Profile
“We keep evolving the brand as we grow and expand, which is equally rewarding and satisfying”
Alice Phillips Topping
Ryan Specialty
Guided by her instincts and personal values, Selina Trigg’s pioneering work in collaborative law has significantly shaped the legal landscape.
As the director of Lighthouse Legal, her vision is to create a kinder, gentler culture within the profession that benefits everyone involved. Her voluntary work developing collaborative practice locally and globally earned her recognition by NZ Lawyer as one of 2024’s Most Influential Lawyers in the changemaker category.
Since 2020, Trigg has served on the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals (IACP) board and from 1 July 2024, began her term as its president. She counts stepping up to serve among her notable career highlights as she strives to shine a light on collaborative practice in Aotearoa.
“In voluntary work, particularly in cultivating change, you are planting seeds for trees you may never get to sit under,” she says. “It is an exercise in patient persistence. I hope my work contributes to a meaningful shift towards less adversarial, more human-centred and holistic approaches to helping families navigate conflict.”
Trigg emphasises that collaboration is a team effort. While she has spearheaded several initiatives, she credits the close support and encouragement of colleagues in New Zealand, Australia and abroad, as well as her fellow directors, volunteers and staff at IACP, who continue to teach her valuable lessons about leadership, governance and collaborative practice.
Drawn to family law after starting out in a Big Six firm, she has become known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex legal matters and build strong client relationships.
The past year proved to be the most challenging in her legal career due to the multiple hats she wears professionally and personally and the various time zones she works across. Trigg takes it all in stride with her trademark grace and humour.
“It helps that I am a good time and energy planner, and attending to my non-negotiable basics is essential, including daily gratitude for opportunities, family support and my amazing teams at Lighthouse Legal and IACP,” she says. “My other non-negotiables are getting enough sleep, spending time outside, enjoying my son's ice hockey, and having regular reflective learning sessions with a professional supervisor."
While her approach to her role has evolved considerably, mainly due to her mediation and collaborative education, she says her “edges have softened” from her early litigation days.
She has always been able to see a case from both sides, a strength she developed as a litigator. Trigg has increasingly leaned into the role of the collaborative lawyer, empowering parties to find common ground and unity in a dignified manner.
“One thing I like to stress, often to the surprise of colleagues, is that although I am an advocate of consensual dispute resolution, I see the role of the Court as essential,” she says. “The Court serves an important protective function for children and vulnerable people. The filing of proceedings is sometimes needed to engage the other party so you can go on to negotiate. The challenge for lawyers is to discern the safest, least intrusive process to use with a particular family from the array of processes we can offer.”
Looking to the future, Trigg believes it’s incumbent on leaders to develop the next generation in their area of change. As she enters the final third of her career, she prioritises encouraging and supporting others to step forward.
PO Box 12 143 Beckenham, Christchurch 8022
03 928 1858
selina@lighthouselegal.co.nz
linkedin.com/in/selina-trigg-06321939
lighthouselegal.co.nz
Selina-Jane Trigg
Director Lawyer and Mediator
Lighthouse Legal
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Milestones
“It’s very important to set an example and to not only inspire but mentor other females”
Alice Phillips Topping
Ryan Specialty
1997–2002
2002
2011–2020
2020
2023–2024
In practice in various family law positions in South Auckland
1997–
2002
Became a barrister sole before forming a boutique family law firm, Family Law Results
2002
Training and education in collaborative practice and mediation culminating in focusing practice in these areas
2011–
2020
Appointed to the Board of Directors of the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals, becoming first New Zealander to hold such a role
2020
2023–2024: Appointed president-elect of the IACP and commenced term as president, being the only second person outside of North America to hold this role
2024: Doyle’s Guide
2023–
2024
Assistant Vice President and Senior Broker at MJ Hall & Company since 2018
Present
Milestones
Aug 2022
Milestones
Sept 2021
Feb 2022
Apr 2022
Jul 2022
Aug
2022
Suncorp Bank introduces Solar Home Bonus offer for customers who are choosing renewable energy for their homes
Sept 2021
Month-on-month market share growth commences
Feb 2022
Suncorp Bank wins the Canstar award for most outstanding value in investment loans
Apr 2022
Suncorp Bank wins Money Magazine’s Bank of the Year and Business Bank of the Year awards for the fifth year in a row
Jul 2022
Suncorp Bank’s turnaround times are the lowest they have ever been. The lender becomes Australia’s first certified carbon neutral bank for both its operation and transaction services
Aug 2022
Milestones
• Gold award for Magazine or Newspaper Advertisement
• Silver award for Promotional Email
• Silver award for Most Out-of-the-Box Idea
As a founding member of WOW! (Women. Opportunity. Winning.), an employee resource group created for all women of Ryan Specialty, Phillips Topping has long championed for women in the industry.
“It’s very important to set an example and to not only inspire but mentor other females,” she adds.
In addition to her sharp marketing eye, the key to Phillips Topping’s success lies in her high-energy approach and positive attitude.
“As the leader of a team, it’s important to motivate and encourage your team members. People work very hard and do their best and it’s important to recognize these efforts. For my career overall, my attitude has been one of curiosity. The more you can learn, the better you’ll understand the business, and then the deeper your knowledge will become, making you a better team member.”
Chief underwriting officer of executive risk at Chubb
President of financial insurance solutions at Kemper
Chief underwriting officer at Axis Capital
CEO of global Insurance at Endurance
CEO of global Insurance at Sompo International
“We keep evolving the brand as we grow and expand, which is equally rewarding and satisfying,” adds Phillips Topping.
“Marketing is a very busy space. The challenge is to keep it fresh and keep it new. There’s so much out there. You have to think about how to break through.”
Since joining the firm in 2015, Ryan Specialty has:
• completed 28 acquisitions
• launched 10 companies
“With each acquisition and de novo formation, a large branding component is involved,” says Phillips Topping.
Speaking on the importance of spotlighting marketing professionals, Phillips Topping says, “It’s imperative to shine a light on those who aren’t necessarily brokers or underwriters. There are so many different aspects of the industry. It’s nice to show all the great work that’s being done behind the scenes.”
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