Founding firms include Tompkins Wake, Cooney Lees Morgan, Govett Quilliam, Saunders Robinson Brown
Lawset – a newly formed group seeking to become a premier legal association of medium-sized law firms in New Zealand – has announced its launch, effective 17 October.
The initial group of Lawset consists of seven founding firms from around the country: Tompkins Wake, Cooney Lees Morgan, Govett Quilliam, Carlile Dowling, Saunders Robinson Brown, Todd & Walker, and Gallaway Cook Allan.
Lawset represents around 800 law firm staff members. The association focuses on collaboration among its member firms with the goals of lifting the group’s overall success and maximising future opportunities.
The association hopes to have group buying power, which will potentially provide access to specially negotiated PI, banking, and library packages and which will possibly lead to cost savings in other areas such as office and software products.
Lawset’s stated values as a group focus on innovation, progression, and a commitment to excellence, according to its media release.
Lawset board
Lawset’s board is composed of the following:
- chair Jonathan Gillard, managing partner and a member of the commercial team at Saunders Robinson Brown
- Alice Tocher, a partner at Govett Quilliam focusing on property, corporate, and commercial law
- Jon Calder, chief executive officer of Tompkins Wake
- Paul Tustin, a partner handling commercial matters at Cooney Lees Morgan
“It is fantastic to have the Lawset launch official – and exciting to be establishing a high calibre, collegial group of firms with like-minded values, and most importantly a focus on innovation and progression,” Gillard said in the media release.
As chair of Lawset’s board, Gillard explained that other firms may benefit from joining because they can enhance their business processes through shared knowledge and experiences with other member firms (on systems, people and culture, professional development, and networking), as well as through benchmarking and financial benefits.
Lawset has already planned various member events for the future. For instance, the association intends to hold its first conference in Christchurch this week (18/19 October).
Those interested in Lawset can make enquiries by contacting Gillard or by visiting this link.
