Sonia is the Principal of Southern Law.

Sonia is a graduate of the University of Otago and was admitted to the bar in 1995. She has been practising as a lawyer for more than 25 years.

Over her career Sonia has practised in a number of areas of law. However, now specialises solely in Criminal Defence.

Sonia has practised in Dunedin and Queenstown and is now based in Invercargill.

Sonia is an experienced Legal Aid Lawyer, able to take assignments on all types of Criminal Legal Aid.

Sonia works on all types of Criminal cases, from serious matters such as murder, manslaughter, sexual offending, arson and class A drug offending. Through to less serious matters like shoplifting, disorderly behaviour and driving offending, along with everything in-between.

On a regular basis she appears in the Invercargill, Gore, Queenstown and Alexandra District Courts representing defendants on all manner of criminal charges.

Sonia has represented Appellants in the High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court.

Sonia is also a youth advocate, representing young people in Youth Court proceedings.

Sonia is experienced in appearing before the New Zealand Parole Board.

Sonia enjoys spending time with her daughter, miniature schnauzer, two cats and two fish. She also enjoys DIY projects, reading and listening to all types of music. She enjoys fine art but at the other end of the scale, also enjoys boxing.

On fine days you may see Sonia riding her bike to Court attendances in the Invercargill Court. 

Tanya is a Solicitor at Southern Law

Tanya graduated from the University of Otago in 2006. Tanya was admitted to the bar in 2007, on Friday the 13th.

She worked for nearly 10 years at the Southland Community Law Centre, giving free legal advice, to those who could not afford a lawyer.

Her real passion is criminal law. She left the Law Centre in 2017, to focus entirely on Criminal Law. This is when she joined Southern Law.

Tanya regularly appears in the Invercargill and Gore District Court.

Tanya is a member of the Southland Law Society Waiata Group.

Tanya is a Council Member of the Southland Branch of the New Zealand Law Society.

In her spare time Tanya enjoys travelling, musical theatre and visiting lighthouses and waterfalls. She also enjoys planning murder mystery parties and other office events.

You will often see Tanya walking backwards and forwards between the Office and Court sporting ‘Mismatched Shoes’ and making snapchat videos. 

Karen is a born and bred Southlander who returned to the province three years ago.

Her working career has included everything from a dividends analyst, career counsellor to escorting a tour to the Netball World Cup.

She fell in love with the law while watching from the side-lines and is keen to now make it her full-time career as a Law Clerk.

Karen has enjoyed involving herself in the local community in many ways - latterly as a netball manager. She loves a good binge watch of an English drama and travelling in her spare time 

Toni is the Personal Assistant or PA of Southern Law.

Toni first joined Southern Law in 2018, she left us in 2021 and returned to us late in 2023. 

Toni was a PA to David Slater – Barrister for a number of years, before she crossed the ditch and worked at a large law firm in Australia. On returning to New Zealand, she returned to her position with David.

She then took time off to start a family.

Toni loves working with people. While raising her children she undertook a number of other jobs, including working at Rogers Yamaha and Splash Palace. 

When her youngest started kindergarten, Toni decided to head back to her previous life as a Personal Assistant. That is when she joined the Southern Law Team.

In her spare time Toni enjoys spending time with family, scuba diving, being by the beach and socialising, sometimes with a nice glass of wine.