Get to know us
We’re a small, specialist Auckland law firm helping New Zealand families and small business owners with trust-based and will-based estate plans, business law, property law and estates. Here’s who you’ll be working with, and how we help you protect your family, your home, your business, and your future.
Ross Holmes
Managing Director
Ross has practised law since 1973, giving him over 50 years’ experience helping clients protect their families, homes and businesses. He is widely recognised for his work in trust-based and will-based asset protection planning.
Ross has written extensively on trusts and asset protection and has been a contributing author to LexisNexis’ leading textbook, Law of Trusts, since the early 2000s. He is also co-author of Southern Cook Islands Customary Law, History, and Society with Professor Ron Crocombe.
Clients value Ross for his ability to explain complex legal issues in clear, practical, everyday language. His focus is always on what will work best for each client in real life – not just on paper.
Education
Victoria University
LLB. (Hons). 1971
Activities & Affiliations
• New Zealand Law Society, Member
• Cook Islands Law Society, Member
• Society for Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP), Member
Bar Admissions
• New Zealand, Cook Islands
Neena Bartlett
Senior Associate
Neena is a highly valued member of the Ross Holmes team, having joined the practice in 1989. She has extensive experience in property law, asset protection planning and trusts, and has guided generations of clients through purchases, sales and restructuring of their assets.
Known for her meticulous attention to detail, Neena makes sure nothing important is missed in contracts or documents. Clients appreciate her calm, practical approach and the way she explains complex legal issues in clear, straightforward language.
Working closely with Ross, Neena plays a key role in delivering the firm’s trusted, long-term support to New Zealand families and small business owners.
Education
Canterbury University
LLB., 1987
Auckland University
Dip. Crim., 1988
Activities & Affiliations
• New Zealand Law Society, Member
Bar Admissions
• New Zealand (1988)
Kirsty Hourigan
Senior Associate - Registered Senior Legal Executive
Kirsty has many years of experience in trust and estate administration and accounting, and has worked closely with Ross since 1998, when she joined the firm as a Trust Consultant. She is a key part of the firm’s ongoing support for trustees, executors and families.
Kirsty manages the day-to-day administration of trusts and estates, ensuring records, distributions and compliance requirements are all carefully handled. She also has experience in property transactions, adding further depth to the team’s work for clients.
Kirsty is a Registered Legal Executive and a Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Legal Executives (FNZILE), reflecting her high level of expertise and commitment to professional standards.
Activities & Affiliations
• Fellow, New Zealand Institute of Legal Executives
Janet Holmes
Senior Associate - Senior Legal Executive
Janet is a Senior Legal Executive with particular expertise in asset protection planning and trusts. After an earlier career as a primary school principal, she moved into law in 1993 (after marrying Ross), bringing strong organisational and people skills to the practice.
Since then, Janet has played a central role in developing the firm’s trust and asset protection services. She works closely with clients to design and implement practical trust structures and to support trustees with ongoing trust administration.
Clients value Janet’s calm, reassuring manner and her ability to explain options clearly, ensuring they understand how their trust or asset protection plan will work in real life.
Education
Auckland Teachers College
Diploma Teaching
Linda Zhou
Management Accountant
Linda joined Ross Holmes Virtual Lawyers in March 2020 and has been an integral part of the team ever since. As our Management Accountant, she brings strong expertise in financial reporting, budgeting and accounting systems, helping ensure the firm’s finances are well managed and transparent.
Her work supports the smooth running of the practice and allows the legal team to stay focused on clients, confident that the firm's financial side is in safe hands.
Linda will be on maternity leave from February 2026 for approximately one year.
Education
Auckland University of Technology
BBA in accounting
Jolene Holmes
Legal Secretary (working part-time on maternity leave)
Jolene joined Ross Holmes Virtual Lawyers in May 2020 and is a valued member of our support team. She works part-time while on maternity leave, assisting primarily with trust-based estate planning and the firm’s marketing activities.
Detail-focused and well organised, Jolene helps keep documents, client communications and workflows running smoothly. She has a genuine interest in estate planning and is committed to helping clients have a clear, positive experience with the firm at every stage of the process.
Jasmaine Mateariki
Legal Secretary and Client Service Officer
Jasmaine joined Ross Holmes Virtual Lawyers in August 2020. She is often the first point of contact for clients, welcoming them with warmth and ensuring they have a positive experience from the moment they get in touch.
In addition to her reception duties, Jasmaine provides valuable administrative support to the legal team, helping with documents, scheduling and day-to-day file management. Her strong organisational and communication skills make her an essential part of keeping the office running smoothly and clients well looked after.
Jacomina Holmes
Legal Secretary
Jacomina joined Ross Holmes Virtual Lawyers in November 2020 and has been an integral part of the team ever since. She assists Ross with all aspects of property law work, including preparing and managing legal documents, coordinating settlements, and liaising with clients, banks and other legal professionals.
With strong organisational skills and a keen eye for detail, Jacomina helps ensure that property transactions run smoothly and efficiently, keeping clients informed and supported throughout the process.