Our people

Leona specialises in all areas of family law practice.  She is an experienced litigator and regularly represents children in the Family Court.  She is a co-author of “Relationship Property and Adult Maintenance” published by Thomson Reuters and has previously authored for the Westlaw in the area of spousal maintenance.  Leona has lectured for Whitireia Polytech in family law and has also presented seminars for Legalwise in relation to capacity and the Protection of Personal and Property Rights Act. Leona is a committee member for the New Zealand Law Society Courts Committee and a member of both the New Zealand Family Law Section and the Wellington Family Courts Association

Leona McWilliam graduated from Otago University in 2000 with a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts (English Literature). She worked initially in general practice in the Wairarapa, before travelling to the United Kingdom to work as an inhouse lawyer in child protection and special educational needs. She returned to New Zealand in 2005 and has practised in both criminal and family law in the Wellington region since then.

Helen presents seminars for Legalwise on a range of relationship property matters, relationship property law developments and on the Protection of Personal and Property Rights Act.

Helen is recognised by the Family Court as being sufficiently experienced and qualified to represent children in the Family Court, and is also appointed by the Family Court to represent people who lack capacity in applications for welfare guardians and property managers.

Helen supports the Wellington Community Law Centre by providing advice to the staff and clients of the Centre and by providing advice at the Family Law Advice Sessions on Wednesdays. She has had involvement with the Community Law Centres in first Taranaki (where she sat on the Board of Trustees) and in Wellington for over 18 years.

Helen is a member of the Wellington Family Courts Association, which brings together Lawyers, Judges, Psychologists and other professionals involved in the Family Court system.

Helen Tyree graduated from Otago University in 2000 with a Bachelor of Laws and from Brunel University of London in 2003 with a Master of Law in Child Law and Policy (with distinction). From 2003 she worked in firms in Taranaki specialising in family law before joining McWilliam Rennie in 2014.

Sarah joined McWilliam Rennie Lawyers in 2011 as an Associate.  She currently practices in all aspects of family law including separation, relationship property, contracting out agreements, childcare, and family violence. She has been approved by the Family Court to represent children. Sarah has been a regular presenter for the NZLS CLE Introduction to Family Law Advocacy and Practice course and she is member of the Wellington Family Courts Association.

Emma has more than 15 years’ experience in all areas of family law, including relationship property, contracting out agreements, care of children, PPPR, adoption, family violence, and Oranga Tamariki matters. She also receives Court appointments in her role as Lawyer for Child, a role she particularly enjoys. Emma has a background in general practice and has a sound understanding of trusts, property and business matters, which she draws on to assist clients. She is skilled in dealing with complex relationship property matters.

Emma is proud to be one of only a few lawyers in New Zealand registered as users of New Zealand Sign Language, having started to learn sign as a young child, and then studied NZSL while at university. She is uniquely able to assist Deaf clients and values accessibility to the law for all people.

Emma is a member of the Family Law Section of the Law Society, and the Wellington Family Courts Association.

Sara joined McWilliam Tyree in 2023 as an Associate.  She practices in all areas of Family Law and takes appointments from the Family Court as Lawyer for Child. Sara also presents at Parenting through Separation and is a member of the Family Court’s Association.

Sara is available to take clients in Wellington and Hawkes Bay.

Harriet practices in the areas of family and criminal law. Harriet is a committee member of the Wellington Family Courts Association, and is involved in supporting the Wellington and Hutt Valley Community Law Centre.

Vince’s prior experience includes work involving relationship property, wills and Family Court litigation.  Vince advises in all areas of family law and has a particular interest in complex property cases and matters involving children.  Vince enjoys basketball, American Football, and collecting sneakers.

Ella joined McWilliam Tyree in August 2023 as a law clerk and is due to be admitted to the Bar in July 2024. Ella is involved in the areas of family and criminal law.

Jenny is originally from the UK, moving to New Zealand in 2009. She has over 20 years experience working in law firms, in both legal executive and administration roles. She joined McWilliam Rennie in 2017.