Our staff
Oscar Upperton
Oscar is the Rōia Kaihautū / Senior Lawyer for the general legal team. He oversees the general legal team and primarily works on consumer, tenancy, employment, and criminal matters. Oscar has a background in public law and in peer-based support and advocacy for trans and gender diverse communities.
Manuela Miville-Fogliani
Manuela (she/her) is one of our Rōia Hapori / Community Lawyer in our general legal team. Manuela provides legal advice and advocacy in a range of matters including family, criminal, consumer and employment.
Brigid Quirke
Brigid (she/her) is a Kaituhi Rauemi / Legal Resource Writer. She researches and writes for the Community Law Manual, our flagship plain language guide to your rights in Aotearoa New Zealand. Brigid has a background in law and literature. She is a current Masters student at Te Herenga Waka, with research focused on contemporary Palestinian resistance poetry.
You can get in touch with Brigid at brigid@wclc.org.nz
Olive Grant
Olive is the Kaiārahi Project Coordinator. She is responsible for providing legal education to community groups, coordinating outreach clinics, and managing CL’s pro bono relationship with law firms. Olive has a background working in social welfare policy. They also teach pottery.
Email: olive@wclc.org.nz
Queenie Scott-Murray
Queenie Scott-Murray (NgāPuhi, Ngāti Awa) is a Kaihāpai Hapori (Community Advocate) in the Pou Whirinaki Team. You can read more about our Pou Whirinaki team here
Email: Queenie@wclc.org.nz
Claire Downey
Claire (she/her) (Ngāti Kahungunu) is the Sales & Sponsorship Coordinator for the Publications team and is also completing her Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and Art History at Te Herenga Waka. Claire works on marketing and distributing our publications, and securing purchases and sponsorships, especially for our flagship resource, the Community Law Manual. At the core of Claire’s work is liaising with law firms and community organisations across the motu to get the Manual to those who need it.
To kōrero about sponsoring a Manual, get in touch at publications@wclc.org.nz
Laura Drew
Laura is one of our two Rōia Hapori Kāinga/ Housing Community Lawyers. Laura provides legal advice and advocacy to clients on housing and tenancy matters.
Email: laura@wclc.org.nz
Esther Gedye Taylor
Esther is the Kairuruku Paremata Whakahaumanu (Restorative Justice Coordinator) for the Wellington court. You can reach her on 022 123 6065 or esther@wclc.org.nz
Ben Drury
Ben is one of the Kairuruku Kaitūao (Volunteer Coordinators). They work part-time supporting our volunteers who provide legal services to the community. Primarily, they look after the Student Right Service in conjunction with WCJP which offers information about rights at school and kura across Aotearoa. Alongside working at CLWHV, they are completing their Bachelor of Law and History at VUW. Ben uses they/them pronouns. Details on applying to volunteer can be found here.
Louise Lin
Louise is one of our Kairuruku Kaitūao/Volunteer Coordinators. She is a Cultural Anthropology graduate from VUW and has experience working with different community organisations. Details on applying to volunteer can be found here.
E-mail: louise@wclc.org.nz
Michael Freeman
Michael is the Kairuruku Paremata Whakahaumanu (Restorative Justice Coordinator) for Wellington District Court. You can read more about RJ here, and conflict resolution services here.
Email: michael.freeman@wclc.org.nz
Tiana Frittelli
Tiana (she/her) is our Kaihautū Tānga / Publications Director based mainly in our Pōneke office. Tiana leads and supports our publications team. The team produce our written resources, including our flagship publication, the Community Law Manual. Tiana also works within the general rōia / legal team, providing legal advice and ongoing support to clients with a range of legal issues.
Get in touch with Tiana to chat about the Community Law Manual or any of our other resources!
Email: tiana@wclc.org.nz