Meet the Team

For Ben Lupton, great relationships lie at the heart of legal practice. ‘I really enjoy getting to know my clients and their families,’ says Ben. ‘It’s the best way to provide considered advice, tailored to their needs and at an affordable price.’ 

With a special interest in conveyancing, trust law and estate planning, Ben says finding the best path forward comes down to personal circumstances.  ‘Clients often ask whether they should keep their family trusts, but it really does depend,’ he says. ‘It’s often a matter of helping clients see the long-term picture, rather than addressing a short-term need.’

Ben says one easy way clients can protect themselves is by putting in place enduring powers of attorney before it is too late. ‘Enduring powers of attorney are a bit like insurance: great to have, but consider yourself lucky if you never need to rely on them.’

Ben is experienced in both litigation and alternative dispute resolution. He has expertise in resource management law and has helped many clients successfully and cost-effectively resolve issues with councils and local bodies. 

Prior to joining Insight Legal in 2017, Ben worked for leading law firms around the world, practicing in Auckland, Wellington, London and Hong Kong. He also lived in Beijing for three years, where he acted as a consultant to Kiwi companies looking to enter the Chinese market.

As a child, Ben enjoyed holidays in the Mahurangi area and with the great beaches, excellent fishing and fantastic community, had always wanted to call it home.  He now volunteers at Warkworth Home Builders’ legal clinic and is a member of the Point Wells Community & Ratepayers Association committee.

‘Becoming a director of Insight Legal has been a very satisfying aspect of my career,’ he says. ‘I enjoy the business side of managing a practice and after years advising big corporates, it feels good to be able to offer quality legal advice to people in my community.’ 

Ben helps clients with a range of business and personal matters including:

• Conveyancing
• Property law
• Dispute resolution 
• Wills and estates
• Trusts
• Business law

Julia is a Principal at Insight Legal, based in both our Mangawhai and Warkworth offices. With over a decade of legal practice in Rodney and Northland, her specialties lie in estate planning and trusts, complex property matters, and small to medium-scale commercial matters.

Julia’s approach to law is founded on clarity and understanding. She believes in breaking down legal jargon into plain English and making complex concepts understandable for her clients. Julia takes pride in the fact her clients view her as not just a lawyer but also a trusted advisor. 

Networking and community engagement are key aspects of her professional life. She believes in the power of connections and the value of building and maintaining strong, supportive networks with both her clients and other professionals in the community.

Whether you’re navigating the intricacies of trusts and estate planning, delving into commercial ventures, or stepping into the property market, Julia is here to guide you through with expertise, empathy, and efficiency.

When she’s not practicing law, Julia is fully immersed in raising her young family.

Courtney is a Principal at Insight Legal, based in both our Warkworth and Mangawhai offices.

She has over 10 years of legal experience across trust and estate planning, property, and commercial matters.

Courtney enjoys working closely with her clients to understand what matters most to them and providing clear, practical advice to help them move forward with confidence. Based locally, she values building long-term relationships and supporting her community.

Whether you’re planning for the future, buying or selling property, or navigating a business decision, Courtney is focused on making the process as straightforward and stress-free as possible.

Courtney lives on a lifestyle block in Whangaripo with her young family. Outside of work and family life, she enjoys the simple things – whether it’s a good coffee, dinner with friends or a sunrise walk along Omaha Beach.

Dr John Gray founded Insight Legal in 2004 and has been in legal practice for more than 50 years. He works across all areas of the practice and has a special interest in trusts and relationship property. Clients appreciate his ability to explain legal concepts clearly, and get the work done in a timely manner  

John has a PhD in law, and is a trustee of the Rodney Health Charitable Trust which provides funds to meet the health needs of those who require treatment not funded by the public system.  

John now lives in the South Island and acts as a consultant to clients across our offices. He can provide advice regarding:

• Trusts
• Relationship Property
• Estates, including the Family Protection Act and testamentary promises claims.
• Wills
• General family law

For Cynthia Fletcher, there’s nothing more satisfying than telephoning a client on settlement day to say “The property is yours. Congratulations on your new chapter’. 

Whether she’s supporting young clients buying their first home, or mature clients moving into a retirement village, the excitement is infectious. That’s why Cynthia finds her work in conveyancing and estate administration so enjoyable. 

‘Sometimes clients arrive quite stressed, but once I’ve walked them through the steps and they have a better grip on the procedures of conveyancing or estate administration, they start to relax,’ says Cynthia. ‘I let them know that we are here for them and they can call with any questions, no matter how big or small.’

Cynthia has been part of the Insight Legal team since 2001, when she and her family moved north to Port Albert to escape the ‘rat race’ and buy a ‘little piece of land’. She began in reception, qualified as a legal executive in 2007 and has been a key part of the estates and conveyancing team ever since. 

Supporting clients over the long term is another rewarding aspect of her role. ‘After more than 20 years with Insight Legal, there are a lot of familiar faces. I know their families and their circumstances and that makes such a difference when they walk through the door.’ 

A longtime supporter of grassroots rugby, Cynthia is secretary of the Wellsford Rugby Club and her husband Mike is club captain. While they still love the country life, Cynthia often revisits the ‘rat race’ to spend time with her four grandsons. 

Helen has over 10 years of experience as a legal secretary working in law firms across Auckland and Sydney and has a broad range of experience in resource management, commercial litigation, taxation, and banking and finance. Helen is currently completing her Legal Executive studies and has a keen interest in property and estate law. She brings a calm, practical, and client-focused approach to her work and enjoys helping clients feel informed and supported throughout the legal process.

Outside of work and study, Helen lives on a lifestyle block with her husband and three sons. Sport is a big part of Helen’s family life, and if she’s not watching her boys play sport, she is usually participating herself.