A former partner of the firm, Judge Paul von Dadelszen, became a member of the Queen's Service Order for service to the Family Court in the 2011 Queen's Birthday Honours.  Prior to his appointment as a Family Court Judge in 1987, he was the firm’s senior partner and headed the firm’s Family Law Team, and also had considerable experience in commercial, estate planning and other fields of legal practice. 

After almost 24 years as a Judge (and at the time the longest-serving District Court Judge) he retired at the end of May 2011.  The citation issued with the Honours List states that "He is highly regarded for his commitment to public access to justice and to working towards creating a better family court system," and that he has made an "exceptional contribution" to the Family Court in a variety of special projects, as an adviser to the Principal Family Court Judge and as an "implementer" of reforms in the Court.

Judge von Dadelszen is the son of a former partner of the firm, the late John von Dadelszen, and the brother of present partner Mark von Dadelszen.  He was admitted to the Bar in 1965, and after his appointment as a Judge he was based in Palmerston North, until returning to Hawke's Bay in 1996 as the resident Family Court Judge for Hawke's Bay.

The present partners of the firm are very proud of the honour conferred on the Judge.