Team
Welcome to Shanahans Law, where we take immense pride in our dedication to serving our clients and providing exceptional legal representation. At Shanahans, we understand that navigating the legal system can be overwhelming and complex. That’s why our team consists of passionate legal professionals who are not only knowledgeable in their respective areas of practice but also genuinely care about the well-being and success of our clients. We firmly believe that building strong attorney-client relationships is the cornerstone of achieving favorable outcomes.
“We take immense pride in our dedication to serving our clients.”
We invite you to explore our team profiles to learn more about the exceptional individuals who make up our firm. Each person brings a unique set of skills and experiences, ensuring that we can effectively address a wide range of legal issues. Whether you are facing a personal injury claim, need assistance with a business matter, or require guidance in family law, our team is here to provide the outstanding legal representation you deserve.
meet your Team
Mary Anne Shanahan
DirectorMary Anne joined Shanahan & Co. as a staff solicitor in 1981 and went into partnership with her father, Mick Shanahan, in 1988. After Mick died in 2004, Mary Anne continued the family practice under the name Shanahans. Mary Anne is a board member of Odyssey House and a member of Baradene Properties Board, and a former member of the Broadcasting Standards Authority. Mary Anne specialises in conveyancing, trusts, wills, estates, and matrimonial property. Contact Mary on mary@shanahanslaw.co.nz
Frances Edmonds
DirectorFrances joined Shanahans in 2005 and became a director in 2013. Frances advises on residential and commercial property transactions and assists with estate planning. She has a special interest in residential building contracts and enjoys advising builders, developers, and owners on new-builds. Contact Frances on DDI 09 826 1821 or frances@shanahanslaw.co.nz
Tamsin Reeves
DirectorTamsin joined Shanahans in 2022 and became a director in April 2023. Tamsin has a background in general legal practice and has practiced out West since 2017 and prior to this was at several firms in Auckland CBD. Tamsin advises on residential property transactions, estates, trusts, wills and enduring powers of attorney along with retirement village transactions and she also enjoys working with first home buyers. Tamsin takes a practical approach to the law and likes to help her clients find workable solutions. Contact Tamsin on DDI 09 222 1281 or tamsin@shanahanslaw.co.nz
Wendy Anderson
Registered Legal ExecutiveWendy qualified as a Legal Executive in 1992 and has been with Shanahans since 1996. She is a Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Legal Executives, the highest level of membership of the Institute – this enables her to take statutory declarations. Wendy specialises in all aspects of residential conveyancing including sales, purchases, refinancing, and associated transactions. In addition, she assists first-home buyers with Homestart loans and the withdrawal of KiwiSaver funds. Having a helpful, practical, and supportive disposition, Wendy provides significant help to clients during what can be a stressful exercise of buying and/or selling a home. Contact Wendy on DDI 09 826 1822 or wendy@shanahanslaw.co.nz
Sheryl Backhouse-Smith
Registered Legal Executive (Estates)Sheryl is one of our Estate Legal Executives. She is a key contact for estate administration, with deep knowledge and experience in estate work and understanding the diversity in family circumstances and cultures. Sheryl assists families at a pace they are comfortable with, answering the difficult questions when a loved one has passed away and guiding the family through the process of administering an estate. Sheryl qualified as a Legal Executive in 2007 and enjoys working in the estates area. Contact Sheryl on DDI 09 826 1825 or sheryl@shanahanslaw.co.nz
Deidre Towers
Registered Legal Executive (Estates)Deidre qualified as a Legal Executive in 1994 and joined Shanahans in February 2019. Here, her main focus is estate administration which involves assisting families after the death of a loved one. She works at a pace her clients are comfortable with, taking the time to go step-by-step, at what can be a stressful and upsetting time for families. Deidre has acquired a wide range of experience over the years and enjoys assisting clients where possible. Contact Deidre on DDI 09 826 1828 or deidre@shanahanslaw.co.nz
Renee Dyson
Registered Legal ExecutiveRenee is a registered legal executive who has worked in various law firms across the Auckland Region with 20 years of experience. Renee first joined Shanahans Law in 2013 and has particular expertise in trusts and deceased estates. Renee has a broad knowledge across a range of services and takes a practical and holistic approach to assisting our clients by ensuring all their legal needs are understood and up to date. Renee generally undertakes Trust administration, conveyancing (including fee simple subdivisions and crosslease updates), Wills and Enduring Powers of Attorney. Clients find Renee approachable, friendly and knowledgeable. Renee is always willing to go the extra mile to ensure that clients receive a personalised service. Contact Renee on DDI 09 394 9892 or renee@shanahanslaw.co.nz
Renee Wipane
Registered Legal ExecutiveRenee is a Registered Legal Executive with more than 8 years experience in the industry. Whilst she primarily works in residential and commercial conveyancing, she also has experience in elder law, commercial leasing and estate administration. Renee finds many aspects of her role rewarding and is very passionate about the Registered Legal Executive’s role in the legal industry. Outside of the office you will find her either on the netball court or spending time with her Golden Retriever. Contact Renee on DDI 09 826 1829 or renee.wipane@shanahanslaw.co.nz
Jenna Bowden
Legal ExecutiveJenna joined Shanahans in 2022, she brought with her experience from working in a law office for the past 15 years. She completed her Legal Executive Diploma back in 2019 with the Open Polytechnic. Contact Jenna on DDI 09 394 9998 or jenna@shanahanslaw.co.nz
Heather Billington
Legal SecretaryHeather has been with Shanahans since 2008 but has worked in law for over 40 years, with over half that time spent in New Lynn. She came to Shanahans Law from the practice of Peter Hoskin when we acquired his business on his retirement. As well as assisting Frances and Tamsin, Heather is also wonderful at helpfully locating the files of former Peter Hoskin clients. Contact Heather on DDI 09 826 1826 or heather@shanahanslaw.co.nz
Fran Schubert
Legal SecretaryFran assists Mary Shanahan. She enjoys interacting with our clients and helping them with their enquiries. Fran has been with Shanahans since 2015 and has a background in the legal, welfare & corporate investment fields. Fran has a high quality of work with an eye for detail and has a great sense of humour. Contact Fran on DDI 09 394 9721 or fran@shanahanslaw.co.nz
Monique Compain
ReceptionistMonique joined Shanahans in 2021 and will often be your first contact. Monique is always happy to direct your calls or assist with queries. Contact Monique on 09 827 2783 or reception@shanahanslaw.co.nz
Devina Monsinger
Trust AccountantDevina joined Shanahans in 2021 as the Trust Accountant. She has more than 35 years of experience as a trust and general accountant at various law firms. She has worked at the Cape Town Law Society and at law firms both abroad and New Zealand. She enjoys the challenge of working in a busy environment. Her duties include overseeing the trust account, the practice account and payroll. Contact Devina on DDI 09 826 1827 or devina@shanahanslaw.co.nz
Each member of our team brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the table. We have successfully handled a wide range of legal matters, both simple and complex, across various practice areas. Our attorneys have honed their skills through years of practice, continually staying abreast of the latest developments in the law to ensure we provide the most up-to-date advice and representation.
“We approach every piece or work with meticulous attention to detail.”
We are proud of our track record of achieving favorable results for our clients. Our team’s collective experience and deep understanding of the legal landscape enable us to develop innovative strategies tailored to each client’s unique circumstances. We approach every piece or work with meticulous attention to detail.
Thank you for considering Shanahans Law as your trusted legal partner. We look forward to serving you and guiding you through your legal journey with professionalism, expertise, and dedication.