Meet The Team
Your Path. Our Local Expertise.
Naahi Taiaroa
Director
Naahi is a general practice lawyer with particular expertise in conveyancing, estates, and relationship property matters. With over a decade of experience, she brings a calm, clear, and capable approach to her work, making her a trusted advisor for clients navigating big life transitions like buying a home, settling an estate, or separating from a partner.
With a strong transactional background, Naahi has a growing focus on amicable separations and contracting out agreements. She is trained in the Collaborative to dispute resolution, a values-based, interest-focused process that helps people resolve matters respectfully and without court involvement. It’s a natural fit for her warm, constructive, and practical way of working.
Clients appreciate her plain-language advice, pragmatic problem-solving, and her ability to reduce stress in emotionally charged situations.
Outside of work, Naahi enjoys spending time with her husband, their young son, and their two dogs, a greyhound and an Old English Sheepdog. She's a fan of local design, loves a good cookbook, and can usually be found planning her next home project or exploring family-friendly spots around Christchurch.
Miria Scott-Toft
Director
Miria is a Director at Summit Law and is known for her strong interpersonal skills and client-focused approach to legal practice. She works closely with individuals and families during some of life’s most personal and challenging moments, with a focus on achieving practical outcomes through communication, negotiation, and trusted legal guidance. Known for her calm and approachable manner, Miria is an active listener with a high level of emotional intelligence. These strengths underpin her ability to resolve conflict constructively and help clients feel supported throughout the legal process.
Miria specialises in relationship property, and separation matters and is highly skilled in resolving disputes through negotiation. She understands that separation is emotionally complex and financially stressful, and guides clients through the process with empathy, clarity, and strong advocacy.
Miria is also an experienced lawyer in deceased estates and estate planning. She advises clients on wills, trusts, enduring powers of attorney, estate administration, estate challenges, and beneficiary entitlements, helping individuals and families navigate both the practical and emotional aspects of succession planning and estate matters. She is also open to accepting appointments as an attorney for clients who may not have suitable family members available to assist them.
Clients value Miria’s genuine care and practical approach. She believes clients should never feel like “just another file” and takes the time to understand each person’s circumstances, priorities, and goals.
Outside of the office, Miria is a mother to two daughters. She enjoys spending time with her girls and can often be found walking around the Port Hills suburbs or enjoying the vibrant offerings of Christchurch’s CBD. Please do not hesitate to get in touch with me. Email: miria@summitlaw.co.nz Phone: 021 468 528 or 03 384 3880
Ngaire Smith
Notary Public & Consultant
Ngaire is a well-known and highly regarded legal professional with deep roots in the Christchurch community. She brings more than 40 years’ experience as a lawyer, with a career focused on conveyancing, business matters, and estate and asset planning.
Having stepped back from general legal practice, Ngaire remains involved with Summit Law as a consultant, supporting a smooth transition for her longstanding clients. She now also offers her services as a Notary Public.
If you require notarial services, please contact Ngaire directly.
Jess Cavill
Senior Solicitor
Jess is a general practice lawyer with a strong interest in relationship property and separation matters, trust establishment and reviews, general estate planning, and reviewing occupation right agreements for clients making the move into retirement or lifestyle villages.
Jess enjoys working with people going through significant life changes and brings an empathetic, practical, and focused approach to her work. She is known for her clear communication, calm manner, and genuine care for her clients. Jess takes the time to understand each client’s circumstances and priorities and aims to make the legal process feel as straightforward and manageable as possible.
Her aim is to ensure clients feel heard, understood, and confident in the decisions they are making, particularly when those decisions involve family, finances, future planning, or major personal changes.
Outside of work, Jess enjoys spending time with her family, attending classes at the new Parakiore centre, and walking around Hagley Park. She also loves visiting her parents’ kennels and cattery in Ashburton, where she grew up.
Margaret-Anne Hill
Senior Associate Registered Legal Executive
Marg is a Senior Associate, Registered Legal Executive and Fellow with nearly 40 years of experience in the legal profession. She brings a depth of knowledge and a warm approach that clients find immediately reassuring.
Her practice focuses on conveyancing and residential property work, and she is well known for her ability to guide clients through what can be one of the most significant and sometimes stressful transactions of their lives. Marg’s strong administrative background gives her a meticulous eye for detail, while her years of client-facing work have made her a trusted and steady presence at every stage of the process. She takes real pride in making sure people feel informed, supported, and at ease from start to finish.
With close to 40 years in the law, Marg has seen it all, and that experience shows. Clients value her practical wisdom, her clear communication, and her genuine commitment to looking after the people she works with.
Outside of work, Marg is a qualified Bikram yoga teacher, a discipline that explains her ability to remain calm and focused under pressure. Her most devoted companion is Boston, her beloved Bernese mountain dog, who is known to make the occasional appearance in client meetings.
Olivia O’Shea
Registered Legal Executive
Olivia is a Registered Legal Executive with a strong focus on conveyancing, including both residential and commercial property matters. She enjoys helping clients through the process of buying, selling, and refinancing property, and brings an organised and reassuring approach to what can often be a stressful time.
Before moving into law, Olivia developed a strong background in administration and working with people, including experience in human resources and recruitment. This has given her a practical understanding of people, processes, and communication, which she brings to her work with clients every day.
Clients appreciate Olivia’s warm and approachable manner, her sense of humour, and her ability to make the conveyancing process feel more manageable. She takes pride in keeping clients calm, answering questions clearly, and helping them feel supported from start to finish.
Outside of work, Olivia enjoys a round of golf, trying new restaurants, and supporting local businesses. She also loves spending time with her golden retriever, Finn, who is a much-loved part of her life and occasionally makes an appearance at client meetings.
Emma Fahey
Registered Legal Executive
Emma is a Registered Legal Executive whose primary focus is deceased estates and estate planning, including wills and enduring powers of attorney. Emma works closely with her clients and understands that these matters often arise during difficult and emotional times. She brings an empathetic and practical approach to her work, helping her clients feel supported while making the legal process as straightforward and stress-free as possible. Emma also assists with conveyancing matters and has particular experience with property transactions that arise as part of estate administration.
She is passionate about providing practical support and clear communication to her clients. Emma understands that legal matters can feel overwhelming, particularly when dealing with the loss of a loved one. She is committed to achieving the best outcome for her clients while ensuring the legal process is clear, manageable, and easy to understand.
Emma strongly believes that building genuine relationships with her clients allows her to provide legal support that is both professional and personal.
When Emma is not in the office, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, travelling, and maintaining an active lifestyle, regardless of what the Christchurch weather has in store.
Chanse Peita
Legal Assistant
Chanse is our “go to guy”. He works part time while he studies to become a lawyer. Chanse has entered the profession after working in the trades, so already has a breadth of practical experience.
Linda van den Arend
Executive Administrator
Linda is the Office Administrator at Summit Law. She plays a key role in supporting both the team and clients through a wide range of administration, compliance, and client service responsibilities. Her work includes managing client files, assisting with AML requirements, coordinating meetings, overseeing office operations, and ensuring that the office runs smoothly. Linda values building positive relationships with clients and colleagues.
Linda is known for her strong attention to detail and her ability to multitask and assist the team. She takes pride in providing reliable support behind the scenes.
Clients can expect a friendly, approachable, and responsive experience when working with Linda, whether she is assisting with onboarding, gathering information, coordinating documentation, or answering queries. Linda believes that professionalism, kindness, and teamwork are at the heart of excellent client service. She takes pride in helping create a welcoming and supportive environment for everyone who visits the office.
Outside of work, Linda enjoys spending time with family and friends, exploring local markets, cafés, and restaurants, and getting out for a walk whenever she can. She values building genuine connections with people and brings that same friendly and approachable nature to her role at Summit Law.