Anderson Lloyd partner on a career in the regions
Article published by NZ Lawyer on 10/06/2026
If a long commute conveys strong career ambition and a commitment to professionalism, then James Cowan should be in serious trouble – his commute is just four minutes.
But Cowan was recently promoted to partner in Anderson Lloyd’s employment team, capping more than eight years at the Dunedin office of the leading New Zealand law firm. He makes no secret of the fact that living in Dunedin is central to how he works, what he values and the success of the broader practice.
To be sure, Cowan has paid his dues in a larger urban setting complete with gruelling daily commute. Even at that time, he knew that one decision was going to shape everything for him: where to live. “I have always thought that people are more likely to build a fulfilling career if they choose where they want to live first and the role second,” says Cowan, who specialises in workplace law and investigations, advising employers across the full spectrum of employment issues. “I moved to Auckland after graduating from Otago because I thought it would provide the best career opportunity at the time, but I moved back to Dunedin because this is where I wanted to spend my time and live my life. I don’t regret the move one bit.”
That move home in 2018 followed six years in Auckland, first at a large commercial law firm and then at Deloitte in a specialist forensic and financial crime role. Returning to legal practice in Dunedin was a calculated reset. “I viewed moving home as an opportunity to move back to legal practice and build on my experience while also broadening my focus in terms of the work I did and the clients I worked for,” Cowan says.
“For those considering life outside Auckland, Wellington or Christchurch, it’s also worth thinking about maintaining a breadth of experience, particularly in the earlier stages of your career.”
The case for the regions
Cowan grew up in Dunedin and studied at the University of Otago, completing a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Arts majoring in philosophy, politics and economics. The city has always held a claim on him, and he is direct about what it offers lawyers weighing up where to plant themselves professionally. “Dunedin and Otago have a thriving legal community, offering excellent career opportunities alongside an enviable lifestyle for lawyers considering moving,” he says.
It’s a lifestyle point that carries real weight for Cowan personally. He and his family live in the green belt surrounding the city centre. His commute to the office is a four-minute drive. Having young sons means that getting home for dinner together matters. “My commute to the office is a four-minute drive or a 15-minute walk,” he says. “On weekends we can get away to Central Otago or the Maniototo or just explore the Otago Peninsula.”
The lifestyle argument is persuasive, but Cowan is careful not to let it carry the whole weight of the case. For those thinking about practising outside the main centres, he offers a practical note on professional strategy. “For those considering life outside Auckland, Wellington or Christchurch, it’s also worth thinking about maintaining a breadth of experience, particularly in the earlier stages of your career,” Cowan explains.
Like many lawyers who start out in the regions have found, the opportunity to jump straight into the deep end of legal experience can help kick-start growth rather than hinder it. “In the smaller centres, having a broader skill set can be valuable in meeting the needs of clients.”
No lack of complexity
If lifestyle is the draw, the work is what keeps it honest. Cowan’s employment practice covers workplace investigations, health and safety, restraint of trade, restructuring, privacy and protected disclosures, among other areas. His client base runs from individual employees and small local businesses through to some of Otago’s largest employers by headcount. “It certainly doesn’t feel like we are missing out on interesting high-quality work by working in a smaller city,” he says.
Much of Cowan’s specialist work involves some of the more sensitive terrain in employment law: allegations of fraud, bullying, harassment, conflicts of interest and corruption. He is regularly called in either to conduct investigations or to advise organisations on managing contentious matters strategically. Clients in those situations are rarely in a comfortable position. “When employers seek advice on workplace issues, they are often feeling stuck and uncertain how to move matters to a sensible conclusion,” Cowan says. “In my experience, clients most value advice that is both measured and decisive.”
He is attentive to the wider context in which any individual employment matter sits. An investigation rarely touches only the immediate parties; it ripples outward into an organisation’s culture, reputation and relationships. Getting that wider picture right is part of what Cowan sees as the discipline the work demands. “Employment issues rarely exist in isolation, and the broader commercial, relational and reputational considerations can significantly influence the right course of action,” he adds. “Workplace investigation work requires real discipline to be efficient, objective and to make useful findings, and good-quality interviewing in particular takes a lot of practice.”
“There is a real sense in Otago that you can build something genuinely world-class here.”
A team built for depth
Anderson Lloyd’s Dunedin employment team consists of seven lawyers, led by Cowan and fellow partner John Farrow. The team works closely with the Christchurch employment practice, led by AJ Lodge. Cowan is straightforward about what that depth means for clients. “Our Dunedin-based team has highly experienced lawyers and depth of expertise,” he says. “For our clients, this means they can go directly to whoever in the team they prefer to work with, and we can provide both a responsive and tailored service.”
The stability of the team is something Cowan takes evident pride in. “Many of my employment colleagues have been with the firm as long as or longer than I have, which speaks to the strength and stability,” he says. Anderson Lloyd traces its origins to the South Island, and Cowan sees that heritage as a genuine differentiator rather than simply a point of history. The firm’s culture, he argues, reflects something specific about the region it came from. “We are not flashy down here, and you would not get far in Dunedin without humility,” he says. “Our clients expect us to be direct, efficient and realistic, and to give practical rather than theoretical advice.”
Otago’s own success story
Beyond the firm itself, Cowan speaks with genuine enthusiasm about the wider Otago business environment. Dunedin is increasingly recognised for its education, technology and innovation credentials, anchored by the University of Otago. The business community, in Cowan’s view, punches above its weight. “There is a real sense in Otago that you can build something genuinely world-class here,” he says. “The region has produced a number of remarkable home-grown success stories, many of which are Anderson Lloyd clients.”
The collaborative character of the local business community is something Cowan values, along with the opportunities it creates for professional connections. Networking in Dunedin operates at a different scale than in the main centres, and he sees that as an advantage rather than a limitation. “The business community in Dunedin is collaborative, and there are good opportunities for networking and events through the local business association,” he adds. “While always remaining humble, local successes are recognised and celebrated.”
Looking ahead
Now settled into the partnership, Cowan’s focus turns to the team’s next chapter. He is clear about his priorities: continuing to deliver for existing clients and making sure Anderson Lloyd remains an attractive place for newer lawyers coming through. “I am keen to ensure Anderson Lloyd remains a great place to work, especially for newer lawyers, including that we provide varied, interesting and challenging work,” he says. “I’m also excited about what the future of the firm looks like, including with changing ways of working and technology presenting both opportunity and challenge.”
That last observation carries a particular edge for an employment lawyer. The questions that technology and changing work practices are generating for employers are multiplying, and they will need good advice to work through them. For Cowan, that is less a distant prospect and more the immediate work in front of him. “My immediate focus is on supporting the team to continue delivering excellent service to our clients,” he says.
From Otago to Auckland, back to Otago and now to the partnership: the career Cowan has built is a persuasive argument that the right place to practise law is wherever you feel most at home.
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