Our Team
Our team members span the generations and come from a variety of backgrounds. We can give you legal advice, or help you resolve disputes. Collectively our family law experience exceeds 125 years, and at the core of what we do is care for the people and families we help.
Trudi Brown Q.C., Partner
Trudi was called to the B.C. bar in 1974 and then practiced for four years with the B.C. Crown Counsel Office in Victoria before leaving to form the firm of Buckler Metzger Brown and Miliken in 1978. In 2017 she received the first Excellence in Family Law Award from the Law Society of BC.
- Counsel, Mediator, Arbitrator and Hear the Child Interviewer
Kay Melbye, Partner
Kay was born and raised in Victoria and obtained her Law Degree from the University of Victoria. She was called to the BC Bar in May 1999 and articled and practiced civil litigation with the law firm of Cook Roberts from 1998 through 2001. In April 2001 Kay moved from Cook Roberts to join Trudi L. Brown, Q.C. and Jane Henderson, Q.C.
- Counsel, Mediator, Arbitrator, Parenting Coordinator and Hear the Child Interviewer
Shauna Tucker, Partner
Shauna received her LLB from the University of Toronto in 1990 and practiced as a family, estates and commercial litigator for one of Canada’s largest national firms, and more recently in a boutique class action firm, before moving to Victoria to focus on family and elder law.
- Counsel, Collaborative Lawyer, Mediator, Arbitrator and Parenting Coordinator
Suzanne Williams, Associate Counsel
Suzanne was called to the Ontario bar in 1995 and the BC bar in 1996 and uses her diverse experience to help you resolve your family law challenges. She prefers to problem solve collaboratively, or through mediation and advance the best interests of children.
- Counsel, Collaborative Lawyer, Mediator and Hear the Child Interviewer
Samantha de Wit, Lawyer
Samantha received her LLB from the University of Manitoba in 2009 after articling with Legal Aid Manitoba in the areas of child protection and family law. She spent her first three years of practice at a well-respected family law boutique firm in Winnipeg, Manitoba, before making the move to Victoria, B.C. in June 2013.
- Counsel, Collaborative Lawyer
Samantha Rapoport, Partner
Samantha focuses her practice on families, children, and seniors. Sam looks for practical and cost-effective ways to assist clients (and their families) move forward in times of transition.
- Counsel
Carli Ziegler, Partner
Carli joined Brown Henderson Melbye after moving to Victoria from South Africa where she practiced family law for 12 years. She has had her credentials recognized in Canada and was called to the BC Bar in 2019.
- Counsel
Kezia Peterson, Lawyer
Kezia completed her law degree at the University of Victoria, Faculty of Law, and has a Bachelor of Arts from Queen’s University. She completed her final co-op term at Brown Henderson Melbye and then articled with the firm before being called to the BC Bar.
- Counsel
Clay John, Articling Student
Clay graduated from the University of Victoria, completed his Law Society of BC Professional Legal Training Course, and will complete his articles with the firm in May 2021.
- Articling Student
Julia Nowosielska
Legal Assistant to Shauna Tucker: Julia@bhmlawyers.ca
Julia began her career with a clear desire to work in the area of family law. After graduating from North Island College in Port Alberni with a Legal Secretary Certificate (as it was then called), she started working at a law firm in Parksville.
Patricia Routien
Paralegal to Suzanne Williams, Client Intake: Patricia@bhmlawyers.ca
Patricia graduated from the Criminal Justice Program at Camosun College before channelling her interest in law into a career as a legal assistant. She has over two decades of experience helping family law clients.
Catherine Gray
Paralegal to Trudi Brown and Carli Ziegler: Catherine@bhmlawyers.ca
Before her Victoria move, Catherine Gray came to us from Manitoba. She grew up on a farm and moved to Winnipeg upon high school graduation. Having always loved law, she took a new paralegal program offered at Red River Community College.
Kim Hudson
Legal Assistant to Samantha de Wit: Kim@bhmlawyers.ca
Kim began working for Brown Henderson Melbye in November 2015, where her strengths in the areas of proofreading and drafting affidavits are appreciated and utilized.
Janice Saxby
Legal Assistant
Janice was born and raised on the lower mainland and has worked in the legal field for many years.
Jessica Neal
Legal Assistant to Samantha Rapoport: Jessica@bhmlawyers.ca
Jessica holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts from the University of Toronto, and is completing additional studies at Dalhousie University.
Helen Cashin
Chief Operating Officer (COO)
Judy Arsenault
Office Manager
Dyson
Director of Wellness
Decker
Happy Greeter