MAGILL EARL - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Legal Secretary / Estates Administrator
Having joined Magill Earl in 1994 fresh from High School, Catherine has been with the firm for a total of 20 years.
Catherine started her duties as our front line receptionist before moving to the role of Legal Secretary.
A 5 year sojourn in Melbourne saw her employed at top Corporate firm, Minter Ellison, in their Commercial Disputes division, before her return to New Zealand in 2008.
Catherine enjoys a wide variety of legal work with her focus now mainly on Estate Administration and Conveyancing.
Eric is another of Magill Earl's people with fantastic work and life experience - traits which equip him well in the variety of legal issues he handles.
Joining the firm in 2006 and becoming a partner in 2010, Eric's work covers everything from Rural, Commercial and Residential Conveyancing, Trusts and Succession Planning to speciality interests in Employment Law (from both Employer and Employee perspectives, including handling Personal Grievances), Building and Construction disputes and an interest in ACC claims, an area for which there is little call.
Eric was born in Leicester and with an army officer father, the family moved often around the UK as well as overseas to Germany and Hong Kong. Early adult years saw him with a Dover Lifeboat crew where he was awarded the Royal National Lifeboat Bronze Medal for a life saving rescue during the Great Storm of 1987. Eric joined the Kent County Constabulary. His time there was curtailed with enforced medical retirement after being shot during an armed bank robbery, for which he was awarded the Queen's Gallantry Medal.
These experiences didn't dampen Eric's spirit. He applied his manual skills in the Building Trade and established a business manufacturing wooden toys.
Burgeoning family commitments and aspirations helped him with the career move to the law. After completing his law degree, the family moved to New Zealand in 2001 and after a wide search settled on a lifestyle block near Matamata. With wife Michelle, (an Immunisation Education Facilitator), and moral support from his daughters, the family has established itself and Eric shortly hopes to breed Herefords.
Community involvements for Eric include trusteeship of the Matamata Memorial RSA/Charitable Trust, treasurer of Matamata Rotary Club and secretary to the Waikato Youth Music Association.
Eric is a keen sports follower, supporting the Waikato and Chiefs teams. He hunts and fishes when time out from fencing and stock handling permit.
Along with Paul Gascoigne, Eric is looking to continue to build on the wonderful foundations of the firm, and to continually ensure practice and client service levels are maintained and enhanced.
Marja originates from The Netherlands. After she obtained her degree in International Business and International Marketing she had various roles in logistics, procurement and operational management. After moving to New Zealand she attended Waikato University from which she graduated with an LLB (Hons) in 2015.
Marja has worked for Magill Earl since 2017. Marja loves her work and enjoys working in all fields of the legal profession, but has particular interest in the following areas: Commercial and Business Law, Trusts, Contract, Equity, Torts, Relationship Property Law, Sports Law, Environmental Law, Family Law, Employment Law, Wills and Estates, Dispute Resolution, Negotiation and Mediation.
Marja is married to Gareth and has four children. In her spare time she supports her children in their respective sporting codes and enjoys the great outdoors New Zealand has to offer.