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Meet our People

Teresa Chan - Principal & Solicitor

Teresa Chan - Principal & Solicitor

(LLB, BCom, University of New South Wales)

Professional Background

Teresa has been practising law since 1992.

She started her legal career with the national law Firm Buddle Findlay in Wellington doing work for banks, large corporates and Crown Health Enterprises (now District Health boards). In 1994, she moved down to Dunedin to join the second largest law firm in Dunedin, Gallaway Cook Allan, where she did work for listed companies and local authorities trading enterprises and also gained experience in immigration law.

In 2003 she moved to Webb Farry and joined the partnership in 2004. At Webb Farry, Teresa worked with many small to medium sized businesses and also gained experience as a property lawyer and other areas of law such as family trusts, trademarks, and relationship property.

In 2011, Teresa set up her own practice to provide specialist and boutique services in the property, business and immigration areas to international and New Zealand clients.

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(LLB, BCom, University of New South Wales)

Professional Background

Teresa has been practising law since 1992.

She started her legal career with the national law Firm Buddle Findlay in Wellington doing work for banks, large corporates and Crown Health Enterprises (now District Health boards). In 1994, she moved down to Dunedin to join the second largest law firm in Dunedin, Gallaway Cook Allan, where she did work for listed companies and local authorities trading enterprises and also gained experience in immigration law.

In 2003 she moved to Webb Farry and joined the partnership in 2004. At Webb Farry, Teresa worked with many small to medium sized businesses and also gained experience as a property lawyer and other areas of law such as family trusts, trademarks, and relationship property.

In 2011, Teresa set up her own practice to provide specialist and boutique services in the property, business and immigration areas to international and New Zealand clients.

Personal Background 

Teresa was born in Hong Kong and studied as an international student in Sydney where she obtained her law and accounting degrees. Teresa came to New Zealand on a work visa in 1988 and then applied for residency as a skilled migrant.

She met her kiwi partner in 1989 and they moved to Dunedin in 1990.

Teresa had maintained a strong connection with her Chinese culture and heritage. She joined the Otago and Southland Chinese Association in 1996 and has been active within the local Chinese and multi ethnic communities in Dunedin ever since.

She speaks Cantonese and reads Chinese. She often provides translation support and community liaison between members of the Chinese community and government agencies.

Teresa’s personal interests outside work are the NZ outdoors, walking, and international films.

Professional Memberships

Teresa has a strong professional and personal interest in seeing New Zealand take advantage of business investments from overseas in a way that benefits Dunedin and Otago. She is well connected to the local business community as well as to the local government agencies in Dunedin. Her professional memberships reflect this.

Teresa holds the following professional memberships:

  • NZ Law Society
  • NZ Law Society- Property Law Section- Accredited Specialist
  • Auckland District Law Society
  • Otago Property Investors Association
  • Otago Women Lawyers Society.

The Firm itself is a member of:

  • Business South
  • Dunedin Shanghai Association.
  • NZ Medical Assurance Society

Teresa is the current Chair of the Dunedin Shanghai Association which supports the multi-faceted relationship between Dunedin and Shanghai/China.

She is also the current President of the Otago and Southland Chinese Association.

Teresa was also a member of the Otago Standards Committee of the New Zealand Law Society from its inception in August 2008 to December 2015. The Standards Committee determines complaints against lawyers. Teresa was nominated to be on the Committee due to her respected experience in the property and business law area.

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Property Law Section Accredited Specialist

ADLS

H L (Max) Chan - Solicitor

H L (Max) Chan - Solicitor

LLB, BA, University of Otago

Originally from Malaysia, Max immigrated to New Zealand in 2009. He studied at a Dunedin high school and graduated from the University of Otago in December 2019.

Max was elected the International Student Officer at the Otago University Students’ Association (OUSA) in 2017. During his time at the OUSA, he advocated for international students and organised international events as part of the student executive. Max speaks native Cantonese and Malay, and he understands Mandarin.

Max worked at Nomos One, a lease accounting and lease management company, in 2016. He developed an interest in software development while working at Nomos One. He plans to undertake part-time postgraduate study in IT.

Max was admitted as a solicitor at the Dunedin High Court in March 2021. He works primarily in conveyancing, estates administration and the sale and purchase of businesses. During his spare time, Max volunteers at the Citizens Advice Bureau and enjoys hosting dinner get-togethers with his friends.

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LLB, BA, University of Otago

Originally from Malaysia, Max immigrated to New Zealand in 2009. He studied at a Dunedin high school and graduated from the University of Otago in December 2019.

Max was elected the International Student Officer at the Otago University Students’ Association (OUSA) in 2017. During his time at the OUSA, he advocated for international students and organised international events as part of the student executive. Max speaks native Cantonese and Malay, and he understands Mandarin.

Max worked at Nomos One, a lease accounting and lease management company, in 2016. He developed an interest in software development while working at Nomos One. He plans to undertake part-time postgraduate study in IT.

Max was admitted as a solicitor at the Dunedin High Court in March 2021. He works primarily in conveyancing, estates administration and the sale and purchase of businesses. During his spare time, Max volunteers at the Citizens Advice Bureau and enjoys hosting dinner get-togethers with his friends.

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Xiaojun (Agnes) Sun - Legal Executive & Business Development Consultant

Xiaojun (Agnes) Sun - Legal Executive & Business Development Consultant

(Bachelor of Commerce, major in Finance, University of Otago and Bachelor of Science, major in Mathematics, P. R China)

 

Agnes was born and raised in China. She was a secondary school maths teacher in China before immigrating to New Zealand. After graduating from the University of Otago, she worked in an international company located in China and Singapore.   She worked in Human Resources at first where she became experienced in dealing with employee relationship, and then transferred to Finance.  In 2007, she moved back to Dunedin with her family. She started her own café business here. She also worked as an interpreter for a NZ company selling to customers in different countries including China.

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(Bachelor of Commerce, major in Finance, University of Otago and Bachelor of Science, major in Mathematics, P. R China)

 

Agnes was born and raised in China. She was a secondary school maths teacher in China before immigrating to New Zealand. After graduating from the University of Otago, she worked in an international company located in China and Singapore.   She worked in Human Resources at first where she became experienced in dealing with employee relationship, and then transferred to Finance.  In 2007, she moved back to Dunedin with her family. She started her own café business here. She also worked as an interpreter for a NZ company selling to customers in different countries including China.

Agnes’ working experience in different roles gave her a strong understanding of the impact from culture differences. She is keenly aware of the importance of how to communicate with people, and that logic thinking and taking initiative are key in solving problems. As an immigrant, running a business in NZ allows her to get to know local people, and understand the business processes.

Agnes joined Teresa Chan Law in 2018. Her responsibilities include:

 

  • Working closely with clients, often from inquiry to the final transaction. She is always mindful of clients’ needs, objectives and their situation. She attends to clients’ requests and issues promptly. She has a good eye for detail and is equally prudent. She is devoted to bringing quality service to clients.
  • Translating and interpreting for the Firm. Ages translates precedent documents, general information, documents, legal articles and the information on this website from English to Chinese.
  • Agnes has a strong awareness of cultural differences and their impact on people’s understanding and decision making. Helping clients to extend their understanding also enables them to achieve their goals. Similarly, helping colleagues in the Firm to understand clients’ culture is crucial to helping our clients to achieve their goals.

 

Agnes enjoys working with Firm colleagues and feels it is her pleasure to assist clients.

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Barbara Leyden - Legal Secretary

Barbara Leyden - Legal Secretary

Barbara has been working on a part time basis for Teresa Chan Law since its inception in 2011. She has over 15 years of secretarial and administration experience and provides additional support to Teresa and her staff, assisting in administration duties, helping prepare legal documents for clients, and performing other secretarial duties as required.

Barbara also assists as Teresa’s PA in her capacity as Chair on the Dunedin Shanghai Association, and Chair of the Otago and Southland Chinese Association.

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Barbara has been working on a part time basis for Teresa Chan Law since its inception in 2011. She has over 15 years of secretarial and administration experience and provides additional support to Teresa and her staff, assisting in administration duties, helping prepare legal documents for clients, and performing other secretarial duties as required.

Barbara also assists as Teresa’s PA in her capacity as Chair on the Dunedin Shanghai Association, and Chair of the Otago and Southland Chinese Association.

Born and bred in Dunedin, Barbara knows what a great city Dunedin is to live and work in, and over the past six years working with Teresa Chan Law as a Legal Secretary, has gained a new appreciation for the struggles that people go through when wanting to live and work here in Dunedin and elsewhere in New Zealand, and is proud to be involved with Teresa’s firm in helping to make that happen.

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Barbara Leyden - Legal Secretary
Dunedin Shanghai Association property law section ADLS