Meet us
Julia Batchelor-Smith
Managing Director
BA/LLB
Julia is a Unit Titles Act specialist with over 20 years’ experience, both internationally and within New Zealand at leading law firms Bell Gully, Minter Ellison and Hogan Lovells, Dubai, and as in-house counsel at Goldman Sachs.
Julia advises on all aspects of Body Corporate matters. She has represented the full spectrum of parties to defective building disputes (including Bodies Corporate, developers, builders and contractors) in arbitration, mediation, the Courts, and Tribunal.
Julia also has extensive general corporate and commercial experience, meaning she is well-placed to navigate the complexities of collective living arrangements and governance procedures.
Not just about the law
Julia has written extensively on strategies to achieve work/life balance, effective practice management and diversity. She is the author of Balancing Work and Life: a Practical Guide for Lawyers (Lexis Nexis 2015) and regularly comments in the media on cultural reform of the profession and the full spectrum of issues impacting working parents.
She is appointed to the Law Society Culture Change Taskforce and is a sought-after speaker, having addressed Central and Local Government, Universities, Legal Associations, and industry bodies both within New Zealand and internationally.
Julia is married with two daughters and is committed to her communities, serving on the Boards of the Queenstown Alpine Ski Team and the Devonport Arts Festival Trust.