Tauranga: (07) 578 8888
Omokoroa: (07) 548 1048

Our People

Philip Annan [Lawyer] Philip Annan [Lawyer]

philip@annanlaw.nz
(07) 578 8888

My work is fascinating, intriguing and endlessly stimulating. I embrace the challenge of ongoing learning, keeping pace with relentless law change, and gaining an understanding of complicated legal principles. My purpose is to make practical use of those principles and put together a solution that works.


I’m intrigued by the puzzles that I’m given to solve. Buying and selling a house is not always simple. There are dozens of components and many combinations of how the puzzle pieces could be put together.

My focus is Elder Law (which includes retirement matters, wills, powers of attorney), Commercial Law, and Trusts. But I have an over-arching interest in every type of legal work we do. My favourite role is to ponder the strategy and then to come up with an appropriate course of action. I then work with the rest of our team to complete the details and tactics.

Overtime we have honed our team to a specialised unit. Technology plays a role in this, but more so, we are all long-term members of this team. Knowing each other makes us very efficient. Our team is very much like a family. Our interrelationships are vital for our wellbeing and for our clients wellbeing. Another advantage of our team approach is that each of us has built up considerable contacts in every area of law we work in. Those relationships really speed up our work and benefit our clients.

I look forward to meeting you and helping you with your puzzle.

Geoffrey Annan [Lawyer] Geoffrey Annan [Lawyer]

geoff@annanlaw.nz
(07) 578 8888
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I joined Annan Law in 2004 after finishing my law degree at Waikato University, around the tender age of 40. Prior to that I worked in hospitality and the rural and horticultural sectors in New Zealand, and rural and minerals exploration work in Western Australia.

I practice and enjoy the challenge of working in the following areas of law:

  • relationship property
  • employment
  • conveyancing
  • commercial leases
  • contract drafting
  • wills
  • enduring powers of attorney
  • residential building
  • franchising

In contrast to my work as a solicitor, I am also a Fire and Emergency NZ medical first responder with the Omokoroa Volunteer Fire Brigade – it is a very rewarding role.

Michael Hyatt [Legal Executive] Michael Hyatt [Legal Executive]

michael@annanlaw.nz
(07) 578 8888

I’ve been a part of the Annan Law team since 2003. I’m a qualified Legal Executive.

My work revolves around the following:
 
1) Conveyancing is the legal side of buying and selling residential property including refinancing and I focus on conveyancing and subdivision work.
 
2) I can understand why most people find buying and selling property some of the most stressful times in their lives. There is a lot at stake. It can be very emotional. I try to take this stress off our clients. I know this procedure off by heart, because I've done this over 5,400 times (another number I was suprised at). I'm conscious of doing everything correctly.

3) I attend to subdivisions for our clients.  Over the years we have attended to a range of different sized subdivisions. I prepare the legal documentation based on the requirements of the territorial authority and use the surveyors plans and documentation to craft our legal documentation. Once everything is ready to go I submit the documentation to Land Information New Zealand for registration for them to issue new titles.  I really enjoy this field of work as it has a lot of variety and complexity too.  Of course, it is always a relief to everyone involved when the titles are issued.
 
I enjoy working with clients through the conveyancing process. Two of my favourite moments in work are 1) when you make the phone call to your client that their contract is unconditional and 2) when you make the phone call to advise you have completed settlement. 

We have a great team here at AnnanLaw, and I enjoy being a part of it. I enjoy the variety of work I do, and I derive satisfaction from working through the process on every matter I contribute to, and getting to that completion point.

Stephanie Annan [Practice Manager] Stephanie Annan [Practice Manager]

stephanie@annanlaw.nz
(07) 578 8888

I’ve been supporting AnnanLaw/OmokoroaLaw by looking after the accounts since 2000 when I started on a part-time basis. Since 2008 I’ve also taken over the Practice Manager role which means I ensure that the rest of the team has the resources they need to serve our clients well. I really enjoy the accounting aspect of my work; it’s exact and rewarding.

A daily highlight for me is when our team comes together every morning and afternoon team time to share personal stories, developments and interests. We’ve been doing this forever, so I was quite surprised to recently discover that this is actually rare. It seems strange to me that every business doesn’t do something similar.

We are all friends here and I enjoy the relaxed atmosphere that comes with a small team. I’m proud of this team and the way we help people with legal advice at the times in their lives that they need it most.

Nicole Mika [Legal Executive] Nicole Mika [Legal Executive]

nicole@annanlaw.nz
(07) 578 8888

I’ve been in the Annan Law team since 2008. I’m a qualified Legal Executive and Philip's personal assistant. We deal alot with our commercial clients. My work includes leases, building contracts, sale and purchase of businesses. I am also involved with retirement village contracts, wills and enduring powers of attorney. Every document I work with is different and I do enjoy that kind of variety.

My favourite part of this work is the opportunity to get to know our clients. I’m always on the phone with them to clarify details, and organise meetings. I never get tired of them saying how grateful they are that we can help them by making the paperwork process easy for them. They can relax because they know they can trust us.

Yes, the team here at AnnanLaw is great, and as for Philip in particular, I couldn’t ask for a better boss to work for.

Shanei O'Brien [Legal Executive] Shanei O'Brien [Legal Executive]

shanei@annanlaw.nz
(07) 578 8888

I joined the AnnanLaw team in April 2016. I am the Trusts and Estates Manager.  I look after all things trusts and estates and enjoy helping our clients and their families through these times of grief and loss. Every situation is so different. I love learning everything that I can to better benefit our clients.

Brooke Rogers [Legal Executive] Brooke Rogers [Legal Executive]

brooke@annanlaw.nz
(07) 578 8888

After working at a general practice law firm in East Auckland, I made the decision to move to Tauranga and become a part of the wonderful team at AnnanLaw in 2021. 

Primarily I will be assisting Michael with the conveyancing matters. I enjoy being able to help clients through what can be a stressful process.

I look forward to helping and working with the clients here at AnnanLaw.

Pilar Mackinnon [Secretary/Receptionist] Pilar Mackinnon [Secretary/Receptionist]

pilar@annanlaw.nz
(07) 578 8888

I joined AnnanLaw in August of 2022 with very little legal background and have thoroughly enjoyed the learning process that comes with working as a secretary. The team here have been very warm and inviting and I like to help out in any way I can. 

I mainly assist Shanei in the trusts and estates department but also answer phone calls and greet clients in reception and take care of administrative tasks within our office. I am looking forward to furthering my education in the future so that I can better understand the scope of work we do here and continue to add value to our team.