Hesketh Henry

Hesketh Henry is a premium sector specialist commercial law firm based in Auckland, New Zealand.We offer comprehensive legal services to a diverse range of domestic and international clients.We specialise in sectors including construction, insurance, real estate, forestry, insolvency, trade and transport, employment, health and safety, and private wealth.

Managing PartnerNick Gillies

Number of Partners18

Number of other fee earners39

Language capability: English, German, Spanish

Hesketh Henry’s main areas of practice:

Corporate and Commercial

Specialist advice on a wide range of legal issues, across a broad spectrum of industries.

We assist with routine corporate compliance matters through to complex commercial issues. We have a strong track record of assisting overseas investors in investing and conducting business in New Zealand. As a full-service commercial law firm, we are big enough to have the resources required for major challenges, urgent issues and fast-moving opportunities.

Contact: Kate Telford [email protected] / +64 9 375 7630

Construction

One of the largest and most experienced specialist construction teams in the industry.

We act in all areas of construction law, including procurement and contract advice as well as all manner of disputes ranging from the tender period through to the post construction stage and including negotiated solutions, adjudications, ADR and proceedings.

Contact: Nick Gillies [email protected] / +64 9 375 8767

Disputes

Regularly instructed to act on significant and highly specialised litigation, and scale to accommodate the most complex instructions.

We appear at all levels of the court system and in arbitration. Our sector-specific approach allows us to provide specialised advice for contentious matters in targeted industries including construction, insurance, trade and transport, employment, property and trusts.

Contact: Christina Bryant [email protected] / +64 9 375 8789

Employment

Substantial experience in all aspects of employment advisory, compliance, negotiation and dispute resolution work.

We advise employers, employees, and unions in virtually all sectors and industries.

Contact: Jim Roberts [email protected] / +64 9 375 8723

Health and Safety

Compliance advice, advice on specific issues and onsite training and support for our clients. We also assist our clients with mandatory notifications and investigations to lower the risk of prosecution or enforcement action. If charges are laid, we appear in Court as defence counsel, negotiate with the prosecution and can apply for enforceable undertakings.

Contact: Alison Maelzer [email protected] / +64 9 375 7628

Insolvency and Restructuring

Wealth of experience both domestically and internationally in dealing with legal issues associated with distressed entities: liquidations, receiverships and other formal procedures; Director’s duties and personal liabilities; lending arrangements and security protection; enforcing debt; commercial leasing issues; trust assets and protection; and business advice.

Contact: Glen Holm-Hansen [email protected] / +64 9 375 8736

Insurance

Leading insurance law firm.

We advise and advocate across a comprehensive spectrum of issues, including coverage, business interruption, cyber, professional indemnity, health and safety, and regulatory matters. We have a strong recoveries and settlement practice. We regularly appear at every level of the civil courts, as well as in ADR. We have represented clients before numerous specialist tribunals and regulatory bodies, including Royal Commissions of Inquiry, the Human Rights Review Tribunal, the Insurance and Savings Ombudsman and professional societies and disciplinary bodies.

Contact: Melissa Russell [email protected] / +64 9 375 7626

Māori Business

Comprehensive legal support tailored to the specific needs of Iwi and Māori entities.

We offer expert advice on pre- and post-treaty settlement transactions, governance, joint venture and limited liability structuring and property law. Our expertise includes all aspects of land law, commercial contracts, construction projects, forestry, insurance, employment, health and safety, and litigation.

Contact: Barret Blaylock [email protected] / +64 9 375 8753

Private Wealth

One of the largest private wealth teams in New Zealand, and a recognised leader in private wealth law.

We advise our UHNW and HNW clients on a wide range of services including: advising on complex trust structuring (for existing clients and referrals from other law firms), relationship property, wills and estate planning, enduring powers of attorney and the establishment and operation of charitable trusts; acting in trust and relationship property disputes; establishing, administering and restructuring trusts; and administering estates.

Contact: Emma Tonkin [email protected] / +64 9 375 8775

Property

Specialised expertise across all areas of property law.

We work with a wide range of property stakeholders encompassing first-home buyers through to retirement village operators, sophisticated commercial and overseas investors, and large non-government entities with extensive holdings like church and iwi (Māori tribal) organisations. Some of our current institutional clients have been using our services for over a century.

Contact: Robert Berry [email protected] / +64 9 375 8716

Trade and Transport

One of New Zealand’s recognised specialist firms, and the only one licenced to provide specialist maritime law expertise on English law contracts.

We act in all areas of trade and transport law, and our practice comprises a mix of wide-ranging disputes: charterparties, build/repair, vessel arrest, cargo, collision and grounding, and marine insurance and transactional matters like ship building contracts, charterparties and finance.

Contact: Simon Cartwright [email protected] / +64 9 375 8727