DIRECTOR
megan.williams@swlegal.co.nz
DDI: (09) 553 9232
I am a born and bred Aucklander with over 25 years’ experience as a lawyer in New Zealand and overseas. I practise predominantly in the areas of property, commercial and trust law.
My experience reaches across all aspects of residential and commercial property including sale and purchase transactions, business sales and acquisitions, leasing, financing, general trust law, estate planning, retirement village occupation licences and all aspects of estate administration.
A significant part of my practice is in the arena of asset planning and protection for private clients. This includes offering clear and pragmatic advice on asset ownership and associated taxation implications, the setting up and administering family and trading trusts, resettling trusts onto more flexible deeds, variations of trust and providing retirement and succession planning advice including wills, memoranda of wishes and powers of attorney.
I am regularly asked to “decipher” a client’s existing trust and other ownership structures so that they are aware of their duties and obligations, including as trustees of a trust, as well as advising on and documenting clients’ succession wishes.
A recent focus of mine has been advising on the implications of the Trusts Act 2019 and the impact of new requirements around trustee duties and disclosure to beneficiaries as introduced by that Act.
I have presented seminars to various property and other interest groups, including to other lawyers. I am a current committee member of the South Auckland/Cornwall Branch of the Intellectually Handicapped Children’s Society (IHC).