2026 Award
Finalists

Hannah was promoted to the Bell Gully partnership in January 2026 and is a rising star in the firm’s corporate team. As an experienced transactional lawyer, Hannah advises corporate clients, private equity sponsors and other global financial investors across a range of sectors, with particular expertise in mergers and acquisitions, private equity, joint ventures and control transactions. Since her return from a stint overseas, she has quickly become a pivotal member of the team acting on a number of major transactions and was named a 2026 Future Legal Leader by Australasian Lawyer.

Angus Grayson is the founder and only lawyer at HouseMe Legal, a fixed-fee property firm he built from zero for first-home buyers. His model is education-first: free calls, guides, and checklists before clients are under contract. A three-person team now completes around 170 matters a year, rated 5.0 across 374 Google reviews. Angus also publishes a free weekly education library for more than 230 mortgage advisers, and gives his firm-building playbook and personal time to other lawyers, including potential competitors. 
His philosophy is simple: better-informed people make better decisions and have better options.

Charlotte Muggeridge is a rising leader in the legal profession, making a significant impact at Harkness Henry Lawyers and beyond. Appointed a Partner at just 31, Charlotte leads Harkness Henry’s Environmental Law team, advises a diverse client base and has taken on complex litigation. Her leadership extends well beyond the firm, with senior governance roles locally, nationally and internationally, including Co-Chair of the YWCA International Board. A published legal author, university lecturer and committed mentor, Charlotte is passionate about sharing her expertise and creating opportunities for others. Her breadth of leadership, influence and contribution is remarkable for her career stage.

Dania Alsagoff is a Senior Associate in Simpson Grierson's Corporate & Commercial team and has established herself as one of New Zealand's standout emerging leaders. During the eligibility period, Dania played a significant role in several of the firm's — and the country's — most significant transactions, including Adamantem Capital's acquisition and merger of PF Olsen and Forest360, the establishment of Tiaki Wai, and the Christchurch Men’s Prison and Warkworth to Te Hana motorway PPPs. Trusted by clients and partners alike, Dania combines technical excellence with a collaborative leadership style, mentoring junior lawyers while consistently delivering complex, high-value deals. 

Sarah Moon is emerging as a leader in New Zealand family law by combining legal expertise with entrepreneurship and client-focused innovation. Sarah founded Clean Break two years ago and used the start-up environment to reconsider established ways of practising relationship property. She replaced uncertainty with fixed prices, jargon with plain language, information gaps with free resources, and escalation with calmer communication. Sarah’s impact is increasingly felt beyond her firm, through her writing, speaking and engagement with the profession. Her entry reflects leadership grounded not in hierarchy, but in ownership, experimentation and a willingness to share what works. 

Mothers Project takes pro bono legal help inside every women’s prison in New Zealand. Between January 2025 and April 2026, volunteer women lawyers made 45 prison visits and assisted 200 mothers, involving 152 lawyer attendances plus follow-up work. Since 2015, more than 300 women lawyers have volunteered and 1,275 mothers have been assisted. Volunteers also deliver Storybook and Christmas initiatives supporting mothers and children separated by imprisonment. Mothers Project shows what lawyers can achieve when they take their professional skills beyond their usual workplaces and make them available to women and families who might otherwise struggle to access them.

DLA Piper is helping Pacific law students bridge the gap between academic study and legal practice through The University of the South Pacific’s Practical Legal Skills Programme. During the eligibility period, the team delivered three five-day courses in Suva covering ethics, access to justice, pro bono practice, client interviewing and legal drafting. Since 2017, more than 400 students have completed the programme. Now embedded in USP’s curriculum, the course prepares students for supervised community legal work and future practice, while bringing DLA Piper and in-house lawyers together to share practical skills with the next generation of Pacific legal professionals.

Simpson Grierson's Pro Bono Practice partnered with Christians Against Poverty, the Salvation Army and community organisations to challenge oppressive lending practices affecting vulnerable New Zealanders. The initiative addressed the impact of high-cost lending, escalating debt and Attachment Orders on beneficiaries and people experiencing financial hardship. The team provided pro bono legal advice, representation, advocacy support and practical resources to help borrowers challenge unfair lending practices and access debt relief. During the period, the team contributed 150.40 volunteer hours, supported 11 clients and secured debt write-offs, discontinued Attachment Orders and fairer repayment arrangements, including saving two clients almost $10,000 in repayments.

Between January 2025 and April 2026, Auckland boutique firm Dalley Sundar combined frontline casework with law reform leadership across immigration and family formation law. Partner Pooja Sundar ran a series of refugee and family violence matters, including a pro bono residence outcome for the mother of a New Zealand citizen child, and led submissions on two immigration bills. Partner Stewart Dalley closed a gap in adoption law created by citizenship and safe passage during regional conflict in a novel international surrogacy matter, and contributed to Adoption Act submissions. Their work informed legislation, built precedent, and gave vulnerable communities wider visibility. 

Convey Law redefined residential property legal services by combining digital automation with client-centric service delivery. Through an integrated ecosystem featuring biometric onboarding, e-signatures, automated compliance, and real-time client portals, the firm eliminated traditional industry friction and administrative delays. This transformation reduced transaction timelines, enhanced client satisfaction, and boosted operational capacity. By embedding technology into every stage of legal practice, Convey Law has established a scalable, transparent model for specialized legal service delivery in New Zealand. 

Norling Law is a boutique commercial litigation and insolvency firm that grew fees 38% in the year to March 2026, its strongest ever, while transforming how it works. Unable to hire fast enough to meet demand, the firm shifted from headcount-based growth to an augmented productivity model, using support staff and AI tools to extend what its specialists can do and provide greater value to its client base. 
They have built an AI-powered IRD negotiation tool that gives clients affordable access to specialist guidance, and did it through a data-driven, people-first operating system that keeps its team thriving.

MoranLaw is an intellectual property, commercial and private client law firm, established in April 2024. MoranLaw has transformed from a four-person start-up into a team of almost 20 who operate primarily from New Zealand but also practice intellectual property law in Australia, building a reputation as one of New Zealand's most dynamic legal practices. MoranLaw has the vision to protect global brands, elevate trusts and support companies and not-for-profits in a way tailored to each client’s needs.

Juno Legal is an in-house law firm whose experienced lawyers embed directly within client organisations. During 2025–26, Juno grew its practising lawyer team by 29% through a challenging legal market, while client feedback and employee engagement remained strong. Its first three-year strategy brought greater focus and clearer measures for the business, while the Juno Sounding Board broadened participation in leadership and governance. Juno also launched Juno Connect, a confidential peer forum for senior in-house legal leaders. With around 70% of work coming from repeat clients, Juno continues to strengthen its model for its people, clients and the wider in-house community.

For more than 105 years, McVeagh Fleming has combined the experience of an established practice with the agility of a modern legal business. During the eligibility period, the firm strengthened client access to expertise, invested in leadership and people development, improved collaboration across the organisation and implemented a structured AI governance programme. Supported by First Tier Family Law and Recommended Commercial Litigation recognition, award-winning practitioners and strong contributions to the profession and community, McVeagh Fleming continues to evolve as a progressive full-service mid-sized law firm.

Mayne Wetherell has reinforced its position as a leading New Zealand mid-size firm through strategic investment in legal technology, cybersecurity, diversity and sustainability.  Mayne Wetherell is regarded as the go-to firm for complex and high value matters.  By focussing on initiatives where the firm has a competitive advantage and can make a real difference, we have been able to retain the flexibility and other benefits of our smaller scale while still acting on many of New Zealand’s most significant commercial transactions and making a difference in the community. 

Lane Neave demonstrated sustained excellence during the eligibility period, delivering strong client, people and organisational outcomes through clear strategic direction and disciplined execution. The firm strengthened national capability, expanded specialist expertise, achieved strong financial performance and maintained exceptional client satisfaction, while continuing to invest in technology, culture, sustainability and community impact. Independent recognition, including expanded Legal 500 rankings, reflected the growing depth of expertise across the firm. With a collaborative national model, strong internal promotion, high staff advocacy and trusted client relationships, Lane Neave continues to combine scale, specialist capability and personal service to deliver meaningful value across New Zealand.

Tompkins Wake, a Hamilton-headquartered New Zealand law firm with offices in Auckland, Tauranga and Rotorua, grew revenue 4.7% in the year to 31 March 2026 while cutting lockup below 100 days for the first time and lifting employee engagement scores from 11 to 21. The firm's partnership is now more than half female, reached without targets or quotas, alongside an even gender split across its Senior Leadership team. Tompkins Wake has held Rainbow Tick accreditation since 2019 and is a Living Wage accredited employer, reflecting a firm-wide commitment to sustainable growth and inclusive culture across all four offices. 

Chapman Tripp has built the systems to support and deliver its strategy. Our Activator programme has turned business development from individual rainmaking into a trained, measured, firm-wide discipline. Our AI and Knowledge Management strategy is Board-sponsored, backed by recognised hours and a single source of truth, replacing siloed drives and disconnected personal knowledge with real, shared capability. And our first Values refresh in 20 years - shaped by firm-wide consultation and expressed in te reo Māori - is embedded in how we recruit, develop, retain and reward our people. Together, these programmes show strategy translating into consistent, firm-wide results.

Simpson Grierson is committed to building New Zealand's future, advising major businesses and public sector organisations on the deals, projects and disputes that will grow and shape the country. During this period, the firm advised on both of New Zealand's flagship PPP procurements, navigated complex transactions and financing, supported major energy transition and water reform, and lifted firm performance. Its impact reaches beyond the boardroom: from strengthening critical infrastructure and resolving landmark disputes, to celebrating 20 years of pro bono partnership with Youthline. Simpson Grierson combines national expertise, global perspective and deep local relationships to help New Zealand thrive.

Russell McVeagh is a leading full-service New Zealand commercial law firm, trusted for pragmatic, clear advice on clients' most complex legal issues. With more than 350 people across Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington and Tāhuna Queenstown, the firm combines national reach with deep local knowledge and is focused on being one of New Zealand’s best places to work and its most commercially successful law firm. During the eligibility period, the firm grew to 53 partners, opened its Tāhuna Queenstown office, increased market share, advanced firm-wide AI adoption, transitioned to a new CEO and strengthened wellbeing, DE&I and talent programmes.

Sally Morris is the founding partner of Morris, a boutique Auckland litigation firm specialising in trust, estate, and family disputes. Since establishing the firm in 2016, she has led it through sustained growth. Over the eligibility period, Sally made three significant leadership decisions: relocating the firm from Commercial Bay to premium, purpose-suited premises at 1 Queen Street; implementing Harvey AI with bespoke workflows and a firm-wide governance policy; and restructuring the team to build senior depth and capacity. She continues to carry a full caseload of high-value, high-stakes litigation while leading and developing the firm.

Board Chair David Butler has played a pivotal role in shaping Russell McVeagh's future, leading strategic initiatives that have strengthened the firm's market position, culture and long-term resilience. He led the development of the firm's 2030 Strategy, guided a successful CEO transition, oversaw the opening of the Queenstown office and championed the firm's investment in AI. Under his leadership, Russell McVeagh has continued to grow market share, expand its partnership, improve diversity outcomes and maintain industry-leading employee engagement. His strong relationships, client focus and commercial judgement have helped position the firm for sustained success.

Phillipa Muir chairs Simpson Grierson’s board, bringing insight from a career at the frontline of New Zealand employment law, from co-authoring the textbook, to leading Aotearoa New Zealand’s premier commercial law firm. During the eligibility period, Pip led the board’s decisions to invest in the firm’s infrastructure and major projects capability, build a firm that exceptional people choose to stay with and join, and equip its partners to lead well. Under her leadership, the firm has thrived (in all metrics) and is building a culture that seeks excellence in all that it does, for people and clients alike. 

Caro Rieger is the founder and Managing Director of Black Door Law, a specialist employment law firm built around trust, collaboration and people-first service. During the eligibility period, she led the firm through growth, technology adoption and capability development, including AI integration, senior recruitment and promotion, and revenue growth of 40%. Recognised as a Law Firm Leader of the Year in 2025, Caro is also a respected thought leader, speaker and community contributor. Her leadership has strengthened Black Door Law’s performance while demonstrating a more human, innovative and sustainable model for legal practice.

Richard Greenaway is the CEO of Anderson Lloyd, leading a firm of 32 partners and more than 160 people. During the submission period, he led the development and implementation of the firm’s five-year strategy, strengthened succession planning and leadership development, and oversaw major investments in people, technology and future capability. Under his leadership, Anderson Lloyd continued to grow while maintaining a strong focus on client service, culture and innovation. Richard also championed initiatives that strengthened community impact, sustainability, diversity and inclusion, helping position the firm for long-term success.

Fonterra’s NZ$4.22 billion sale of Mainland Group to Lactalis required the separation of a multinational business spanning more than 50 entities and 4,000 employees across 16 jurisdictions, while preserving the supply relationship connecting the businesses after completion. Russell McVeagh acted as lead deal counsel advising Fonterra throughout the 20-month dual-track process. The completed sale enabled Fonterra to return NZ$3.2 billion to farmer shareholders and unit holders, tax free. The transaction is one of the largest in New Zealand corporate history and is a game changer for Fonterra's growth trajectory.

Simpson Grierson advised Alliance Group Limited on its high-stakes recapitalisation and strategic partnership with Dawn Meats of Ireland, which invested NZ$270 million for a majority investment in New Zealand’s largest farmer-owned red meat co-operative.

Bell Gully advised NIFF on the Crown's monetisation of bespoke Chorus Ultra-Fast Broadband debt and equity funding securities. The team successfully designed and implemented a novel investor protection structure in a competitive process that generated genuine price tension and attracted institutional buyers. The transaction generated approximately NZ$702 million in proceeds, more than NZ$60 million above book value. This monetisation of bespoke Crown funding securities in New Zealand establishes a replicable framework for public-sector balance sheet management.

Leading New Zealand law firm Bell Gully advised Lactalis on its acquisition of Fonterra Co-operative Group’s global consumer business and associated businesses for an enterprise value of NZ$4.22 billion, one of New Zealand’s most significant recent M&A transactions. The Bell Gully team advising Lactalis was led by Alex Bond and James Gibson. The global transaction, led from New Zealand and involving the sale of iconic consumer dairy brands including Anchor, Mainland and Kāpiti, involved considerable complexity, involving multiple jurisdictions and complex restructuring.

Simpson Grierson advised Watercare on its financial separation from Auckland Council and the establishment of its independent debt capital raising programme – New Zealand's largest corporate debt capital raise ever. The financing makes Watercare the first financially independent water entity in New Zealand under the Local Water Done Well reforms and supports its NZ$13.8 billion, 10-year infrastructure programme for the Auckland region.

Russell McVeagh advised Pacific Equity Partners on the financing of its acquisition of a 75% interest in Spark New Zealand’s data centre business. The transaction enabled TenPeaks Data Centres to launch as an independently owned and financed business, with funding in place to support its planned expansion. Led by Banking and Finance partner David Weavers and special counsel Matt Consedine, Russell McVeagh coordinated the financing with the wider carve-out, governance and commercial arrangements. The transaction gave PEP control of New Zealand’s largest domestic-only data centre platform while preserving Spark’s 25% interest and key customer relationship.

Russell McVeagh advised Genesis Energy on the development and implementation of its landmark Huntly Firming Options framework with Contact Energy, Mercury NZ and Meridian Energy. Designed to support New Zealand's electricity security during periods of low hydro inflows and system stress, the arrangement establishes a new framework for accessing strategic generation capacity during periods of system stress, while supporting the evolution of the country's energy market. Russell McVeagh worked alongside Genesis to structure, negotiate and implement the bespoke framework, bringing together multiple market participants in an arrangement with no direct New Zealand precedent.

Chapman Tripp advised Challenger on the acquisition and securitisation financing of Spark New Zealand’s NZ$240 million interest-free handset receivables portfolio. Led by Luke Ford, the transaction required a bespoke legal structure to address receivables characteristics, true sale and recourse issues and the interplay between the purchase and financing arrangements. The deal stands out as a novel and highly structured transaction in the New Zealand market, demonstrating Chapman Tripp’s strength in securitisation, structured finance and delivering clear legal solutions to complex commercial challenges. 

Anderson Lloyd acted as lead project counsel, and Buddle Findlay as counsel to the lenders, on the development and NZ$210 million project financing of the Tauhei Solar Farm, a 202MWDC renewable energy project developed by Harmony Energy, New Zealand’s largest solar farm to reach financial close. The firms advised on all aspects, including project financing, EPC contracting, grid connection arrangements, operations and maintenance arrangements and legal due diligence. Financial close was achieved in January 2025, supported by a long-term power purchase agreement with Meridian Energy. The transaction establishes an important precedent for large-scale renewable energy project financing in New Zealand.

Mayne Wetherell advised Auckland Council on its inaugural NZ$250,000,000 sustainability-linked bond, the first in Australasia to incorporate a donation-based mechanism replacing the conventional coupon step-up for sustainability performance target non-achievement.  The sustainability performance target is the planting of 1,000,000 native ngahere stems by 31 December 2027.  The transaction sets a new benchmark for how capital markets instruments can drive tangible environmental outcomes for communities.

Mayne Wetherell advised Tax Traders on the establishment of an innovative and unique asset-backed commercial paper programme secured by tax deposits in Tax Traders’ tax pooling account.  The Tax Traders asset-backed commercial paper programme received a P-1 rating from Moody’s and was a transformative transaction for Tax Traders. It enhanced the New Zealand debt capital markets by bringing a new issuer to the market thereby increasing the size of the market. The programme enables Tax Traders to have larger tax deposits in the tax pooling account, thereby enabling more New Zealand taxpayers to manage provisional tax payments more efficiently.

Russell McVeagh advised Goodman Property Trust on its corporatisation and transition to a stapled structure, creating Goodman NZ. The transaction separated Goodman NZ’s passive property investments from its active business, retained PIE status for the property investment business, and brought both companies together in one listed security. Russell McVeagh advised across the corporate, regulatory, disclosure, listing, bondholder and financing processes. Unitholders approved the transaction with 99.95% of the units voted in favour, and all five bond series passed the required resolutions. The transaction became effective on 7 April 2026, when the GNZ stapled securities began trading on the NZX.

Chapman Tripp advised SkyCity Entertainment Group Limited on its NZ$240 million equity capital raising, comprising a fully underwritten institutional placement and a fully underwritten accelerated non-renounceable entitlement offer. Partners Rachel Dunne and Philip Ascroft played a lead role in the transaction, which SkyCity launched alongside release of its FY25 results. It demanded careful coordination across NZX and ASX requirements, underwriting arrangements and disclosure considerations in a highly regulated sector. The raise strengthened SkyCity’s balance sheet and positioned the business to pursue its near-term strategic priorities with greater resilience and flexibility. 

Bell Gully advised Genesis Energy on the first secondary capital raising by a New Zealand mixed-ownership-model company. The NZ$400 million transaction combined a fully subscribed NZ$100 million placement with a NZ$300 million renounceable rights offer, while Crown participation preserved its 51% shareholding. The structure required coordinated Crown arrangements, an NZX waiver, ASIC relief and cross-border securities advice. Proceeds accelerate Genesis' Gen35 investments in renewable generation and dispatchable firming capacity, supporting growth and New Zealand's energy security.

Cooper Legal is a specialist firm focused on seeking accountability and redress on behalf of survivors abused in care. We have been doing this work for over 30 years. Through a trauma-informed and human rights-based approach, the firm combines advocacy with strategic litigation and alternative dispute resolution. Recent Government changes to redress have made things harder for many survivors. Cooper Legal is working hard to ensure that the State and other care providers acknowledge the harm that they have caused to individuals and society, and that redress systems and care systems improve in New Zealand.

Chapman Tripp fields New Zealand's leading disputes and litigation practice, trusted with many of the country's largest and most significant cases. Over the past year the team has acted at the forefront of climate-change litigation, class actions, insolvency, energy, insurance and indigenous-rights disputes — from the landmark Smith v Fonterra climate case and the Du Val statutory management to New Zealand Rugby's sponsorship dispute with INEOS and ZURU's Court of Appeal trade mark victory over LEGO. Led by Justin Graham and Band 1-ranked Tim Smith, the practice consistently delivers strategic, precedent-setting outcomes for New Zealand's most demanding clients.

Bell Gully is the leading name for dispute resolution in Aotearoa New Zealand. The firm’s partners act as lead counsel in many of the country’s most complex and high-profile commercial disputes and the scope of the firm’s work is unmatched in terms of breadth and depth. Bell Gully is highly regarded for the experience, strategic judgment, commercial acumen, and impressive advocacy skills of all of its dispute resolution lawyers. The firm’s client roster includes large New Zealand corporates, financial institutions and government agencies, who rely on Bell Gully to handle their most significant and complex disputes.

Russell McVeagh's Dispute Resolution team delivered another year of market-leading work. Their work spanned multiple sectors and saw them acting on an extensive range of work, including landmark class actions, nationally significant public law proceedings, complex regulatory investigations, and major commercial cases. Highlights included advising ASB Bank in one of New Zealand's largest class actions and private clients on high value cross-border disputes.

Cooper Legal is a specialist firm focused on seeking accountability and redress on behalf of survivors abused in care. We have been doing this work for over 30 years. Through a trauma-informed and human rights-based approach, the firm combines advocacy with strategic litigation and alternative dispute resolution. Recent Government changes to redress have made things harder for many survivors. Cooper Legal is working hard to ensure that the State and other care providers acknowledge the harm that they have caused to individuals and society, and that redress systems and care systems improve in New Zealand.

MinterEllisonRuddWatts’ Public Law team helped shape some of New Zealand’s most significant public institutions, regulatory systems and infrastructure programmes. Its work included developing the legal framework for national water reform, establishing Invest New Zealand, protecting uninterrupted international air services, representing iwi interests in complex forestry governance proceedings, and resolving sensitive public-integrity matters through fair and defensible processes. Bringing together 12 partners and 46 other qualified lawyers, the team combines public law, advocacy and specialist commercial expertise to help government bodies, iwi organisations and businesses make sound decisions, protect rights and deliver enduring public value.

Bell Gully fields one of New Zealand’s leading public law practices, advising numerous significant entities in both central and local government, as well as iwi and other Māori organisations, and private sector clients interacting with government. The depth and breadth of our expertise spans procurement, contracting and probity advice for public sector entities, legislative drafting, and governance advice, as well as regulatory matters, advising on Māori legal issues and dispute resolution, including representing clients in inquiries. In each of these areas, Bell Gully’s market-leading experts are sought out for advice on the most significant public law matters in New Zealand.

Rice Speir is New Zealand's leading specialist public law firm, acting almost exclusively for local government and public entities.  During the eligibility period, the firm advised on significant governance, regulatory, litigation, infrastructure and recovery matters across New Zealand.  Through early intervention, firmwide specialist public law expertise and a commitment to the public interest, Rice Speir helped clients navigate complex challenges, manage risk and make legally robust decisions.

McVeagh Fleming's Family & Relationship Property Team is one of Auckland's leading specialist family law practices and a Doyle's Guide First Tier firm for 2026. Led by respected practitioners Alissa Bell, Peter Fuscic and George Ireland, the team delivers exceptional outcomes across complex relationship property, parenting, trust, estate and appellate matters while maintaining a strong commitment to Legal Aid, Lawyer for Child appointments and vulnerable clients. Combining technical excellence, strategic advocacy, mentorship and professional leadership, the team helps families navigate some of life's most challenging moments with confidence, compassion and outstanding legal support.

Denham Bramwell delivers sustained excellence in family and relationship property law by pairing outstanding legal capability with a genuine investment in people. Our 19-strong team across three Auckland offices handles complex, high-risk parenting, family violence and property matters where safety, finances and children’s needs intersect. We bring calm early assessment, clear strategy and thorough preparation to achieve outcomes that provide protection, stability and workable clarity for families under pressure. We also focus on building the profession through training and mentoring junior lawyers whom clients benefit from deep expertise today and a stronger family law bar tomorrow.

Clean Break is a boutique relationship property law firm, that combines technical excellence with emotional intelligence and a practical, deeply human approach. Since opening two years ago, the specialist firm has now advised 230+ people, handled property pools between $3,000 and $10+ million, from straightforward divisions to complex situations, and resolved most matters in 3–4 months. Clients speak of the team’s “clarity of approach”, feeling “informed, supported, and respected”, and achieving “life changing” outcomes. That feedback reflects the firm’s philosophy: explain options clearly, keep matters moving, avoid unnecessary escalation – resulting in clients who feel they’re in “safe hands”.  

Haigh Lyon's family law team is one of New Zealand's leading practices. Led by Amanda Donovan and Jennie Hawker, the only New Zealand solicitors who are Fellows of the International Academy of Family Lawyers, the team acts in relationship property, care of children, contentious estate disputes and cross border matters. Its lawyers appear in courts throughout New Zealand and work alongside King's Counsel on the most complex cases. Amanda, an accredited mediator, helps families resolve matters without court. Behind their client facing work sits a deeper commitment: training the next generation of family lawyers.

Tompkins Wake's Private Client and Trustee Services team delivers estate planning and succession advice across the full lifecycle of private wealth. During the eligibility period, it helped a family turn a newly capitalised foundation into an active philanthropic vehicle; established succession documentation and inheritance trusts for a complex family; and substantially completed the estate administration of a culturally significant art collection while maintaining a protective trust for an at-risk beneficiary. The team combines estate planning, trust structuring and hands-on administration with the sensitivity required to advise families navigating difficult dynamics, protect their assets and transfer responsibility across generations.  

MinterEllisonRuddWatts helps families, business owners and internationally connected clients protect wealth, prepare future decision-makers and navigate complex transitions. Its specialist team integrates estate planning, trusts and wealth structuring, tax, family governance, corporate structuring and dispute resolution to create practical solutions that work across generations and jurisdictions. The team translates sensitive personal and commercial objectives into clear, enduring frameworks. Its combination of specialist private wealth capability, full-service legal expertise and collaborative implementation makes it a market leader in delivering continuity, certainty and long-term protection for New Zealand and international families.

Dentons New Zealand’s Private Wealth team helps families navigate some of the most complex moments in the life of their wealth, businesses and legacies. Led by Henry Brandts-Giesen, the team has guided multigenerational farming families, international family businesses, family offices and charitable trusts through complex and often contested succession. Combining specialist private wealth, tax, governance and disputes expertise with Dentons’ global reach, the team looks beyond the immediate transfer of assets to create practical, enduring structures that protect family relationships, support effective decision-making and help businesses and wealth transition successfully across generations.

Morris’ estate planning and succession team delivers integrated solutions for high-net-worth families and business owners navigating complex succession challenges. The team advises on dynastic trust structures, cross-border estates spanning New Zealand, the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia, blended family arrangements, estate planning for elderly clients, and complex estate administrations. The team’s holistic approach, combining wills, trusts, powers of attorney, business succession, and relationship property planning into cohesive strategies—consistently produces structures that endure, adapt to changing family circumstances and mitigate future risk.

Joe Bergin is General Counsel of Tāmaki Regeneration Company (TRC) and Tāmaki Housing Association (THA), providing legal leadership across its urban regeneration and social housing programme.  In his first year as General Counsel, Joe led the legal work to support the transfer of vertical-build functions from Kāinga Ora, enabling TRC to take control of its housing delivery.  He developed a new contract suite and automation process, while managing a broad legal portfolio.  Working within a lean legal function, Joe is recognised for practical, clear advice and his ability to balance legal risk, public accountability and commitment to the Tāmaki community.

Kirstin Jones is recognised for her outstanding in-house leadership on Sky’s acquisition of Discovery NZ, one of New Zealand’s most significant recent media transactions. She guided Sky through a complex carve-out involving content rights, transitional arrangements and operational separation. She also played a key role in Sky’s satellite migration, and the successful New Zealand Rugby and NRL broadcast partnerships. Combining legal expertise with commercial judgement, she supported Executive and Board decision-making and helped deliver a transformational outcome for Sky. Her contribution exemplifies the modern in-house lawyer’s role as a trusted adviser, strategic partner and enabler of major business change.

Brad St Clair is a General Counsel whose influence extends well beyond legal advice. While leading Public Trust’s in-house legal team of specialists in complex estate, trust and succession planning matters, he helped steer the organisation through a year of front-page headlines, Parliamentary scrutiny and significant legislative change affecting protected people. His advocacy contributed to the Petitions Committee recommending funding support for those impacted. Brad also oversaw major transformation work and turned ESG from aspiration into action, securing Board approval for Public Trust’s first emissions reduction plan. When complexity demands clarity, Public Trust turns to Brad.

Phil Leightley, General Counsel & Company Secretary of SkyCity Entertainment Group, has played a central role in guiding the business through a demanding period of legal, regulatory and commercial complexity. Sitting on the executive team, he has advised on matters including SkyCity’s $240 million capital raise, group bank refinancing, resolution of regulatory matters in respect of Adelaide casino, major litigation, class actions, asset sales, casino licensing and major operational change. Widely regarded as calm, considered and highly trusted, Phil combines first-rate legal judgement with strong commercial insight and has made a significant impact across SkyCity’s business. 

Cherie Pope is a Senior Registered Legal Executive and Fellow of LENZ, with over 30 years’ experience across property law, trusts, succession planning, estate administration, elder law and retirement village matters. Cherie is a committed mentor and leader within the profession, actively supporting junior legal executives, lawyers and support staff, generously sharing her extensive technical knowledge and practical experience. 

Kelly Angell is an Associate and Registered Legal Executive with 16 years’ property law experience who provides the day-to-day leadership and operational drive of McVeagh Fleming’s Manukau residential conveyancing practice. She independently manages a substantial portfolio, develops her own pipeline of work, supervises three junior team members and contributes to the firm’s Senior Lawyers group. Known for remaining calm and solution-focused when matters become complex, Kelly combines technical expertise with exceptional client service and communication. A natural relationship-builder, her influence extends beyond transactions to mentoring, business development and community initiatives that strengthen both the firm and the South Auckland community.

Christine Gavin, a senior registered legal executive and associate at Tompkins Wake, operates with a level of responsibility unusual for a legal executive. As the firm's principal specialist in land titles, subdivisions and easements, she manages up to 50 active files and runs easement registrations end-to-end without lawyer sign-off. During the eligibility period she completed registration of several multi-lot subdivisions. Her work included a 58-lot development involving two financiers and two boundary adjustments. Christine also stepped in to support the firm’s energy easement team when it was without a supervisor, maintaining continuity for clients, while supporting and training team members.  

Jenny Henry is a Legal Executive in MinterEllisonRuddWatts’ Litigation and Dispute Resolution team and a recognised specialist in mortgage enforcement and mortgagee sales. With more than 30 years’ experience, she manages high-volume and complex matters for leading lenders, guiding files from initial notice through to resolution or sale. Jenny combines technical accuracy and exceptional organisation with calm, plain-English communication in highly sensitive circumstances. She is trusted by clients, partners and colleagues for her judgement, responsiveness and ownership. A committed mentor, Jenny has also strengthened capability across legal, litigation and property teams.

Tomomi Stephenson is a Registered Legal Executive and Associate at Auckland's K3 Legal, with primary responsibility for a specialist secured-lending documentation and settlement function alongside a broad property practice. During the eligibility period she managed complex lending, conveyancing, enforcement and title matters, developed workflows and precedents adopted across the firm, and was regularly relied on by lenders and colleagues to progress dealings. Her work is characterised by careful organisation, practical judgement, accountability and consistent follow-through, with a strong focus on protecting client interests and ensuring matters are completed accurately.

Norling Law has built an AI platform that helps New Zealand small businesses prepare credible tax proposals for the Inland Revenue Department in hours rather than days. The system guides clients through plain-English questions, reads their financial records, and drafts proposals from real evidence, allowing them to DIY proposals to the IRD at a standard we would expect Lawyers to produce. Built for the New Zealand process and run on private infrastructure that keeps client data secure, it makes specialist tax help affordable for the thousands of businesses that have been priced out of it.

Convey Law transformed residential conveyancing by introducing an innovative, tech-enabled legal service delivery model. By integrating automated digital onboarding, biometric identity verification, e-signatures, and real-time transaction portals, the firm eliminated traditional industry friction and administrative delays. The initiative reduced transaction timelines, enhanced AML compliance, and provided 24/7 visibility for clients and estate agents. By combining digital efficiency with expert legal service, Convey Law has set a benchmark for legal service delivery, client satisfaction, and operational scalability in property law.

MoranLaw is an intellectual property, commercial and private client law firm, established in April 2024. MoranLaw has transformed from a four-person start-up into a team of almost 20 who operate primarily from New Zealand but also practice intellectual property law in Australia, building a reputation as one of New Zealand's most dynamic legal practices. MoranLaw has the vision to protect global brands, elevate trusts and support companies and not-for-profits in a way tailored to each clients’ needs.