Hamilton Archives - McCaw Lewis

Renika Siciliano

Renika provides legal and strategic advice to clients right across Aotearoa and leads the firm’s lawyers in te Tiriti o Waitangi and workplace law areas.

Renika’s approach is to understand both the client and the problem, and to provide clear, direct advice without overcomplicating things. She believes in providing realistic solutions to clients by working within individual clients’ tikanga and principles, developing strong working relationships in doing so. Renika enjoys the opportunity to build long-lasting relationships with those she works with, and shares their successes.

In the words of Te Puea Herangi, “Mahia te mahi hei painga mō te iwi”.

She has extensive experience in matters relating to Te Tiriti o Waitangi, including Treaty settlement negotiations, Māori governance and disputes relating to kaupapa Māori. Renika has appeared in most Courts and forums in Aotearoa, including representing Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki in relation to the Supreme Court’s landmark decision Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki Tribal Trust v Minister of Conservation. She has also worked with clients in some of the first substantive matters to be heard under the Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Act.

Renika also has a wealth of knowledge in workplace law, advising on various employment matters for both employers and employees. She represents and advises clients on the incorporation of tikanga Māori in employment spaces and is called on as an investigator in these spaces and beyond.

As an Associate of AMINZ (Association of Arbitrators and Mediators), she accepts appointments as mediator or facilitator for various kaupapa, including urgent or complex employment matters. She is a current member of the New Zealand Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal. Renika is also available to assist on arbitral panels where particular knowledge of kaupapa Māori is required.

Renika regularly presents at national conferences on Treaty-related and employment matters, having presented for Te Hunga Rōia Māori o Aotearoa, AMINZ and the New Zealand Law Society. She is also called on often to provide thought leadership around the practice of law generally, presenting at the Future Firm Forum and LawFest. She has held various governance positions including former Tumuaki Wāhine (Co-President) of Te Hunga Rōia Māori o Aotearoa, Director of Northern Districts Cricket and is currently a Director of Waikato Rugby.

Outside the office, Renika focuses on spending time with her family and keeping active through netball and the gym. She is actively involved in the community, including through her roles on school boards, supporting her son’s basketball, and with Fraser Tech Netball Club in Hamilton.

You will also find Renika working remotely in Taranaki from time to time to be close to her whānau there and to assist clients in that rohe.

Joining the firm in 2008, Renika was appointed a Director of the firm in 2018 and appointed Executive Director in October 2020.

Glenn Forster

Glenn has significant senior executive experience covering strategic, commercial and operational aspects of the business. Glenn joined the firm having worked in various industries and roles across both SME’s and large corporates. His accounting/commercial background as well as operational experience has given him a unique perspective on how a business operates and what excellence looks like.

Glenn has a collaborative approach, with a focus on enabling every individual to succeed, creating a values-based culture and leading the firm’s strategic direction. He was named as a finalist for Law Firm Leader of the Year (<100 lawyers) in 2023 at the NZ Law Awards.

Glenn is married to Vanessa, and they have two daughters Olivia and Sophie. They lead a busy life outside of work, managing a lifestyle block where their daughters participate in showjumping with horses. When not at work or working on the property Glenn can be found out running.

Glenn joined McCaw Lewis in 2019 and was appointed as Chief Executive in 2022.

Daniel Shore

Daniel believes in a strategic approach to dispute resolution, providing practical advice based on a full understanding of a client’s objectives, both from a legal and non-legal perspective. He assesses risk and works closely with clients to formulate strategies to best achieve the outcomes they seek. What he enjoys most about his practice is the opportunity to help people resolve some of their most important and challenging issues.

Daniel advises on a range of commercial and property disputes, and also assists clients through trust, estate, and relationship property disputes. He leads a group of perceptive and knowledgeable lawyers working in the dispute resolution space. Daniel has recently marked 20 years with the firm, bringing depth and experience to every matter.

Daniel studied at Copenhagen Law School and the University of Waikato, and continues an association with the University of Waikato Faculty of Law (Te Piringa). Daniel is actively involved in the community as a Trustee of the McCaw Lewis Foundation, a registered charity that supports causes important to the McCaw Lewis whānau, and as a Board member of the Graeme Dingle Foundation Waikato.

Daniel grew up in Hamilton and balances his work life with a number of sporting pastimes, including running and golf.

Daniel joined the firm in 2006 and was appointed a Director of the firm in 2013.

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Amanda Bedford

Amanda provides an understanding ear and practical legal advice to clients and their wider families in what are often difficult circumstances. Her approach is that of a guide, translator, and steward, helping clients make confident decisions about their legacy while being sensitive to the emotional weight these conversations can carry. She enjoys blending technical expertise with strong relationships, creating solutions that allow her clients peace of mind.

Amanda advises private clients and their various entities on the structuring of their assets, working with accountants and other advisers to develop solutions that give effect to her client’s wishes. She specialises in Trust structures and works well with clients that value professional partnerships and are willing to have difficult discussions. She is adept at handling delicate interpersonal issues, approaching family dynamics with neutrality and tact in order to address issues constructively and with a view to maintaining long-term relationships, as much as possible.

Her strong commercial background, including time at a top-tier national Australian law firm working in banking and finance, ensures that the asset planning advice she provides is both commercially sound and tailored to clients’ long-term personal objectives. Amanda provides expert insight into the most up-to-date changes in the law, having presented to external referrers and clients on the Trusts Act 2019 and had articles published in the Company and Securities Law Bulletin. She is also a member of the Auckland District Law Society trust law committee.

Amanda believes in giving back to the community. She is motivated by the pursuit of excellence (whaia te iti Kahurangi) and being a good example for her two boys. She serves as a trustee for three charitable organisations: ConneXu (disability support services), Angel Casts (supporting families through the loss of a child), and Age Concern Waikato (enhancing the quality of life for older people). Outside of work, Amanda prioritises connecting with friends and family. She enjoys being outdoors—at the beach, hiking, riding her bike with her kids, and running.

Dale Thomas

Dale leads our firm’s Property practice.

Dale partners with clients to ensure that their interests are protected, and desired outcomes are achieved. He understands that there are often multiple paths to a successful result, so it is important to work alongside his clients, their other advisors and banks to ensure that objectives are aligned from the outset and on a path that everyone is comfortable with.

Dale advises on a wide range of property matters, and leads a high-performing and practically-minded group of lawyers and legal executives. He has a wide range of experience in property law, including residential, commercial and rural property, advising on leasing, property development and subdivisions and technical land issues. He is especially experienced when it comes to the specific property needs of clients based in the Waikato, and understands the intricacies of compliance with the Regional Plan and RMA. In conjunction with our Te Ture Whenua Māori experts, Dale advises Māori land owners to help them achieve their objectives and aspirations.

Dale’s clients also benefit from his experience in commercial and asset planning law, having worked across both areas at McCaw Lewis and previously in a private practice in Tauranga. While he now focuses on property, he regularly assists in other areas, particularly where projects overlap.

Dale has presented on various property law topics, including speaking to the Waikato Branch of Legal Executives group on farm purchases and presentations for Legalwise on land covenants and intergenerational lending. He is also a member of the New Zealand Law Society’s Property Transactions Subcommittee.

The eldest of four boys, Dale grew up in Taupiri on the family farm. He and his wife have their hands full with two young children, but he plays social cricket and manages to do bit of mountain bike riding when he gets the time. His role on the board of the McCaw Lewis Foundation gives Dale the opportunity to give back to the community, with core support going to causes which help Waikato youth.

Dale joined McCaw Lewis in 2015, and was appointed a Director of the firm in 2020.

Kylee Katipo

Kylee has extensive expertise in Te Ture Whenua Māori and Te Tiriti o Waitangi matters, providing legal and strategic advice to Ahu Trusts, Māori Incorporations, Whānau Trusts, and Beneficial Owners of Māori Land across Aotearoa. Driven by a desire to help her people navigate the legal system—a value learned from being raised in a whānau that puts service first—she brings significant experience to her role as Director.

Kylee’s approach is highly collaborative, working with clients to understand their immediate and long-term goals. She is compassionate and approaches matters in a calm and considered manner, with specialist expertise in weaving the law and tikanga to whenua Māori and resource management matters. She particularly enjoys working with Māori land trusts and governance entities to provide long-term, durable solutions for Māori land and resource management.

She has significant court experience, having represented clients in the Māori Appellate Court, Māori Land Court, and Waitangi Tribunal. She has worked closely with Iwi groups, Māori Incorporations, and Māori Trusts on significant projects and developments, including commercial and property-related areas involving Māori land and Marae Governance.

Kylee has a strong commitment to the legal community and thought leadership. She served as Secretary for Te Hunga Rōia Māori o Aotearoa and is currently the Waikato co-representative. She is a proud contributing author of Multicultural Lawyering, Navigating the Culture of the Law, the Lawyer and the Client (2021) and has served as a guest lecturer at the University of Waikato on Māori land law.

Outside of the office, Kylee gives back to her community as a Trustee for the McCaw Lewis Foundation. She finds balance in her life by being at home with her whānau and by the ocean.

Kylee joined McCaw Lewis in 2018 and was appointed to the role of Director in October 2023.

Phil Harris

Phil has worked on a large number of significant projects, including major business and corporate transactions and structure matters.

Phil is a firm believer that strong client relationships, “thinking outside the square” and being part of the client’s core team are essential to achieve an optimum result.

Phil joined the firm in 1984, was appointed a Partner in 1988 and was a Director of McCaw Lewis Limited from 2011 to 2025. Phil is now a Consultant for the firm.

Laura Monahan

Laura leads a talented team of lawyers in the firm’s Commercial Law area.

She has extensive experience across a wide variety of business matters, including limited partnerships, ownership arrangements (shareholders’ agreements and share sales/purchases), negotiating commercial contracts, commercial property matters, commercial lease arrangements, Financial Markets Conduct Act issues, Overseas Investment Act matters, construction contracts, and business sales and purchases.

Laura’s approach is centered on helping clients meet their business goals while keeping things simple and understandable. Her unique strength as a lawyer is a genuine aim to understand and get behind clients. She has developed a particular specialisation in Māori commercial matters, assisting iwi clients—a client base she especially enjoys working with—to establish post-settlement governance entities and manage iwi assets.

Giving back to the community she grew up in remains important to Laura. She is currently on the boards of the Waikato Family Centre Trust and the Waikato Diocesan School for Girls Old Girls Association Committee. She is particularly proud of the women in business networking group, Elevate, she established with Stacey Martin (BNZ) and Alice van de Heyden (PwC Hamilton), which focuses on connecting, support, and education for women.

Outside of the workplace, Laura focuses on putting family first and finding balance. She enjoys spending time with her husband, two daughters, and dog, reading, and keeping fit at the gym.

Laura was raised in Hamilton, returning here to join the firm in 2012, and was appointed as a Director of the firm in 2020.

Jessica Middleton

Since 2015, Jessica has helped clients find solutions to structural, governance, and transactional issues arising throughout the whole life cycle of their business.

Jessica advises across a variety of corporate and commercial issues, including sales and purchases of businesses and shares, shareholders’ agreements, structuring and governance matters, joint ventures, commercial leasing, and complex contractual arrangements.

Although she assists a wide range of clients, including professional services firms, SMEs, and charitable trusts, Jessica has a particular focus on Māori commercial work assisting Māori entities from whenua trusts and Māori incorporations to PSGEs and their related subsidiaries.

She also has a passion for intellectual property law, with a particular focus on trademarks.

Acknowledging that the legal side of business can be overwhelming and complex, Jessica believes strongly in providing practical and accessible advice, making an effort to understand her clients’ values and priorities, and delivering solutions in a way that suits their needs.

Jessica serves as a Trustee for the McCaw Lewis Foundation, the firm’s charitable organisation, which encourages healthy and happy children in the Waikato.

Originally from Hamilton, Jessica grew up on the North Shore of Auckland and spent time in London, before returning to the Waikato. Jessica joined McCaw Lewis in 2018. She was appointed as a Senior Associate in April 2021 and Special Counsel in January 2026.

Natalie Whitelock

Natalie is a Senior Associate in our Asset Planning Team. Her approach to client work is considered, practical, sound, and thoughtful. She believes in working with clients to achieve what is best for them in their particular circumstances, providing well-considered legal advice. Natalie especially enjoys advising clients on overall asset planning structures, retirement villages, and trusts.

A key strength is her ability to employ lateral thinking to work through and identify details and options for clients in their unique circumstances. She is known for her exceptional ability to put clients at ease. Natalie enjoys collaborating with clients and considering all potential options to find the solution that best suits them and their family. She works closely with private clients and their other trusted advisors, including accountants and financial advisors, to ensure legal affairs are aligned with her clients’ wishes and objectives.

Along with her specialist knowledge in trusts and all areas of elder law, Natalie has a background in property, which provides a valuable multi-disciplinary perspective on projects. She has presented to various clients and professional colleagues on the Trusts Act 2019 and presented to Emerge – the Waikato Chamber of Commerce young professionals network – on the importance of relationship property agreements and wills.

Outside of the office, Natalie is motivated by her faith and her family. She maintains balance by being involved in her church, going to the gym, and spending time with friends, family, and her niece and nephew. She is actively involved in leading a music team at her church as the main singer and sometimes plays the keyboard. Her personal interests also include reading, travelling (often visiting places of historical significance), and enjoying music.

Natalie joined McCaw Lewis in 2018 and was appointed to the role of Senior Associate in 2025.

Location: Hamilton