Tauranga-based full service firm, Holland Beckett, has announced its second acquisition since November
Tauranga-based firm Holland Beckett has announced its acquisition of McKechnie Quirke & Lewis, effective from 1 February 2014. This is in addition to Holland Beckett's acquisition of Olphert & Associates at the end of 2013.
McKechnie Quirke & Lewis is a four-partner commercial practice based in Rotorua, with additional branches in Whakatane and Opotiki. The staff from Olphert & Associates will be moving into the current McKechnie Quirke & Lewis premises once the purchase has been completed and the Rotorua office will be involved with commercial, property, family and litigation matters.
"When we moved into our new Tauranga premises in October 2008 we had 16 lawyers,” said Holland Beckett Partner, Simon Collett.
“After the McKechnie Quirke & Lewis purchase we will have 38 lawyers and 77 staff in total. Our strategic objective in this is quite simple – we need to continue to grow. Our view is that the days of the medium-sized law firm may be numbered.”
To survive, he believes, a law firm may either have to be very small and specialised or large and full service.
“A large firm is able to do things more efficiently. It has the mass to ensure that overheads, systems, resources and training are optimised. In recent years our growth has enabled us to attract talented staff and we continue to receive enquiries from exceptional candidates…I must admit that the concept of becoming the first true Bay of Plenty-wide law firm is also attractive."
Holland Beckett's Practice Manager, Sharline Fitzgerald, said that transferring McKechnie Quirke & Lewis's systems and information over will be a complex task.
"…But we will manage the transition and deal quickly with any challenges as they arise. We have great staff at all of our offices and everyone understands that it is a process."
Holland Beckett is a mid-tier firm whose notable clients include the Port of Tauranga, Tauranga City Council, the Pukeroa Oruawhata Trust, Trust Power and the Bay of Plenty District Health Board.
