Hamilton Locke to enter New Zealand in late January

One of Australia’s fastest-growing law firms Hamilton Locke is set to enter New Zealand market with an Auckland office in late January.

Hamilton Locke New Zealand is a full-service corporate and commercial law firm that will continue to advise on both New Zealand and cross-border transactions as it works collaboratively with Hamilton Locke in Australia. Eleven lawyers and six directors will make up the Auckland team.

This marks Hamilton Locke’s first international expansion for its holding company HPX Group.

Throughout this venture, Hamilton Locke New Zealand will also be accompanied with the partners and lawyers of boutique commercial law firm Anderson Creagh Lai (ACL). The ACL team has been operating in Auckland since 2006.

According to Nick Humphrey, managing partner of Hamilton Locke, the ACL team will have access to the resources of the Australia firm.

“The launch of the Hamilton Locke brand in New Zealand with our like-minded colleagues from ACL is a tremendously exciting step in our growth journey, allowing us to offer services to our clients across New Zealand under the Hamilton Locke umbrella and expanding on our existing offering in Australia,” Humphrey said. “The ACL team is strategically and culturally aligned with our business, in particular the focus on collaboration, and transforming the approach to providing legal services that break the mould of traditional law firms.”

Commenting on the partnership, ACL founding directors Phil Creagh and Jeffrey Lai said: “We pride ourselves on delivering practical, commercial advice and providing a different experience to the old ways of lawyering.  This neatly aligns with Hamilton Locke and its focus on evolving the legal sector, and we are thrilled to join together and support its commitment to creating a vibrant culture where our people can continue to grow.”