Corporate commercial law firm, Hamilton Locke is expanding into New Zealand, with the establishment of Hamilton Locke New Zealand.1 Hamilton Locke New Zealand will be a full service corporate and commercial law firm and will be joined by the partners and lawyers of boutique commercial law firm, Anderson Creagh Lai (ACL). Hamilton Locke New Zealand will be based initially in Auckland and brings to New Zealand the benefits of the fastest growing law firm in Australia.
The launch of Hamilton Locke in New Zealand, with effect from late January, is the first international expansion for HPX Group, which owns Hamilton Locke in Australia.2
Hamilton Locke New Zealand, incorporating the ACL team, which has been operating in Auckland since 2006, will continue to advise on both New Zealand and cross-border transactions. The firm’s expertise includes corporate and commercial, litigation and dispute resolution, commercial property, construction and development, as well as private client services. Hamilton Locke in Australia and Hamilton Locke in New Zealand will work collaboratively across the region, bringing together experts from local New Zealand and international firms. Hamilton Locke in New Zealand will initially comprise a team of 21, with 6 Directors and 11 lawyers, with plans to grow significantly, as Hamilton Locke has done in Australia.
Nick Humphrey, Managing Partner of Hamilton Locke said: “The launch of the Hamilton Locke brand in New Zealand with our like-minded colleagues from ACL is a tremendously exciting step in our growth journey, allowing us to offer services to our clients across New Zealand under the Hamilton Locke umbrella and expanding on our existing offering in Australia. It allows the ACL team to do the same for clients doing business in Australia and to access the resources of Hamilton Locke in Australia. The ACL team is strategically and culturally aligned with our business, in particular the focus on collaboration, and transforming the approach to providing legal services that break the mould of traditional law firms. We are excited to extend Hamilton Locke’s existing service offering, while continuing to focus on providing the best possible environment for people to thrive, which in turn provides the best possible experience for clients”.
Phil Creagh and Jeffrey Lai, founding Directors of ACL said: “The business model and culture of Hamilton Locke is in direct alignment with our firm, and we are delighted to join forces to offer services across New Zealand and Australia. We pride ourselves on delivering practical, commercial advice and providing a different experience to the old ways of lawyering. This neatly aligns with Hamilton Locke and its focus on evolving the legal sector, and we are thrilled to join together and support its commitment to creating a vibrant culture where our people can continue to grow”.
Hamilton Locke continues to be recognised as Australia’s fastest growing law firm, with the partnership now totalling 45 partners across Australia. Also part of HPX Group is in-house style essential professional services firm, Source, which provides business-as-usual legal, governance, HR, risk and compliance services on an outsourced basis on a fixed amount or retainer-based pricing model. Together, Hamilton Locke and Source are a powerful combination of professional services unlike any other offering in the market.
1An incorporated New Zealand law firm, licensed to use the Hamilton Locke brand.
2Hamilton Locke New Zealand is an incorporated law firm governed by New Zealand law. It is not owned by HPX Group or Hamilton Locke Australia. Hamilton Locke New Zealand has entered into various licensing and management services agreements with HPX Group which, inter alia, provide Hamilton Locke New Zealand with the exclusive use of the “Hamilton Locke” brand in New Zealand.