Preston Russell Law

Mary-Jane Thomas is a partner in our Litigation Team. She has extensive experience as a criminal prosecutor and in employment law and civil litigation. She is the Crown Solicitor for Southland, taking over this role in 2005.

Mary-Jane is also the partner in charge of our employment law practice. She writes a weekly column 'Work to Rule' in the Southland Times.

Mary-Jane returned to Preston Russell Law in 2002 after spending five years at the Crown Law office in Wellington during which time she regularly appeared in the High Court and Court of Appeal. In addition to criminal jury trials and Court of Appeal work she appeared for the Police , Department of Corrections and several other government departments in civil claims.

Mary-Jane and her team are also actively involved in defending charges bought in the racing industry. Click here to read a recent decision in which Mary-Jane appeared.

Mary-Jane is a former Southland women’s rugby representative and together with her husband is a mad keen supporter of Invercargill Blues rugby club. She is also a harness racing enthusiast and in recent years commenced a breeding programme which she hopes will one day result in a Rowe Cup winner.

Mary-Jane was recently profiled in 'Te Karaka'. Read the full article here.

Powerpoint presentation from Mary-Jane Thomas’ Employment workshop at the Dairy Womens’ Network conference in Invercargill available HERE

Powerpoint presentation "Creating Future Leaders' available HERE

Mary-Jane recently participated in the Hospice Southland fundraiser 'Rocking with the Stars'. She made it into the top 5 only to snap her achilles tendon!