Deborah Chambers

Lady Deborah Chambers QC (née Tohill) is a leading New Zealand Queen's Counsel specialising in relationship property and trusts law. She was married to the New Zealand Supreme Court judge, Sir Robert Chambers until his death in 2013.

Chambers grew up in the working class suburb of Glenfield on the North Shore in Auckland, New Zealand. She attended Takapuna Primary School, Carmel College Catholic Girls School and Auckland Metropolitan College, an alternative state school.

She graduated from the University of Auckland in 1982 with a BA/LLB. At university she was variously Women’s Rights Officer on the Student Union Executive, President of the University Feminists and a member of the Law School Student Committee.

Chambers married Dr Charles Hollings in 1987. She is the mother of their two children, Caitlin and Zelda Hollings. In 2004 she married Justice Robert Chambers of the New Zealand Court of Appeal and became a step-mother to his two sons David and Chris Chambers. Justice Chambers was appointed as a Supreme Court Judge in 2012. He died suddenly on 21 May 2013 as a result of a brain aneurism. He was made a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2013 Birthday Honours. As royal assent was given to the appointment before Justice Chambers's death, his knighthood took effect from 20 May 2013.

In 2015 Lady Chambers's eldest step-son, David, commenced legal proceedings against the executors of his father’s estate seeking greater provision than provided in his father’s will. David’s claims in regard to removing Lady Chambers and her fellow executor, the family solicitor, were unsuccessful. He was also unsuccessful in seeking to impose a constructive trust.

After graduation she worked as a solicitor at Butler White & Hannah, Meredith Connell, and Russell McVeagh MacKenzie Bartleet & Co. She also spent a year in Glasgow, Scotland, as a Procurator Fiscal Depute prosecuting crime.

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