The following legal services are provided in a 'team structure' approach, utilising the wide experience available within the firm. This approach ensures Partner responsibility and continuity for all clients.

We provide a comprehensive range of legal services, including:

Alternative Dispute Resolution

Mediation, arbitration, negotiation
We have a number of qualified mediators/arbitrators available to deal with disputes in most areas of law 

Civil and Commercial Litigation 

Advice and representation in all fields including debt recovery, contract disputes, negligence, defamation, insolvency, liquor licences, leases, nuisance, trespass, companies, partnerships, neighbours, and insurance

Commercial Law

Acquisitions, structuring, and joint ventures 
Negotiation and drafting of franchise agreements
Use and protection of intellectual property  
Licensing and distributorships
Financing and securities
Franchising - advice to franchisees or franchisors
Overseas Investment Commission work
Trade practices
Viticulture and horticulture - land tenure-ownership/lease, name and brand protection, production and storage contracts, and resource management issues
Forestry – acquisitions, structuring, joint ventures, tenure – including freehold, leasehold, crown forest licences, Treaty of Waitangi and relationship with Maori interests, resource management and environmental issues 

Corporate Law

Company and partnership formation and reorganisation
Financing and securities
Amalgamation and change of corporate control
Proprietor issues – agreements, terms of issue, rights and remedies, and distributions
Dissolution of companies and partnerships
Incorporated and unincorporated societies and charitable trusts formation and constitutional issues

Criminal Law

Excess breath alcohol representation
Limited licence applications
Dog prosecutions
Traffic matters

Employment Law

Contracts
In-house training
Personal grievances
Wages
Disciplinary procedures and dismissals
Hearings
Occupational safety and health

Estates

Probate and deceased persons’ estate 
Administration
Family protection

Family Law

Mediation
Separation
Pre-nuptial and de facto property agreements
Matrimonial litigation
Property relationship agreements
Custody and access
Maintenance arrangements
Adoption and guardianship
Representation of children and young persons
Domestic violence – applications to the Family Court, setting aside orders
Family protection
Child abduction (domestic and international – Hague Convention)
Protection of personal care and property
Testamentary promises and claims

Mental Health

Compulsory orders and party representation

Property: Commercial and Rural

Sales and purchases (including wineries and orchards)
Commercial property development and subdivisions
Financing for all types of property acquisitions and developments
Commercial leases including office, industrial and retail
Easements
Fence and boundary disputes

Property: Residential

Sales and purchases – negotiation, advice and settlement
Financing and refinancing for all types of property, including in-house Lawlend residential mortgage application service
Preparation of transfer and mortgage documentation
Registration of documents
Simon Wilton currently provides a free initial interview where the matter relates to the buying or selling of a residential property

Resource Management

Acting for applicants, submitters and Councils on: resource consents, subdivisions and development control, plans enforcement, hearings and appeals, and as Commissioners for hearings

Trusts and Asset Planning/Protection

Reorganisation of assets for family and asset protection
Trust formation, structuring, operation and administration
Trading trusts  

Wills and Enduring Powers of Attorney

Preparation of wills and living wills
Preparation of powers of attorney and enduring powers of attorney

Agency – we accept agency instructions in all of the above areas of law