Lee Harris

Trust and Estate Practitioner

lee.harris@martellimckegg.co.nz
+64 9 950 9047
Linkedin

Lee Harris, Trust and Estate Practitioner

Background

Lee Harris has spent her career supporting clients with complex trust, estate planning and asset protection issues. She’s an extremely knowledgeable trust and estate practitioner, with experience stretching back to 1986.

As a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) and a French speaker, Lee has a particular interest in cross-border property and estate planning. She works closely with  Notaires to coordinate signature and authentication of foreign documents , including sale and purchase/compromis agreements and powers of attorney/procurations. Lee also works with foreign investors, law firms, tax advisors and French-speaking clients, helping them navigate the complexities of differing legal jurisdictions and conflicting laws. Her expertise is sought after by legal organisations like the Law Society and STEP, and she has hosted various webinars on cross-border issues and provides online resources in French.

At Martelli McKegg, Lee works with individuals, businesses, trustees and beneficiaries, advising on everything from estate planning to establishing trusts and resolving tax issues. Lee also drafts and advises on relationship property agreements (both contracting out agreements and separation agreements) in conjunction with Tara Grant, our relationship property partner. She takes a proactive, pragmatic approach to all her work, looking for the most effective path to a resolution.

Expertise

  • Trust and estate administration
  • Commercial and residential conveyancing
  • Relationship property
  • Foreign investments and cross-border estate planning

Recognition

  • Recognised by STEP as a ‘TEP’, thanks to her specialist knowledge and skill.

Recent articles

Estate Planning Tools to discourage Estate Challenges

By Lee Harris

12 Sep 2024

Use or lose your New Zealand cash investments - Unclaimed Money

By Lee Harris

29 Feb 2024

Increasing visibility by revenue authorities on New Zealand investments

By Lee Harris

15 Nov 2023

French Kiwis – children and assets and the repercussions following death / Kiwis Français – enfants et actifs et les répercussions de décès

By Lee Harris

12 Jun 2023

Specialisations

Foreign Investment / OIO French Speaking Services Trust & Asset Planning

Professional Development

Professional memberships

  • Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) NZ
  • The Law Association of New Zealand (TLANZ)
  • Auckland District Law Society (ADLS)

Qualifications

  • Diploma in International Trust Management (Distinction) (STEP), 2012
  • Certificate in Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (STEP), 2017
  • République Française Ministère de l’éducation nationale – DALF C1 (Diplôme approfondi de langue française – appropriate level for Masters study at a French University), 2013
  • New Zealand Legal Executive Certificate, NZ Law Society, 1986

Other languages

  • French

Team Members