"It's great to be part of something that's bigger than me, and that also helps the community"
Tauranga-based law firm Sharp Tudhope Lawyers has announced the promotion of James Hakaria to partner.
Hakaria joined Sharp Tudhope’s civil litigation team in August 2015, and has advised on a large number of building and construction matters. He also handles trusts and estates disputes, employment and insolvency work.
Known for his practical and pragmatic outlook, Hakaria is also a mentor to graduates joining Sharp Tudhope’s litigation team, which he describes as one of the most rewarding aspects of his role.
“It’s been really satisfying because you can actually watch those graduates grow into the roles above them, take on more work, and then start being mentors themselves,” Hakaria tells NZ Lawyer.
“That’s one of the parts of being in the office that I really enjoy, helping to foster and improve the people we have.”
Hakaria has handled a number of significant matters in the Tauranga and Bay of Plenty area over the past twelve months, and regularly receives positive feedback from clients. Looking forward to 2024, Hakaria says that access to justice is going to be a significant talking point for the legal community – particularly as the courts continue to navigate their post-COVID backlog of cases.
“Court delays also need to improve,” he explains.
“Right now, you can file a claim and it can take a good 2-3 years before you get in front of a judge. That’s just far too long for some people, and it’s frustrating, anxiety-inducing and costly. That’s become more of an issue post-COVID, matters just aren’t getting resolved as quickly as they should be.”
However, he says that business confidence is increasing in the Bay of Plenty region, and we’re likely to see more commercial and construction work as we move into the new year.
For Sharp Tudhope, the new year will bring fresh opportunities to serve the community and foster growth in the region. One of Tauranga’s oldest businesses, Sharp Tudhope has been part of the town’s business landscape for a long period of time, and Hakaria says the constant innovation and growth has been “really positive” to see.
“It’ll be interesting to see what happens in the first six months of next year, and we’re hoping for some positive movement and prosperity in the marketplace,” Hakaria says.
“Sharp Tudhope has been in the game for 127 years, and we’re very proud of that. But we’re always looking forward to consider what the next 10-20 years is going to look like.”
“I’m very proud of being involved in the growth process, helping current and future clients and being part of the community,” he concludes.
“When you see the firm growing year on year with new graduates coming through, and when you see business and construction around the town growing – that’s really positive. It’s great to be part of something that’s bigger than me, and that also helps the community. With a young family myself, I want both the firm and Tauranga to be places where people can grow and thrive.”
Find out more about James Hakaria and Sharp Tudhope here.
