Lisa Hughes

Lisa Hughes is an experienced lawyer who has practised in South Africa, New Zealand, and Australia. After qualifying in South Africa, Lisa moved to New Zealand in 2000, where she worked within the Auckland District Court as a jury trial Court Registrar and with the Crown Solicitors’ office as a jury trial administrator. She requalified in New Zealand and was admitted to the High Court in 2006. Lisa’s early career included roles as a Crown Prosecutor in both the tax and criminal divisions of the Auckland and Rotorua Crown Solicitor’s offices, where she prosecuted a range of criminal and civil matters in the District Court. In 2007, Lisa relocated to Australia and was admitted to the Supreme Court of Brisbane. There she served as a Legal Officer and Crown Prosecutor with the Director of Public Prosecutions, regularly appearing in the Queensland District and Magistrates Courts on sentences, committal hearings, and jury trials. Lisa returned to New Zealand in 2012, working for the Ministry of Justice as the Court Coordinator for the Auckland Alcohol and Drug Treatment Court, where she contributed to the establishment of New Zealand’s first pilot Drug Court program. The following year, she joined the Auckland Public Defence Service as a defence lawyer, frequently representing clients in the Auckland District Court, Drug Court, and Domestic Violence Court on criminal and domestic violence matters. Since returning to Australia in 2015, Lisa has operated as a sole practitioner, primarily focusing on Wills and Estates and domestic violence law. She is deeply committed to helping clients from diverse backgrounds develop effective estate plans, recognising the importance of sensitive, open conversations to fully understand each client’s unique family dynamics, financial arrangements, and end-of-life wishes. Lisa’s extensive experience on both prosecution and defence sides, combined with her work across various jurisdictions, has equipped her with resilience, emotional intelligence, and objective professional judgment. These qualities enable her to provide balanced, thoughtful, and practical legal advice tailored to her clients’ individual needs.