Two seasoned Public Defence Service lawyers have swapped the security of state-funded work for the sharp end of private practice. Brittany Holstein and Elena Stavrovska have officially launched Lockstone Criminal Defence Lawyers, bringing hard-won courtroom grit and a client-first ethos to Christchurch.
Holstein, who spent eight years at PDS, marked her departure with a candid reflection: “PDS has been more than just a workplace… It’s where I found my footing as a lawyer [and] learned the importance of standing alongside people in some of the most difficult moments of their lives.”
While grateful for the experience and the formidable team she leaves behind, she’s clearly energised by the next move.
Teaming up with colleague-turned-business partner Elena Stavrovska (Principal Lawyer and Director, with prior stints at PDS and Meredith Connell), the duo is betting that their combined expertise will deliver better outcomes in a boutique setting.
No-nonsense defence across the board
The firm handles the full spectrum of criminal work, including trials, bail, sentencing, pleas, appeals, name suppression, discharges without conviction, and traffic matters.
Recent results refer to a not-guilty verdict across serious sexual charges after a week-long jury trial, a High Court sentence appeal that swapped imprisonment for home detention, discharges without conviction to protect employment futures, and name suppression wins.
Lockstone exemplifies a familiar NZ trend with talented defenders exiting the Public Defence Service, still the country’s largest criminal law outfit, to offer more personalised, responsive representation.
