Jeanine Mitchell

Director
Notary Public

I joined North Harbour Law in 2011 and was appointed to the partnership in 2018.  While my practice areas are broad, I have a particular interest and expertise in the elder law, asset planning, trusts and estates space as well as in relationship property matters. 

My legal career began in 2004 when I completed Law and Science degrees at the University of Canterbury. I went on to practice as a civil litigator in a large South Island firm before returning home to the Hibiscus Coast just before my first daughter was born. I worked for a time in a specialist litigation firm in Auckland’s CBD before deciding that I wanted to be closer to home to raise my (now) three daughters, and I have been at North Harbour Law ever since. My background in litigation has been invaluable to the work areas I now focus on, enabling me to quickly get to the heart of complex legal issues and to summarise and articulate things clearly to my clients using straight-forward language. I focus on providing advice that is clear, effective and pragmatic.

I love being a trusted advisor to my clients, and am especially grateful to be able to do so in my home town and alongside a team of bright, talented, down to earth and kind people many of whom have a history and connection to the Coast that is similar to my own. I grew up in Orewa, one house back from the beach and a stone’s throw from what is now my office. I attended Orewa Primary School, KingsWay School and then Orewa College – where I was Head Girl in 1999. My family has been directly connected to the area since my grandma decided to put down roots here in the early 1970s when she purchased a section on Noel Avenue, Orewa. My father Merv Huxford did so too around that time and established what is now one of the longest standing ongoing businesses in Orewa. 

Following in my father’s footsteps I enjoy using my expertise to help others and I have volunteered my time on my daughters’ school board of trustees and also assisting in the governance of local charitable organisations. I am also currently on the board of Orewa’s business association, Destination Orewa. I am regularly asked to speak on a broad range of legal matters and I enjoy offering up my knowledge to support and assist others wherever I can. 

When I am not working you will usually find me either at the Millwater hockey turf watching my daughters and nieces and nephews play, or with my daughters and their horses on our local beaches whenever the opportunity arises.