Our Team 

Peter Quinn

Peter Quinn has been a Partner at Hill Lee & Scott for over 29 years.

Peter's areas of practice include property and commercial matters, advice for farmers and those in the agricultural sector as well as asset protection and structuring. 

 Expertise:

Tim Sissons

Tim has a diverse client base with a particular focus in commercial, property and sports law.  Tim enjoys working closely with his clients to get a thorough understanding of their desired objective and then tailoring the legal solution to meet those needs.

Tim spent several years working away from the law, firstly in sports management then overseas at a Fortune 500 company and brings an understanding of the day to day pressures of running a business to his practice. With this wider background of experience, Tim brings a holistic view to his client's problems and views them not as stand-alone legal matters to be resolved but as advice that needs to fit within the wider goals of the client.

Expertise:

Ray MacLean

Ray graduated from Canterbury University in 1975 with a Bachelor of Laws (LLB). After spending four years overseas, he began his legal career in 1980 with Hannan and Seddon in Greymouth, becoming a partner in the firm from 1983 to 1993. He then joined Cook Allan Gibson in Dunedin as an Associate for two years before becoming a partner at Spiller Rutledge in 1995. The firm underwent two name changes—first to Trainor MacLean on 1 July 1998, and later to MacLean & Associates on 1 April 2014—where Ray continued to provide dedicated legal services.

In 2025, his firm, Ray MacLean & Associates, merged with Hill Lee & Scott, marking a new chapter in his long and respected legal career.

Email:  rmaclean@hlslegal.co.nz 

Greg Trainor

Greg graduated with an LLB from Canterbury University in 1983 and began his legal career at Weston Ward & Lascelles. From 1985 to 1987, he worked in the legal profession in the United Kingdom before returning to New Zealand and joining Spiller Rutledge and Langham in Christchurch in 1987. He became a partner in 1989 and continued in that role through the firm’s transitions to Spiller Rutledge, Trainor MacLean and later MacLean & Associates. On 1 April 2014, Greg became a Consultant with MacLean & Associates.

In 2025, MacLean & Associates merged with Hill Lee & Scott, continuing Greg’s long-standing commitment to delivering trusted legal expertise under a new banner.

Email:  gtrainor@hlslegal.co.nz 

Tom Appleton

Tom graduated from the University of Canterbury with a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Commerce with Honours in 2013. He joined Hill Lee and Scott in May 2024 as a Senior Associate, having previously worked for a well-known medium sized Christchurch Law Firm.

Tom’s areas of practice include property and commercial law and in particular: 

• Residential and commercial property
• Buying and selling businesses
• Subdivisions
• Commercial leasing
• Rural law
• Asset protection
• Wills and trusts
• Powers of attorney

 In his spare time Tom enjoys spending time with his wife and two young children as well as fitting in the odd game of golf.

Email: tappleton@hlslegal.co.nz

Louis Quinn

Louis is a Senior Solicitor at Hill Lee & Scott and works predominantly on residential and commercial property transactions along with the following:

• Commercial leasing
• Buying & selling businesses
• Subdivisions
• Refinancing
• Wills and Contracting Out Agreements

In his spare time Louis likes playing golf poorly, gardening begrudgingly and enjoying the cafes and bars in Lyttleton where he lives. 

Email: lquinn@hlslegal.co.nz

Vicki Tranter

Vicki graduated from Canterbury University in 2011 with a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) and a Bachelor of Arts with Honours (BA(Hons)), majoring in English. She began her legal career with the firm in 2011 and was admitted to the High Court as a Barrister and Solicitor in October 2014. In 2025, Vicki's firm  merged with Hill Lee & Scott, continuing her commitment to providing high-quality legal services under the expanded team.

Email:  vtranter@hlslegal.co.nz 

Jill O'Neill

Jill is a Senior Registered Legal Executive with over 40 years’ experience in law.  She has worked as a Senior Registered Legal Executive at major Canterbury law firms for over 17 years. 

Jill brings significant expertise to the firm in the areas of residential conveyancing and other property matters as well as Wills and Powers of Attorney. 

She enjoys assisting clients with all residential conveyancing and associated matters and looks forward to being of assistance to all existing and new clients of the firm.

In her spare time Jill enjoys playing golf, gardening, a little bit of tramping and catching up with friends. 

Email:  joneill@hlslegal.co.nz 

Kelley Burley

Kelley is a Registered Legal Executive and a Fellow of Legal Executives NZ. Kelley has day-to-day control of our estate adminstration and also advises our clients on matters including, Wills, estate planning, family trust formation and administration.

Email: kburley@hlslegal.co.nz 

Nicola Thyne

Nicola is an experienced Registered Legal Executive and a Fellow Member of Legal Executives NZ and is on the Canterbury Southern Districts Branch Committee.  She has over 30 years experience in various law firms in Christchurch. 

Nicola specialises in all residential property transactions and is able to assist first home buyers.  She also has experience with asset protection/estate planning including family trusts, Wills and enduring powers of attorney.

Outside of work Nicola enjoys spending time with her family, cycling, tramping and in her vegetable garden.

Email: nthyne@hlslegal.co.nz