A legal community committed to excellence
A legal firm is defined by its people: their expertise and acumen but also how the firm encourages, mentors and retains them. This is especially true for New Zealand law firm Denham Bramwell, which considers its team to be an integral part of its business.
Based out of offices in Manukau, Albany and Whangaparaoa, Denham Bramwell specialises in property law, family law, estates, and wills and trusts, as well as dispute resolution, litigation and commercial and business law. Since it was founded by Fiona Cowan, Sarah Vyle, Brett Abraham, John Delugar and Peter Webb in 2014, a genuine commitment to the lives and wellbeing of its employees has been fundamental to its culture.
“When we started Denham Bramwell, we were determined to prove you could have part-time lawyers to enable home-life balance and still be amazing and successful,” says Cowan, co-lead of the family law practice. “Our lawyers and assistants were not to miss the important family milestones: graduations, assemblies and sports days. It’s worked and created loyalty and trust.” She adds enthusiastically that the Denham Bramwell community has grown by 28 babies in its 10 years.
In November 2021, this approach became further entrenched with the appointment of Devika Kumar as general manager, who brings to her role not just strong business skills but expertise in people and culture. Kumar has embraced this people-centric culture, which has been pivotal to the firm's success and rapid growth.
Abraham, who leads the firm’s property and commercial law team, reiterates that work-life balance was essential from the outset. “One of the first things we did when we established Denham Bramwell was ensure a plan for regular rotational sabbaticals so that all partners regularly enjoy sufficient time away to relax and recharge fully.”
This allows Abraham to indulge his love of travel and the outdoors and spend time with his sons in Auckland and London. He relies on the strength of his team to allow him to do this. “I’m fortunate to have a team that can anticipate and deal with client requirements arising when I am on leave, so I can fully switch off when away from the office.”
Abraham says the complexity of his team’s projects is professionally satisfying, pointing to the recent example of the firm's role in several large residential land developments in South Auckland and North Shore communities that will result in much-needed residential housing stock for those areas.
Vyle, who co-leads the family law practice, suggests her leadership style leans towards authoritative — not to be confused with authoritarian. It consists of “effectively mentoring, empowering and guiding staff by continuous learning and striving for excellent outcomes. Implicit in this is relationship building, effective two-way communication, inclusivity and leading by example”.
Vyle calls herself a “details person”, a perfect balance to Cowan, her team’s co-lead. Cowan provides the big-picture strategy, while Vyle underpins it with the details that make it work.
“We work together to motivate and inspire our team to be visionary thinkers, clear communicators and have confidence and decisiveness in their work. This approach motivates the team to deliver the best legal outcomes for our clients.”
Cowan echoes the sentiment: “My leadership style is inclusive and direct. Sarah and I have adapted and learned through the years. We are yin and yang, and it works. We’ve been able to fit that jigsaw together and give the best to our team, and they have the beauty and benefit of both styles.”
In 2021, the three remaining founding partners (Delugar retired in 2016 and sadly, Webb passed away in April 2022) were joined by Nola McGowan through a merger with Vlatkovich & McGowan. In May 2024, three employees – Brooke Glasgow, Emma Boad and Anna Fuiava – were made partner, bolstering the firm’s current leadership team to seven.
In 1984, in her hometown of Whangaparaoa, McGowan became what was then the youngest female sole practitioner. The importance of community loomed large in those early days.
“When I set up practice almost 40 years ago, the biggest challenge was getting the finances behind me to do so. I was fortunate to have a Westpac bank manager who believed in me and gave me financial backing when other banks were uninterested,” McGowan says. “I also had good family support behind me. I set up practice in Whangaparaoa. My local community supported me as well.”
Spotlight
Leadership styles at Denham Bramwell vary from partner to partner, but a dedication to collaboration is consistent. The firm uses open-plan offices to promote interaction and conversations that ultimately lead to better client outcomes. It’s a perfect recipe for success, suggests Abraham.
“I’ve had 40-plus years of legal practice and have developed a pragmatic approach to problem-solving,” Abraham says. “My team members are all younger, most by a good stretch, and they bring strong technical skills to the mix. Together our various approaches and skills meld to produce strong results for our clients.”
Denham Bramwell specialises in property law and family law; estates, wills and trusts; dispute resolution, litigation, and commercial and business law. Our diverse team is spread between three offices, in Manukau, Albany and Whangaparaoa. Denham Bramwell is not a corporate law firm. It is an organisation with a beating heart. We are passionate about the law, our people and the communities we serve. We provide an environment in which staff are healthy, happy and safe at work, so they achieve the best results for our clients. Our people are drawn together by a deep respect and genuine care for our clients and the communities in which we work and live.
Company Profile
10
YEARS IN BUSINESS
3
NUMBER OF AUCKLAND OFFICES
13
LANGUAGES SPOKEN
60+
NUMBER OF STAFF
2
DOYLES RECOMMENDED FAMILY LAWYERS
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Spotlight
Milestones
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Accolades
Company Profile
“When we started Denham Bramwell, we were determined to prove you could have part-time lawyers to enable home-life balance and still be amazing and successful”
Fiona Cowan, Denham Bramwell
“One of the first things we did when we established Denham Bramwell was ensure a plan for regular rotational sabbaticals so that all partners regularly enjoy sufficient time away to relax and recharge fully”
Brett Abraham, Denham Bramwell
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A legal community committed to excellence
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
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
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A legal community committed to excellence
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
In November 2021, this approach became further entrenched with the appointment of Devika Kumar as general manager, who brings to her role not just strong business skills but expertise in people and culture. Kumar has embraced this people-centric culture, which has been pivotal to the firm's success and rapid growth.
Abraham, who leads the firm’s property and commercial law team, reiterates that work-life balance was essential from the outset.
“One of the first things we did when we established Denham Bramwell was ensure a plan for regular rotational sabbaticals so that all partners regularly enjoy sufficient time away to relax and recharge fully.”
This allows Abraham to indulge his love of travel and the outdoors and spend time with his sons in Auckland and London. He relies on the strength of his team to allow him to do this. “I’m fortunate to have a team that can anticipate and deal with client requirements arising when I am on leave, so I can fully switch off when away from the office.”
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.”
Spotlight
Leadership styles at Denham Bramwell vary from partner to partner, but a dedication to collaboration is consistent. The firm uses open-plan offices to promote interaction and conversations that ultimately lead to better client outcomes. It’s a perfect recipe for success, suggests Abraham.
“I’ve had 40-plus years of legal practice and have developed a pragmatic approach to problem-solving,” Abraham says. “My team members are all younger, most by a good stretch, and they bring strong technical skills to the mix. Together our various approaches and skills meld to produce strong results for our clients.”
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
2014
2021
2024
Denham Bramwell is founded by Brett Abraham, Fiona Cowan, Sarah Vyle, John Delugar and the late Peter Webb
2014
December: Founding partner John Delugar retires
2016
Milestones
A collaborative culture
Community commitment
A collaborative culture
Published 17 Jun 2024
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Being picked to lead ORDE's distribution team
career highlight
3 years
tenure at current position
25
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Sarah Vyle
Brett Abraham
Fiona Cowan
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Denham Bramwell values its people and their wellbeing, fostering a supportive work environment while excelling in various law specialties, from property to family law. Its team-oriented culture is the key to the firm’s success
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
Fiona Cowan
Co-lead of family law practice
26
YEARS IN THE INDUSTRY
Denham Bramwell Lawyers
“We work together to motivate and inspire our team to be visionary thinkers, clear communicators and have confidence and decisiveness in their work. This approach motivates the team to deliver the best legal outcomes for our clients”
Sarah VYLE, DENHAM BRAMWELL
McGowan’s sense of community and her commitment to knowing her clients as individuals has served her well: “I now find myself acting for the great-grandchildren of my original clients,” she says. “To obtain a strong client relationship I believe you need to know your clients and their families. You must show real interest in what your clients are doing and be there to help them when required. This may mean taking calls after hours and seeing people in their homes instead of the office. I believe in personal contact. Also, you must involve yourself in the community.”
McGowan has taken client and community involvement to another level; when not practising law, she’s a celebrant of civil ceremonies.
“I became a celebrant because a client asked me if I could marry them, so I obtained the qualification and did,” she says of her role. “I see being a celebrant as a natural extension of being a lawyer. I enjoy helping people and being a part of happy times.”
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.”
Community commitment
“We work together to motivate and inspire our team to be visionary thinkers, clear communicators and have confidence and decisiveness in their work. This approach motivates the team to deliver the best legal outcomes for our clients.”
Cowan echoes the sentiment: “My leadership style is inclusive and direct. Sarah and I have adapted and learned through the years. We are yin and yang, and it works. We’ve been able to fit that jigsaw together and give the best to our team, and they have the beauty and benefit of both styles.”
A collaborative culture
In November 2021, this approach became further entrenched with the appointment of Devika Kumar as general manager, who brings to her role not just strong business skills but expertise in people and culture. Kumar has embraced this people-centric culture, which has been pivotal to the firm's success and rapid growth.
Abraham, who leads the firm’s property and commercial law team, reiterates that work-life balance was essential from the outset. “One of the first things we did when we established Denham Bramwell was ensure a plan for regular rotational sabbaticals so that all partners regularly enjoy sufficient time away to relax and recharge fully.”
This allows Abraham to indulge his love of travel and the outdoors and spend time with his sons in Auckland and London. He relies on the strength of his team to allow him to do this. “I’m fortunate to have a team that can anticipate and deal with client requirements arising when I am on leave, so I can fully switch off when away from the office.”
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.
Denham Bramwell Lawyers
1998
ADMITTED
2014
FOUNDED DENHAM BRAMWELL
Recommended in Doyles Family Law 2024
ACCOLADE
Sarah Vyle
Co-lead of family law practice
26
YEARS IN THE INDUSTRY
1996
ADMITTED
2014
FOUNDED DENHAM BRAMWELL
Recommended in Doyles Family Law 2023 and 2024
ACCOLADE
Nola McGowan
Partner and Whangaparaoa office lead
43
YEARS IN THE INDUSTRY
1981
ADMITTED
2021
JOINED DENHAM BRAMWELL
Member, Property Law Section of NZLS
ACCOLADE
Brett Abraham
Property and commercial law team lead
46
YEARS IN THE INDUSTRY
1978
ADMITTED
2014
FOUNDED DENHAM BRAMWELL
Member, Property Law Section of NZLS
ACCOLADE
Cowan's unwavering passion is for child welfare and advocacy. As a family lawyer her focus is always around the child's needs and reaching amicable solutions for the parents, particularly when considering care arrangements.
Well-known and respected within the family justice system, Vyle always takes an empathetic but pragmatic approach to resolving legal issues when relationships are commencing or ending. She regularly represents children in Family Court proceedings.
McGowan joined Denham Bramwell following a merger with Vlatkovich & McGowan and says it was one of the best decisions she has ever made. She is a dedicated and experienced lawyer whose clients find her easy to deal with and focused on their needs. Her Whangaparaoa-based general practice serves both personal and commercial clients.
Abraham has extensive property law experience and corporate and commercial expertise. He is also a respected and trusted adviser in private client matters. He is known for implementing large, complex property projects and for his extensive work in the South Auckland business community.
Clear client communications
Denham Bramwell's genuine care for its employees is just one aspect of its human centricity. The firm strives to provide approachable, compassionate, empathetic and culturally in-tune counsel to its clients – while being assertive and professional – using language clients can relate to. It’s not simply about retaining clients but helping them to the fullest. “I aim to build trust and confidence in my clients by being empathetic and human,” Vyle says. “I attempt to set realistic expectations and maintain regular communication. This helps them manage their emotions in often one of the most difficult and tumultuous times in their lives and reduces uncertainty about the process. In turn, this helps clients participate fully since they are well informed and confident in decision-making.”
Denham Bramwell’s founders and management team are proud to have created what they consider “a culture unlike any other firm”.
“I am so incredibly proud of what we have created,” Cowan says. “The culture of inclusiveness, expertise and just amazing lawyers. We are not only committed to our community but also enabling junior lawyers to have a training ground with depth and talent on all levels across the firm.
“Our associates, senior associates and new partners all offer so much talent and expertise and are committed to the culture we have created. We have proven to the legal community that you can be amazing lawyers, mothers and fathers, and have a work-life balance.”
“To obtain a strong client relationship I believe you need to know your clients and their families. You must show real interest in what your clients are doing and be there to help them when required”
NOLA MCGOWAN, DENHAM BRAMWELL
Nola McGowan
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May: Team members Brooke Glasgow, Emma Boad and Anna Fuiava join the partnership; Albany office opens, headed by Brooke Glasgow and Emma Boad. June: Denham Bramwell celebrates its 10th anniversary
2024
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Brett Abraham
Sarah Vyle
Fiona Cowan
2016
Nola McGowan joins the firm through a merger with Vlatkovich & McGowan, adding a second office in Whangaparaoa; Devika Kumar is appointed general manager
2021
2022
April: Founding partner Peter Webb passes away
2022
2016
Nola McGowan joins the firm through a merger with Vlatkovich & McGowan, adding a second office in Whangaparaoa; Devika Kumar is appointed general manager
2021