarah Duncraft
Read on
Three recent additions to the firm’s partnership discuss the different things that drive their burgeoning legal careers and the opportunities they enjoy
BDMs in the spotlight
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
Julia Strickett
Partner
12
YEARS IN THE INDUSTRY
Carlo Wan
Partner
9
YEARS IN THE INDUSTRY
Sarah Duncraft
Partner
11
YEARS IN THE INDUSTRY
Lane Neave Partners
“[My flatmate] was an absolute legend and he told me to stop doubting myself.… His advice and the importance of a positive mindset has stuck with me ever since”
Sarah DuncrafT, Lane Neave
“He was an absolute legend and he told me to stop doubting myself and quoted Henry Ford: ‘Whether you think you can or think you can’t, either way you’re right.’ His advice and the importance of a positive mindset has stuck with me ever since,” Duncraft shares.
Strickett has had to learn to pull back emotionally while doing her work.
“It is very easy in immigration law to empathise with your client’s situation. At times, you feel as though the work you do will determine the course of their future, which can be a really difficult weight to bear at times,” she says. “Over the years and with some very good guidance from practitioners in the area, I’ve learned to be a little more objective, which has actually helped me to be a better lawyer and represent my clients more effectively.”
Wan, who has had the pleasure of representing a knight in one of his cases, believes in never resting on one’s laurels.
“You are only as good as your last piece of work,” he says.
News
Practice Areas
Surveys & Reports
Events
Best in Law
Resources
Subscribe
AU
NZ
Companies
About us
Privacy Policy
Terms of Use
RSS
People
Newsletter
Authors
External contributors
Copyright © 2023
KM Business Information NZ
Contact us
News
Practice Areas
Surveys & Reports
Events
Best in Law
Resources
Subscribe
AU
NZ
Companies
About us
Privacy Policy
Terms of Use
RSS
People
Newsletter
Authors
External contributors
Copyright © 2023
KM Business Information NZ
Contact us
While she’s proud of the strides Fundserv made in 2020, Adams acknowledges that it was a challenging time as a leader. Not only did she have to ensure Fundserv kept running efficiently as her team transitioned to working from home, but she was also filled with concern for her team members.
“I just worried about our employees, their mental health and if they would be OK,” Adams says. “I like to see people, so I set up one-on-ones just to connect with them.
Moving forward, Adams says Fundserv’s goals remain aligned with those of its members, and her team will continue listening and understanding what members need so the organization can evolve accordingly. She adds that she wants Fundserv to be so good at providing a secure and reliable service that members forget it’s there – and she wants the company to continue to inspire change in the industry.
“It is sad that it took a pandemic to recog-nize the cheque issue and solve it,” Adams says. “What we will do in the future is root out those things in the industry and not wait for a pandemic to ignite change. There is no reason we can’t change. Change, like auto-mation, will accelerate from now, and we’ll do our part to keep it going.”
The future is now
From those forums, a common theme arose that has plagued the industry for years: the amount of paper required in transactions.
“We have a motto to ‘axe the fax,’ and we saw this opportunity where members didn’t want their staff going into the office, but there are still physical cheques going back and forth,” Adams explains. “We put in place, in just six months, Ad-Hoc Money Movement [A$M]. We responded to the industry and are in the process of replacing cheques, which I think is awesome. We launched in January and have seen so much volume. We think ultimately we are keeping people healthier by not having to travel into the office.”
“I am really proud of the work Lane Neave did during the border closure period. While you would think that having a closed border would be the worst possible situation for an immigration lawyer (and it was initially), it eventually moved into a constant stream of really complex border entry instructions. Necessity made us leaders in this area,” she explains.
“Developing workforce mobility programs for some of New Zealand’s largest projects over this time was very challenging but very fulfilling work. There were so many pieces to the puzzle (including securing the coveted MIQ spaces!), but when the specialist workers did arrive and you saw these projects taking shape over time, it felt very rewarding to feel like we had helped in a small way to grow New Zealand.”
Among the opportunities on offer at Lane Neave has been the chance for all staff to expand their knowledge and understanding of te reo Māori, and to pitch in on improving the environment.
“We’re currently being offered lunchtime sessions learning te reo Māori, which is obviously a great opportunity and highly relevant,” Duncraft shares.
She adds that the firm has joined a tree-planting challenge led by Conservation Volunteers “with the aim of enhancing the biodiversity of rivers in both Christchurch and Auckland” – an initiative she describes as “awesome”. Strickett also highlights the firm’s CSR efforts, which includes “placing a real focus on reducing our carbon emissions”.
Not all of Lane Neave’s opportunities are focused on external beneficiaries – the firm also looks to prioritise initiatives that make life better for internal stakeholders.
Diving into diverse opportunities
Strickett shares a similar passion for promoting access to justice across all groups in the country. Her initial goal in enrolling in law school was to provide legal assistance to Indigenous causes, but a uni lecturer’s offer of a part-time job with the late immigration and refugee law barrister Rowland Woods caused Strickett to pivot. It has been 12 years since Strickett made immigration law her forte, and she remains “very grateful for this unplanned exposure”.
“I soon realised it is the best area if you want to practise administrative law on a daily basis, as you are always up against a government department. We live and breathe ‘natural justice’ – and regularly remind government of this!” she explains.
Meanwhile, Wan may have initially picked a legal career because of a childhood TV show, but the dynamic day-to-day of the job has become his favourite part of being a lawyer.
“I am going into 2023 with cautious optimism as everyone expects this year to be choppy – in saying that, this year has turned out to be filled with opportunities so far,” he says.
Between the three of them, Duncraft, Strickett and Wan have more than 30 years of experience in the industry. Over this period, they have watched the legal profession increasingly welcome technology into operations, making life easier for lawyers.
“Certainly the role that AI has in law is an interesting one. There is some excellent technology out there that can improve efficiency and allow us to focus on the legal work, but keeping abreast of changes in this area, particularly for larger firms with more embedded systems, can be challenging,” Strickett says. “Understanding and taking the time to consider potential implications of new technology as it comes to market will be important.”
Duncraft sees climate change issues also having a big impact in her field of specialisation given the prevalence of climate-change-related natural disasters.
As the three partners settle further into their positions and help bring Lane Neave into the future, they share the important life lessons that have helped them to get where they are today. For Duncraft, the encouragement from a flatmate she had in her 20s had a lasting effect on her.
Between the three of them, Duncraft, Strickett and Wan have more than 30 years of experience in the industry. Over this period, they have watched the legal profession increasingly welcome technology into operations, making life easier for lawyers.
“Certainly the role that AI has in law is an interesting one. There is some excellent technology out there that can improve efficiency and allow us to focus on the legal work, but keeping abreast of changes in this area, particularly for larger firms with more embedded systems, can be challenging,” Strickett says. “Understanding and taking the time to consider potential implications of new technology as it comes to market will be important.”
Duncraft sees climate change issues also having a big impact in her field of specialisation given the prevalence of climate-change-related natural disasters.
As the three partners settle further into their positions and help bring Lane Neave into the future, they share the important life lessons that have helped them to get where they are today. For Duncraft, the encouragement from a flatmate she had in her 20s had a lasting effect on her.
Lane Neave