Louise Denton

Louise Denton

Principal

Louise specialises in both family law and criminal law.

Louise heads our family and relationship property law team.  She regularly provides advice on all aspects of family law including parenting disputes, family violence and relationship property matters whether you are entering into a relationship or ending one. Louise is a qualified Lawyer for the Child, when there are proceedings in the Family Court that involve children, a lawyer for child will often be appointed to represent a child or young person. 

Louise also works alongside principal Michael Walker and collectively head the firm's Criminal team. Louise regularly appears on a full hierarchy of criminal matters in the Queenstown, Alexandra and Invercargill District Courts on criminal matters, including Land Transport Act prosecutions through to serious violence, drug dealing and rape. Louise has appeared on High Court appeals and conducted jury trials and judge-only trials in the District Court. From the moment you have contact with (or are concerned about having contact with) the police, Louise can offer comprehensive advice and guide you through the processes. 

In terms of background, after graduating from the University of Otago, Louise worked in Dunedin as a Crown Prosecutor. She then travelled North America and Europe, and worked in a private practice in London. On her return to New Zealand, she made the change from being a prosecutor to a defence lawyer. This developed into practising in the family jurisdiction, she found clients often needed both a family lawyer and criminal lawyer at the same time during particularly acrimonious separations and parenting disputes.

Louise says, “The most rewarding aspect of my role is working with clients in extremely stressful environments and ensuring that they obtain a fair result.”

Louise has PAL 3 Legal Aid Provider status, is a Duty Lawyer, and has also been appointed as counsel for the subject person in the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care.