Karen is one of those people clients remember. Warm, upbeat and genuinely interested in others, she spent more than 13 years at CLM as the friendly face at reception, getting to know clients by name and building relationships that lasted well beyond first meetings. After a short time away for a change of scene, we welcomed her back in March 2026 – a return that feels very much like a homecoming for both Karen and our firm.
Her new role as Client Services Administrator in our Private Client & Trust team has been shaped around what she does best: looking after people and keeping things running smoothly. Karen handles a wide range of administrative and client-focused tasks, helping ensure communication stays consistent, details are up to date, and nothing slips through the cracks. It’s a role that allows her to keep all the plates spinning while freeing up her colleagues to focus on legal work.
Karen’s career path is anything but ordinary. After completing a zoology degree at Canterbury University and spending 14 years in England, she retrained as a legal secretary before returning to New Zealand with her young family. A short-term reception role at CLM quickly turned into something much longer once she realised she’d found her niche.
She is currently adjusting to life as an empty nester, embracing a quieter house (and a very tidy linen cupboard). She enjoys cooking, reading, and getting out for walks with her border collie, Dave – her “favourite child” and, in her view, the best behaved member of the household.
