DeAnne graduated from Victoria University of Wellington in 2002 and was admitted to the New Zealand Bar that year. 

DeAnne is an experienced litigation lawyer and is part of the employment team at Heaney & Partners. 

Prior to joining Heaney & Partners, DeAnne was a partner at a medium sized law firm.  She has also practiced as a barrister. DeAnne spent over 23 years working in the public sector and was a legal advisor, civil litigator, and prosecutor at both IRD and WorkSafe. Her litigation experience includes appearances in various jurisdictions including the Environment Court, Family Court, Employment Court, District Court, High Court and Court of Appeal.  In addition, DeAnne is skilled in investigating employment matters and complaints, mediation, crisis management, advising on policy, regulatory practice, corporate governance, and regulatory compliance. She is also an AMINZ trained litigator.  Having been employed previously by regulators, DeAnne has specialist expertise in managing and resolving client’s compliance issues and advising Boards.

DeAnne prosecuted, among other cases: R v Meads, R v Woodward, WorkSafe v Athenberrry & Ors, WorkSafe v Department of Corrections, WorkSafe v CentrePort Limited, WorkSafe v Port of Lyttleton, WorkSafe v Sir Edmond Hilary Collegiate School, WorkSafe v South Port Limited  and WorkSafe v Talleys Group Limited.  In addition, DeAnne has appeared in coronial inquests, including the inquest into the deaths of forestry workers and that of a student at a primary school.

She has experience in complex litigation involving expert witnesses, medico-legal evidence, and forensic data.  DeAnne has also successfully secured freezing orders and search orders and injunctions in the employment and civil jurisdictions.

DeAnne is client focused and prides herself on providing practical solutions to legal problems.  

DeAnne is the author of Westlaw’s ‘Protecting Employees' and ‘Health and Safety Law’ packages.  She is also an Associate Teaching Fellow in the Centre for Ergonomics and Occupational Health and Safety at Massey University.