About us
Respect is something that can only be earned, and in our 150 year history, we hope we’ve well and truly achieved that.
We’re known for excellence, attention to detail and hiring the very best people. But our focus on client relationships is what really sets us apart – real people, real care, real results.
Bringing law to life
We offer a comprehensive commercial and private legal service, and our clients keep coming back to us because of that relationship – trust and honesty go a long way. Our aim is to be open, accurate, and one-step-ahead in everything we do, to achieve the very best for you, every time.
Our history
We have a proud history of building excellent relationships and providing high-quality legal advice since 1875.
When the practices of the late Phillip Harkness and Clive Henry merged in 1945, we took on the firm’s current name. To serve the wider Waikato community, we opened offices in Paeroa (1979), Cambridge (2022) and Matamata (2024).
In 2026, we merged Malloy Goodwin Harford in Auckland to strengthen our presence across the North Island.
Today, we’re one of New Zealand’s best-known, mid-sized law firms and a great place to build a career in law.
- Former Governor General, Justice Dame Silvia Cartwright, was a partner before her appointment to the bench.
- Her successor in the firm was the Hon. Justice Christine Grice, a judge of the High Court of New Zealand. Christine is a past president and also Executive Director of the New Zealand Law Society.
- Members of our team have consistently been elected to Waikato/Bay of Plenty and New Zealand Law Society committees.
Remarkable women have featured across our proud history and continue to do so today. Find out more about our people here.
The reason why we have an exceptional reputation throughout New Zealand is our team’s ability to meet clients’ legal needs with prompt, pragmatic and specialist advice.
Our community
Being an active part of the communities we belong to is a very fulfilling part of our work. We give our time, expertise and financial support to many charitable organisations through:
- Pro-bono advice
- Volunteering
- Sponsorship
- Fundraising
- Support
- Acting as trustees
A Lawlink member
We’re a member of the Lawlink Group – a nationwide association of independent law firms.
Members of the group share ideas, resources, and business processes. Their collective talent results in each member firm being able to offer the best possible advice and service to their clients. In addition, all clients of Lawlink firms benefit from the additional specialist expertise available, including knowledge of legal and commercial problems, resolutions and trends nationally.
As a member, we’re able to offer higher quality advice and services than our competitors.
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Our partners
Our thinking
Age-based gifts in wills – when they work and when they don’t
Many people include age restrictions in their wills to prevent young beneficiaries from receiving an inheritance too soon. In this article, partner Matthew Peploe explains why those restrictions do not always work as intended and how the Trusts Act 2019 can allow beneficiaries to access their inheritance earlier than expected.
The Residential Care Subsidy: Planning Today for Tomorrow’s Care
Planning for long-term residential care involves more than health considerations, with asset ownership, trusts and gifting potentially affecting eligibility for financial assistance. In this article Mia Paintin outlines how the Residential Care Subsidy works and why early estate planning can be important for future eligibility.