OUR PEOPLE
Our dispute lawyers and litigation team
Fraundorfer is a New Zealand dispute-resolution firm representing clients across the Waikato, Bay of Plenty, and Auckland. Our team includes litigators, arbitrators, and regulatory counsel with experience across a wide range of disputes. We act for individuals, professionals, and businesses facing complex disputes from family and employment to construction, regulatory, and commercial matters.
Meet our specialist dispute lawyers
Our team of dispute lawyers operates across New Zealand, appearing in the High Court, Family Court, and Employment Court, and before tribunals and arbitration panels nationwide.
With expertise across family, employment, and civil disputes, we’re focused on resolving disputes efficiently and preparing matters properly where they proceed.
David Fraundorfer
Trial Counsel
READ DAVID'S BIO
David is a civil trial lawyer with extensive experience in complex commercial and public law disputes. His experience includes ten years in London undertaking financial and international disputes, heading up Bay of Plenty’s largest litigation team, working as a commercial barrister and fronting his own specialist litigation firm.
His successes include setting precedents in the Court of Appeal, litigating class actions, and leading lengthy High Court trials. He is routinely instructed on judicial review, commercial disputes, and complex negligence claims. He is also asked to provide advice to corporate boards, speak at conferences on legal developments and guest lecture at law schools.
David maintains an interest in sports law, where he acted for international athletes in disciplinary and arbitration proceedings, including matters before international sporting bodies. He is a member of the Sports Tribunal assistance provider scheme, a panel arbitrator for the International Court of Arbitration of Sport and is the Oceania arbitrator for FIFA.
Rachel Scott
Special Counsel
READ RACHEL'S BIO
Rachel is a civil and regulatory law Specialist with over 20 years' experience, appearing across tribunals, courts, and boards of inquiry. Rachel’s specialist area is insolvency and tax disputes – including complex child support matters/regulatory prosecutions, and she regularly takes instructions from both Liquidators, Receivers, Company Directors and Private clients. Rachel has been involved in some of the leading cases in this area of practice.
Rachel has a secondary practice in land disputes, including those involving a valuation aspect, construction and those involving Māori land. Rachel is experienced in a courtroom at all levels and in mediations, arbitrations, and round table settlements. She regularly takes instruction in complex estate matters.
Outside of the law, Rachel has been actively involved in both the New Zealand Law Society and Volunteering Waikato. She is currently the Deputy Chair of the Tauranga Art Gallery Trust, the trust that operates the Toi Tauranga Art Gallery.
Jenna Heerdegen
Senior Associate
READ JENNA's BIO
Jenna is a senior litigation lawyer specialising in all areas of family law. This includes relationship property often involving complex issues regarding trusts and companies, contracting out agreements, relationship property agreements, estate disputes and parenting and guardianship matters. She has extensive dispute resolution and courtroom experience, regularly appearing in the Family Court and High Court. Jenna has a broad litigation background having spent time prosecuting for the crown and government departments in the District Court and High Court.
Kim Crosby
Senior Associate
READ KIM'S BIO
Kim practices in a broad range of family law matters including relationship property, surrogacy, adoption, parenting matters, family violence and estate litigation. Kim regularly appears in the Family Court. With over ten years experience working in family law across New Zealand and Australia, Kim is known for a pragmatic approach to family law disputes.
In addition to her law degree, Kim has a Master of Laws (Applied Law) majoring in Family Law, a Legal Executive Diploma and a Diploma in Psychology. Kim is also the Presiding Member of a Tauranga primary school Board.
Rachel Rosser
Senior Associate
READ RACHEL'S BIO
Racher Rosser is a Waikato-based litigation lawyer with experience in complex property, estate, trust, and financial disputes.
She has undertaken financial litigation in Australia and held a leadership role in a large commercial litigation team here in New Zealand. Some of her Court of Appeal decisions are now considered precedents, and she is often instructed for large-scale cases.
Stephanie Berkahn
Senior Associate
READ STEPHANIE'S BIO
Stephanie is a senior associate with more than a decade of experience, specialising in employment law.
She began her career in Auckland at a specialist employment law firm before moving to London to work at a magic circle law firm, where she was seconded to a global financial institution as in-house legal counsel.
In 2021, she returned to New Zealand and joined the employment team at the Bay of Plenty’s largest law firm, before settling in at Fraundorfer Limited, where she continues to advise employers and employees on employment disputes and regulatory issues.
Hilary Lewis
Junior Counsel
READ HILARY'S BIO
Hilary is a civil litigation junior with experience assisting on appellate and High Court matters.
Since starting her career, she has appeared as junior counsel in the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal, undertaken High Court trials and appeared in other specialist forums such as the Sports Tribunal and the Environment Court.
She has undertaken guest lectures at the University of Waikato Law School and is regularly instructed by law firms to assist with contentious and complex issues.
Jacob Strawbridge
Law Clerk
READ JACOB's BIO
Jacob recently made the move over the Kaimais to join the firm as a Law Clerk. He completed his studies at the University of Waikato and is currently undertaking his Professional Legal Studies Course.
With a background in retail, Jacob enjoys working with people and brings strong interpersonal and communication skills to his role in the disputes team. He is gaining hands-on experience across a broad range of matters, allowing him to further develop his practical understanding of litigation and dispute resolution.
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Roebi Bidois
Law Clerk
READ ROEBI'S BIO
Before stepping into her current role as a law clerk, Roebi spent nearly five years as a legal secretary at a local Tauranga firm, juggling deadlines, decoding lawyer scribbles, and keeping the legal machine running smoothly.
In April 2024, Roebi graduated with her law degree before deciding to take a brief hiatus from the legal industry, diving into the world of financial advising.
While Roebi loved the hands-on nature of that work, she felt compelled to give “lawyering” a proper go. Since her return to law, Roebi has enjoyed the fast-paced environment, the ever-changing work, and the intellectual challenge.
Ella Tattersall
Law Clerk
READ ELLA'S BIO
Before returning home to sunny Tauranga, to commence her role as a Law Clerk, Ella studied and worked in the South Island, graduating from the University of Canterbury. She enjoys the demanding and fast-paced nature of legal practice and the complex strategic thinking it requires.
Ella has a strong background in working and communicating with people from diverse backgrounds, and she values the relational aspect of legal practice.
She is particularly interested in civil litigation for its strategic depth and its capacity to achieve practical, outcome-focused solutions.
Bre O'Neill
Investigation Manager
READ BRE'S BIO
Bre joined Fraundorfer Limited in 2024 and supports the team across a wide range of office and litigation tasks, including discovery and preparing documents for court.
She has recently completed a Certificate in Professional Investigations and now also assists with the service of documents and small-scale investigations. Bre's degree is a BSc in Human Nutrition.
Carmen Willis
Litigation Secretary
READ CARMEN'S BIO
Carmen brings positive energy and a fun, welcoming vibe to the office, along with extensive law firm experience.
Having worked as a legal assistant in various New Zealand firms since her teens, she is always eager to help and quick to pick up new systems and processes.
Outside of work, Carmen loves travel, culture, and the outdoors, and she is deeply involved in volunteer work.
Work with us
Looking for a fulfilling career with a supportive, forward-thinking law firm?
We are a specialist dispute‑resolution firm that values clear thinking, collaboration, and professional responsibility. Our team works closely across practice areas, supporting each other on complex and meaningful matters, while maintaining a strong focus on wellbeing, respect, and balance.
We’re always interested in talented, passionate professionals who share our commitment to client care and high‑quality legal work. Explore current opportunities and join our team.
Learning and development
We are committed to developing our people. Team members are encouraged to build depth in their areas of interest, take on responsibility early, and continue learning through hands‑on experience, mentoring, and exposure to meaningful work.
Why people choose to work here
Exposure to complex, high‑quality litigation work
Supportive, team‑based environment
Direct access to senior lawyers and mentoring
Opportunities to appear in court and develop advocacy skills
Flexibility where possible and respect for life outside work
Vacancies
We don’t currently have any advertised roles. However, we’re always happy to hear from talented people who believe they’d be a strong fit for our team.
You’re welcome to send a CV and brief cover note to info@fraundorfer.co.nz.
GET IN TOUCH
Start your legal conversation
If you’re facing a dispute or need experienced trial support, talk to lawyers who prepare every case with purpose.
Tauranga | Papamoa I Cambridge I Hamilton | Auckland |Nationwide representation, including virtual hearings where appropriate
CONTACT
info@fraundorfer.co.nz
07 929 7880
P O Box 1140, Tauranga 3144
Harrington House
Level 6
32 Harington Street
Tauranga, 3110
