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 in the Vancouver office of one of Canada’s largest national firms; and more recently a boutique class action firm, before moving to Victoria in January 2013.
- Counsel, Accredited Mediator, Arbitrator and Parenting Coordinator
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
Jake Holm, Lawyer
Jake is a born and raised Vancouver Islander and was called to the Bar after completing law school at the University of British Columbia. Prior to joining Brown Henderson Melbye, Jake worked as Crown counsel for Justice Canada. He holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Victoria, where he graduated with honors and distinction.
- Counsel
Deryck Harry, Lawyer
Deryck joined Brown Henderson Melbye in 2022 as an associate counsel. In addition to family law, he practices civil litigation with a focus in privacy and defamation, as well as criminal law. Deryck can regularly be found in court advocating for his clients in high conflict and property division cases. When out of court, Deryck strives to apply alternate dispute resolution techniques to bring about creative solutions for his client’s problems. Deryck was called to the Bar in May, 2019. He holds a Master’s Degree in History from the University of Victoria and his Juris Doctorate from the Thompson Rivers University.
Annabelle Gosling, Lawyer
Patricia Routien
Paralegal to Samantha Rapoport, 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.
Abigail (Abi) Simard
Legal Assistant to Jake Holm: ASimard@bhmlawyers.ca
Hailey Christie
Legal Assistant to Carli Ziegler: hailey@bhmlawyers.ca
Carla Germishuys
Receptionist: reception@bhmlawyers.ca
Jannike Nieuwoudt
Bookkeeper/HR/Office Manager: jannike@bhmlawyers.ca
Dyson
Director of Wellness
Decker
Happy Greeter