Meet the Team

 Akeem is a family law practitioner based in Hamilton. Originally from Nigeria, with a Yoruba heritage, he arrived in New Zealand in 2015. He completed his LLB degree at the University of Waikato, culminating in his admission to the New Zealand bar in July 2019.

Aside from legal work, he actively contribute as a member of a charitable trust board, striving to make a positive impact on his community.

Beyond his professional life, he enjoys engaging in conversations about interesting ideas. Whether it's delving into thought-provoking discussions or simply spending time with close friends and family, he find joy in life's simple moments. 

Christiner's mother hails from Nigeria, specifically, she is Igbo. Her father hails from Hong Kong. She came to Aotearoa in 2015 in pursuit of a tertiary degree. She obtained a BA (major in Sociology & Anthropology) and a LLB from the University of Auckland. 

She was admitted in 2021 as Barrister & Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand. She has a range of experience in general practice firm. She has experience in completing sale and purchase of property transactions, as well as drafting legal documents and reviewing contracts. She also has experience in criminal proceedings at the District Court level, where she appeared as a Police Prosecutor. 

She has recently joined the Financial Market Authority as Legal Counsel.

Outside of work, she enjoys singing, volunteering, and a good HIIT work out.

 Ben is an experienced Barrister practicing in Criminal Law, Human Rights and Refugee Law in Auckland.  Prior to this, Ben was a Crown Prosecutor with the office of the Manukau Crown Solicitor.  He is an experienced litigator with a Bachelor of Law and a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology and Conflict Resolution.  

He is also a Research Fellow with the Centre for International Law Research and Policy.  He is a former President of the Congolese (DRC) community in New Zealand and has previously worked in a number of community projects, including with African Students and Refugees in New Zealand.  

He enjoys reading about the history of Africa and spending time with his beautiful daughters and wife. 

Benny Jones is originally from Nigeria, where she started her medical career as a Medical Laboratory Technician and later migrated to New Zealand to work as a Water Laboratory Technician with SGS Mineral Services New Zealand.  

Later, she made a career change and embarked on her legal studies journey. She was admitted as Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand in 2021 and have been practicing in Hamilton since then. She specializes in Criminal and Family Law. 

Benny have also recently obtained her Master in Laws (Applied Law) specializing in Family Law. Outside of her legal practice, Benny Jones is also a managing director of two New Zealand companies and entrepreneurs of a luxury perfume brand.

Nothando graduated with a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts from the University of Canterbury. Nothando was admitted to the bar in early 2014.

Nothando's career began in insurance law following the Canterbury earthquakes. Nothando now practises in litigation with a focus on family criminal law. 

​Nothando is originally from Zimbabwe. Having gone through a personal encounter with the law shortly after immigrating to New Zealand,  Nothando understands the challenges people face, particularly migrants and is always happy to provide legal assistance on contentious and non-contentious matters.

 Ossama was recently admitted to the legal profession in November 2022. Since that time I have worked in general dispute resolution at Dentons Kensington Swan. This work largely touches on resolving contentious disputes between parties across a range of areas of law, such as insolvency, competition, contract, and tortious issues. 

My ethnic background is Egyptian, but I was born in the United Kingdom and have spent most of my life between the United Kingdom and New Zealand. I am passionate about community issues, and wish to put my skills to use where they will be most impactful. 

 Jayne was born in NZ and grew up here until she was 16. Her family and her moved to Melbourne Australia and that's where she spent the next 8 years of her life. She then moved back to Auckland in 2018 specifically to study law. She is grateful to have been admitted to the bar and she is very excited to commence a career in criminal law. 

Her parents migrated to Auckland from Nigeria in the early 90s and while she did not grow up in Nigeria, she is very proud that they instilled her culture in her.

Jaybe thinks it's an exciting time to be part of NZALA and she cannot to watch our legal community grow and positively add to the wider legal community in Aotearoa.