Our Team
Property Law, Commercial Law, Trusts and Estate Planning
Qualifications
LLB, The University of Auckland
Contact
Victor Mechkov
Principal
As Principal, Victor works closely with the team to foster a strategically-driven environment that delivers the best outcomes for our clients.
Victor began work as a law clerk at Stainton Chellew in 2011 whilst studying at university. When he graduated the following year, he moved into a full-time position as a solicitor.
He is now the principal of the firm and specialises in commercial and property law, estate planning, and trusts. He believes what separates him from other lawyers is that he deeply cares about his clients, is approachable and provides a personal service. Victor is a pragmatic, big-picture person lawyer who will do whatever it takes to deliver the client the desired outcome.
Victor is involved in the Russian speaking community and assists many Russian speaking clients and charitable organisations with their legal needs.
Outside of work Victor enjoys training martial arts which he has been doing since the age of 7. When he is not training, Victor enjoys spending time with his wife and their 3 young children
Victor Mechkov
Principal
Property Law, Commercial Law, Trusts and Estate Planning
Litigation and Disputes, Employment, Trusts and Estate Planning
Qualifications
LLB, University of Otago
Contact
Bruce Stainton
Consultant
Bruce works in litigation, disputes, and employment and does some advisory work on trusts and estate planning.
Bruce was born and raised in Wellington before following his now-wife to Auckland to get married. He attended Otago University and did compulsory military training at the territorials during his studies. After high school, Bruce decided to go into law because he is a people person who loves solving people’s problems.
Initially, Bruce joined Mason Caldwell Mason, taught himself a litigation role and became a partner. Then in 1997, the firm split and changed its name to Stainton Chellew.
He believes his time in the army helped him develop processes to draw trust from his employees and clients and achieve goals under challenging circumstances. Bruce is a keen boatie and DIY guy, having spent time in the construction industry.
Bruce Stainton
Consultant
Litigation and Disputes, Employment, Trusts and Estate Planning
Property Law, Commercial Property, Trusts and Estate Planning
Qualifications
LLB, The University of Auckland
Contact
Henry Chellew
Consultant
Henry is a seasoned lawyer with extensive commercial experience, providing pragmatic solutions and advice to his clients. He brings a wealth of knowledge to the table, allowing him to offer effective legal strategies tailored to each client.
Henry began working as a lawyer in 1979 before joining Stainton Chellew in 1988. He has worked here ever since.
Henry is skilled in commercial law, commercial property, trusts, and estate planning. He has worked in a wide variety of commercial areas, including purchasing state-owned enterprises from the government to complex unit title subdivisions and complex business mergers and acquisitions.
Henry has a postgraduate diploma in intellectual property law which assists him with the work he does today. He was the managing partner at Stainton Chellew for 30 years before retiring as a partner and becoming a consultant for the firm.
Outside of the office, Henry loves the outdoors and is a keen fisherman and supporter of environmental charities.
Henry Chellew
Consultant
Property Law, Commercial Property, Trusts and Estate Planning
Litigation and Disputes, Relationship Property, Trusts and Estate Planning, Family Law Matters, Employment
Qualifications
LLB (Honours)
Contact
Pamela Wright
Senior Associate
Pamela is a Senior Associate in the Litigation and Disputes Resolutions team.
Pamela comes with expertise in Relationship Property (e.g., contracting out and settlement agreements), Wills and Estate disputes, and associated family law matters such as PPPR applications. Pamela also provides Employment Law advice to both employers and employees. Her focus is on her clients – to listen and to provide legal assistance, guidance, and advocacy.
Outside of work, Pamela enjoys spending time with her family and friends, regularly goes to the theatre, opera, and the movies is a member of a book club, and was President of the Auckland Herb Society.
Pamela Wright
Senior Associate
Litigation and Disputes, Relationship Property, Trusts and Estate Planning, Family Law Matters, Employment
Litigation and Disputes and Civil Law
Qualifications
LLB, BA
Contact
Lydia Tawse
Associate
Lydia specialises in litigation and dispute resolution, using her legal expertise to navigate complex legal issues and help our clients achieve favourable outcomes.
Lydia joined the Stainton Chellew Litigation Department as a graduate solicitor in 2018 and is now an Associate.
Her experience is wide-ranging and includes a variety of civil and commercial litigation and advocacy on harmful digital communication cases. Her passion for travel and the Law has led Lydia to undertake a Masters of Law with a specialisation in International Law.
Lydia enjoys spending her free time with family, involvement in the theatre and travelling, whether within NZ or overseas.
Lydia Tawse
Associate
Litigation and Disputes and Civil Law
Property Law, Commercial Law, Trusts and Estate Planning, AML Compliance
Qualifications
LLM, University of Vienna
LLM, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv
Certificate in Law, The University of Auckland
Contact
Ana Kovtun
Legal Executive
Ana assists with trusts, commercial and residential conveyancing, wills, estate planning and with AML compliance requirements.
An avid traveller, Ana got her two master’s degrees in law from universities in Kyiv, Ukraine and Vienna, Austria, before working as a Legal Compliance Officer in Dubai.
She has worked at Stainton Chellew since mid-2021 and is currently converting her degrees and becoming a qualified Solicitor in New Zealand.
Ana enjoys the gym, yoga, and movies in her free time
Ana Kovtun
Legal Executive
Property Law, Commercial Law, Trusts and Estate Planning, AML Compliance
Trust Account Administration, Financial Management
Qualifications
BComm and BBA, Victoria University of Wellington
Contact
Don Gendall
Practice Manager
Don supports our team by implementing and maintaining effective trust account management systems and processes.
Don manages trust account administration and financial management of our practice.
He has a Bachelor of Commerce and Administration Degree from Victoria University of Wellington.
Don was previously a Partner for 32 years in a leading Chartered Accountancy practice in New Zealand and England and has been the Practice Manager at Stainton Chellew since 2004.
Don’s extensive knowledge of accountancy and business management helps assist other team members with complex client matters.
In his spare time, he is an avid sports fan.
Don Gendall
Practice Manager
Trust Account Administration, Financial Management
Pam Templeton
As our Receptionist and Legal Assistant , Pam looks after a range of reception and administration tasks and keeps the office supplies going.
Pam Templeton started at Stainton Chellew as a part-time Legal Assistant in 2019. She has studied art history and has a Bachelor of Design. Her previous roles include work in private and public art galleries, marketing specialist at Bookabach and graphic artist/sub-editor for Fairfax Media.
She enjoys working in a small family-focused legal firm. In her spare time, she coordinates volunteer restoration in her local parks and reserves.
Pam Templeton
Receptionist / Legal Assistant
Reception and Administration
