Meet the team

Alistair has a legal foundation in franchising, asset protection, and general commercial law, with degrees in both Commerce and Laws. Alistair enjoys assisting his clients with a broad range of matters (both private and commercial work), and prides himself on establishing longstanding relationships with his clients. Alistair has also had experience practicing in South Africa, and he is comfortable conversing in Afrikaans if clients would prefer to work with an Afrikaans-speaking lawyer in Auckland. 

​Following the retirement of his business partner (Auckland franchise and commercial business lawyer Miles Agmen-Smith), Alistair decided to relocate ASCO Legal from the Auckland CBD to the heart of Howick.
​
Over the years Alistair has been invited to present for the Franchise Association of New Zealand (also known as FANZ) at their annual conference, and many private staff training sessions for businesses around Auckland and further afield. Alistair has also been invited to present for various Howick Click networking events and ASCO Legal has proudly showcased for the Howick Click. Alistair welcomes opportunities to speak at events and to smaller groups about various legal topics that are of particular relevance and significance to them and their life and business - such as legal developments in commercial business, conveyancing, or franchising in New Zealand. Please get in touch if you would like to enquire about Alistair and the ASCO Legal team presenting at your upcoming event.

Alistair is an active part of the community, including being on the Board of Trustees at Cockle Bay School and is a member of a BNI group (Business Network International) in the East Auckland chapter. On the weekends he spends time with his young family and enjoys his DIY projects.

Ada (also known as Yu Min Gould) returned to ASCO Legal as an Associate after a period of time working for well-respected law firms in Newmarket and East Tamaki in Auckland. Ada has a strong legal background, enhanced by qualifications and experience in both accounting and law. She graduated from the University of Auckland with a Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Laws in 2009 and 2013 respectively and was admitted to the bar in 2015.

Ada has a wide range of practice areas including property and commercial law (including people needing a Franchise Business lawyer), but also enjoys working with clients on relationship matters such as NZ Parenting Agreements. She has degrees in Commerce and Laws and is fluent in Shanghainese and Mandarin. As a Chinese lawyer, Ada is comfortable assisting clients who are looking for a Mandarin speaking lawyer.

Ada brings energy and a positive outlook on life to all her clients’ cases. She has a keen interest in medieval history and time-travel novels. She also enjoys cooking together with her teenage son and loves playing and cuddling with her three pets: two cats and a dog.

Cassandra is a born and bred East Aucklander who has been practising in Howick since 2018. She has extensive experience in residential and commercial conveyancing, business sales and purchases, relationship property law, trust law, and wills and estate planning. Cassandra is a problem solver and great communicator who is dedicated to providing her clients with comprehensive advice that is easy to understand.

Cassandra has a knack for quickly grasping a clients desired outcomes and takes great pleasure in helping them achieve them. She believes in providing easy to understand advice and has a high attention to detail, ensuring that her clients feel confident and informed throughout the legal process.

With a love of learning, Cassandra is committed to staying up-to-date with the latest developments in the legal field to ensure that she is able to provide her clients with the most current and effective advice. She brings the same sense of curiosity and enthusiasm to her personal life as she does to her legal practice, and enjoys reading and traveling in her free time.

Chris joined ASCO Legal after 12 years at one of the largest property specialist law firms in South Africa. In his position as a director, he headed the client satisfaction and dispute resolution department. His experience includes property law, conveyancing dealing with both residential and large-scale developments, commercial law, tax law and estate planning. Chris particularly enjoys Business Sale and Purchase Agreements, and assisting with work done by one of ASCO Legal's Commercial Property Lawyers and Business Lawyers.
 
Chris graduated his degree in South Africa with distinction, and while he enjoys pursuing knowledge in the law, he is practical and solution-orientated in his practice. He believes in a client centric approach and takes great personal pride in caring for his clients’ needs.
 
After his baby boy arrived, both he and his partner moved to New Zealand and joined ASCO Legal. Chris is an avid rugby supporter (we won’t say which team), plays touch rugby and enjoys spending time at the gym. 

Luzette has a conjoint degree in Arts (Philosophy) and Law from the University of Auckland and was admitted to the bar at the Auckland High Court in 2011.

​Luzette's legal practice expertise includes a special interest in NZ commercial leasing, franchise business lawyer work (including converting international franchise agreements) and NZ business "fine print". At ASCO Legal Luzette works with Property (Relationships) Act issues, including relationship Contracting Out Agreements, relationship Separation Agreements, NZ Parenting Agreements and even Pet Custody Agreements. Luzette is known for her keen eye for detail and drafting.

​Luzette joined ASCO Legal in Howick as an Associate having come from another reputable East Auckland law firm and enjoys working in the East Auckland area. Prior to that she spent a number of years working as a Solicitor at a boutique law firm in the Auckland CBD and as a professional Senior Advocate for a leading tertiary provider in New Zealand where she represented students in a broad range of matters and played an influential role in the drafting and implementation of many regulations and policies.

Outside of work Luzette enjoys visiting farmer’s markets and the local beaches with her partner her toddler. She is also an animal lover and enjoys taking care of any creatures that might come her way.

Nadia joined ASCO in 2021 after having practised in South Africa as a director in the commercial department of a national law firm. Nadia started her career in 2010 and completed her articles at the largest law firm in Africa. Having practised in the projects team, where she enjoyed working on infrastructure, energy and rail, she found her love of commercial law. These days, Nadia particularly enjoys business and commercial lawyer work, and enjoys getting involved in ASCO Legal's other specialisation, which is as a franchise law firm in East Auckland.

Academically, Nadia completed her BA Law majoring in psychology and LLB degrees simultaneously within a four year period (instead of the standard five year time frame) at the University of Pretoria and was awarded these degrees with distinction. She believes a great lawyer should be passionate, ethical, humble and a pleasure to deal with.

Her experience includes drafting, negotiating and reviewing various commercial agreements, assisting in opinion work (including regulatory compliance) and due diligences. She has experience in an array of practice areas including real estate (commercial and residential), corporate, regulatory compliance (including AML/CFT, HR policies, data privacy and IT policies) manufacturing, energy, rail, road transportation, telecommunications and entertainment law.

While pursuing a career in life-long learning as she calls it, Nadia enjoys spending time with her husband, son and family, travelling, reading and cooking (…and eating).

Donna is a Registered Legal Executive (NZ Associate) having originally qualified as a Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives in England in 1996.  Donna has lived in the Howick area since 2003 and enjoys working locally avoiding a long commute. 

Donna’s experience is in a broad range of matters including wills, enduring powers of attorney, estate management, trusts, retirement villages and conveyancing. Donna is also experienced in acting on matters requiring a Deed of Family Arrangement in NZ and reverse mortgages. Like the solicitors at ASCO Legal, Donna has a wealth of knowledge and expertise when clients are in need of East Auckland estate lawyers or will lawyers in Auckland.
​
​With a 10 year period as a Compliance Manager for an Auckland CBD firm specialising in banking and finance, Donna's previous experience also includes practising as a Personal Injury Lawyer in England, where she managed a team of lawyers for a large law firm in the South East. 

​In her spare time, Donna is an avid gardener, enjoys long walks with her family and attending Pilates classes.

Kylie is a Registered Legal Executive (NZ Associate) having qualified as a Legal Executive in 1997.  She has had many years’ experience in legal firms in Auckland, Nelson and Cambridge.

She thoroughly enjoys assisting clients with a wide range of matters including residential conveyancing, refinancing, sales and purchases of businesses, wills and enduring powers of attorney. Kylie is friendly, warm and dedicated to providing the best possible service to her clients. She has great attention to detail and thrives under pressure. If you have been frantically typing phrases into Google such as "Conveyancing Auckland" and "Property Lawyer New Zealand" and "First Home Property Help Howick", you need look no further now that you have found Kylie.
​
Kylie loves living in Howick and working in a great East Auckland law firm locally. Outside of work she enjoys being at the beach and spending time with family and friends.

Jo has been a legal secretary for the past 30 years, 14 of which were in England. Jo has worked in many areas of the law but is predominantly experienced in the commercial property and residential conveyancing fields of law.

She loves being part of an efficient legal team with that brings everything down to earth. Jo is currently studying for her Legal Executive Diploma and is enjoying the hands-on practical experience of working at ASCO Legal with our conveyancing lawyers in East Auckland.

Outside of work, Jo's passion is running and in 2019 she ran the Paris Marathon. Jo frequently participates in major running events whether they are in East Auckland, greater Auckland, further afield in New Zealand or even abroad. Jo also enjoys horse riding, travel, local beaches and spending time with her family and friends.

If you're coming in to chat with ASCO Legal, then Hannah may be the first person you meet - she can often be found at our reception desk greeting visitors with a warm smile and a hot coffee. Hannah enjoys assisting the team in all aspects of the practice, from Business Sale and Purchase to relationship property disputes and everything in-between.

Hannah joined ASCO Legal in Howick as a Legal Assistant and brings more than 12 years’ experience in the Insurance and Finance Industry. She specialised in managing total loss, high value residential and commercial claims in both UK and NZ. More recently, Hannah has worked in the banking industry in NZ, providing client support in challenging circumstances.

Outside of work, Hannah also enjoys spending time with her young family, camping holidays and renovation projects.

Roxanne joined the ASCO Legal team in the Accounts role, after taking some time out to focus on her young family.

She moved to New Zealand from South Africa some years ago and is fluent in ​English and Afrikaans. With a background in education, Roxanne also has excellent interpersonal skills and attention to detail, and she is enjoying the change of being out of a New Zealand classroom and into friendly and efficient office environment.

Roxanne loves working at Asco Legal’s East Auckland practice; specifically the company’s director and Roxanne's husband - lawyer Alistair van Schalkwyk! Working with lawyers in Howick works out great for Roxanne, as she and Alistair live locally and both enjoy the warm Howick Village atmosphere.