Welcome to Petrina Sheldon

We are pleased to welcome Petrina Sheldon, the newest member of the Dawson & Associates team. A recent law graduate, Petrina joins us as a Legal Assistant, marking the beginning of her career in maritime law. However, she is by no means new to the maritime industry. As a qualified Chief Officer, she is an experienced mariner who brings extensive hands-on knowledge from her years working on yachts to her legal practice. 

Raised in the Bay of Islands, Petrina grew up competing in dinghy sailing and assisting her father, a boat builder, in the yard. From the age of 18, she balanced her law studies with work as a deckhand and engineer on domestic ferry and tourism vessels. In 2018, she completed an internship with the America’s Cup Event Authority, where she assisted the in-house lawyer in the delivery of the 35th America’s Cup in Bermuda. She later gained international experience on superyachts in the United States, the Caribbean, and the Mediterranean before returning to New Zealand to complete her studies. 

Now based in Nelson, Petrina has moved with her partner, a former Cruise Ship Staff Captain. After years abroad and city living, they are excited to embrace the region’s outdoor lifestyle, including hiking, kitesurfing, boating, and trail running. 

We are thrilled to have Petrina on board and look forward to seeing her grow in the field of maritime law.