About Us
Patrick Holt - Juris Doctor (JD)
Director/Principal Lawyer
Patrick Holt began legal practice in the USA after graduating law school with a Juris Doctor degree in 1983, started his own law firm in 1985 and practiced in the areas of business law, corporations and companies’ law, agriculture and water law, litigation, international law, banking and finance, real estate conveyancing, as well as estate planning. He grew up on a large cattle and horse ranch in the western USA and was a partner in a family cattle and grain property in Canada. Patrick began travelling to and conducting business in Australia in 1983. He met and married Linda, who is from Australia and they have one son who lives in Australia.
Patrick has taught legal courses at the university level and served for over 20 years on the board of directors of a regional US bank. He served as a judge in the USA before moving to NZ, where he re-qualified and was admitted as a Barrister and Solicitor in 2006, then re-qualified his legal credentials again in Australia in 2008. He and his family moved to Australia permanently in 2011, when he joined the firm of Hunter Newns Group in Hamilton. He went on to manage dispute resolution for agencies in both the VIC and Commonwealth governments, before returning to private practice in 2018. He started Hunter Newns & Holt in August 2020 return to Hamilton and bring the trusted legal firm name back to the Western District.
With international legal qualifications, he has represented clients in the USA, NZ, Australia, Canada, Japan and Europe. He has also owned his own companies in the USA, Canada, Australia and NZ; but has always stayed close to the practice of law.
Patrick has helped clients work on projects ranging from family agreements to international transactions involving multiple parties spanning several continents. He understands agriculture, the law, international business and the challenges associated with clients and projects in different parts of the world. Clients are a priority and positive outcomes are the overriding goal.
Contact Details:
Email: pholt@hnhlaw.com.au
Direct Number: 0407 209 899
Mallory Fitzsimmons
Senior Law Clerk - Estates and Estate Planning
Mallory started her legal career as a paralegal shortly after graduating from Monivae in 2004. She worked her way through the ranks of the earlier Hunter Newns law firm from Office Assistant, Legal Secretary, Law Clerk to Paralegal.
Mallory grew up on the outskirts of Dunkeld on a cattle farm and moved into Hamilton in 2009 where she lives with her husband, two daughters and son.
Mallory is a qualified Paralegal and manages our Probate and Deceased Estates department. She is a competent and meticulous worker who cares about our clients, predominantly during times of bereavement.
Contact Details:
Email: mf@hnhlaw.com.au
Anna Rees
Senior Law Clerk - Conveyancing
Anna Rees is a law clerk in our team who focuses on conveyancing, along with assisting in other legal matters. Anna grew up on a sheep farm near Warrayure and started her career in law as the Hunter Newns receptionist in 2011.
She advanced in the law firm to become the Personal Assistant to the Principal Lawyer, then worked briefly in Estates Administration before settling into Property Transactions and Conveyancing for the last 6 years. Anna’s strong customer focus and rural experience are positive attributes when dealing with our clients.
Contact Details:
Email: ar@hnhlaw.com.au