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.