Emma McFaull

In the same time it takes many graduates to make it out of the back room at a big-city law firm, Emma McFaull's natural flair for law, matched by her sharp eye for detail, has seen her promoted to Associate.

Invercargill-born, Emma was raised and educated in Christchurch, before returning to her birthplace to start her career with AWS Legal.

Despite her urban roots, on joining our firm in 2005 after completing her law degree at Canterbury University, she was drawn to fresh turf - rural law and agribusiness.

Since starting in the field, Emma's affinity and respect for rural business people has only grown.

"The people of Southland are great to deal with. I enjoy working with our clients to get the results they are looking for - and that's both challenging and very rewarding."

She attributes her rapid rise through the legal ranks to the opportunities and support extended by AWS Legal.

"Because you get to roll up your sleeves here, and because of the high-level Partner supervision and quality control, you do get exposed to advanced work earlier, and you accumulate knowledge and experience in a very short space of time."

A self-confessed "details" person, the chance to forge close working relationships with clients, coupled with the importance of transactional precision, has proved the perfect mix for Emma.

Not surprisingly, the traditionally hectic lead-up to Gypsy Day is among her favourite times of the year.

"You have to be thorough and able to work under pressure," she says.

"As with all projects, we work as a team. It's such a buzz, completing each settlement and seeing that Gypsy Day goes smoothly."

Her specialties extend to other areas which affect her client's, including ensuring clients affairs are structured to their best advantage, trusts and conveyancing.

"We take care of our clients' needs holistically - we want to make sure they have the right asset protections in place, and that they've planned for the future," Emma says.

"It doesn't matter the size of a client's operation, it's quite common to have a new client come on board and find they don't have the right protections in place, or they're missing out on advantages a different structure would bring."

A former national champion marcher, Emma coaches the Rosedale Kilties under 12 marching team. An avid walker and animal lover, she's also keen on socialising, the outdoors and travel.