Sonja is the principal of Cooper Legal. Starting her career as a family lawyer and a Youth Advocate (a lawyer working with young offenders), Sonja has undertaken a wide range of litigation work, including employment law, medico-legal work, privacy law, accident compensation work and general civil litigation. Sonja has appeared in all levels of the Courts, including the Supreme Court.
Sonja and her team are part of a small group of lawyers who are developing the law in historic abuse claims. Sonja has a strong focus on human rights issues, access to justice and the resolution of disputes. In that context, Sonja was a District Inspector of Mental Health for nine years. Sonja has also been a member of the New Zealand Youth Justice Committee for some years, as well as local Law Society Committees.
Katherine was admitted to the bar in 2005, joined Cooper Legal directly after and was made an Associate in June 2009. Katherine is a legal aid Lead Provider.
Katherine has prepared legal submissions, appeared as junior counsel in the High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court and has been involved in trials, interlocutory hearings and ADR negotiations.
Katherine's area of expertise is civil litigation.
Since joining Cooper Legal, Sam has worked with Cooper Legal's historic abuse claimants. Sam recently became heavily involved with historic abuse claims against a number of church organisations, has appeared in the High Court and has assisted with submissions for the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court. Sam is a listed legal aid provider with significant experience making submissions to the Legal Aid Review Panel.
Courtney joined Cooper Legal in June 2009, and is involved with both the psychiatric hospital and Department of Social Welfare groups of Cooper Legal's historic abuse claimants. Courtney is a listed legal aid secondary provider.
Rebecca joined the Cooper Legal team in June 2006, stepping into the role of Personal Assistant to Sonja Cooper.
Since that time, she has studied for and obtained a Legal Executive qualification from the New Zealand Law Society, as well as gaining a wide working knowledge of the work Cooper Legal undertakes, in particular.
Rebecca is the first port of call for new and existing clients and is able to answer most queries, or else refer calls to solicitors or other firms, if required.