Anderson Lloyd Wins National Law Award for Second Year in a Row
Media Release – 20 November 2015
Anderson Lloyd has won mid-size law firm for the second year in a row at the annual New Zealand Law Awards as the firm continues to expand in Auckland.
The breadth of knowledge at Anderson Lloyd and the firm’s culture were recognised at the prestigious legal industry event, held this week in the City of Sails with more than 500 from the sector in attendance.
Anderson Lloyd chairman Frazer Barton says the win is a significant achievement and establishes a benchmark in terms of the firm’s standing amongst its peers.
Originating from Dunedin in 1862, Anderson Lloyd has in recent years established a nationwide platform to support double digit growth in annual revenues.
The firm has about 70 staff in Dunedin, 30 in Christchurch, 20 in Queenstown and a dozen in Auckland.
Barton says the still growing Auckland team provides expertise in banking and finance, corporate work including mergers & acquisitions, and the increasing volume of public private partnerships needed as major infrastructure work proceeds in the city.
The ability to offer high end commercial work through the Auckland office has been backed by a specialist team. Anderson Lloyd opened the branch last year with three partners and six staff joining from Russell McVeagh. The firm has since secured new premises in the Britomart precinct that will open in 2016.
Barton says one of the draws of Auckland is its growing status as the decision-making capital of the country.
“The firm has consistently demonstrated the ability to win new work across New Zealand, and in the South Island has a strong presence with agribusiness in rural areas, and retail in the cities as well as supporting local authorities and corporates across all areas.”
It has new premises on the third floor of Anderson Lloyd House in Gloucester St, Christchurch from where it is helping support the Christchurch rebuild.
Barton says the second national win in a row in the mid-size firm category will help with the stream of sources of referrals, some of which come from other firms having to pass on work because of conflicts of interest.
“The win shows we have a degree of dominance. Getting the award two years in a row shows we’re hitting our target and are recognised throughout the profession as a leader in that part of the market,” Barton says.
“In Auckland our name wasn’t very well known before but now we’re here with boots on. Also the advantage we have is being connected in the sense we have skills spread right through the country, and we can call on all those skills at any point in time.”
The award is also recognition that Anderson Lloyd has “got things right” with its strategy of staying a lean organisation but on the front foot with clients within a competitive legal sector.
“A key part of our strategy has been to stay lean and efficient and very much a mid-sized firm,” Barton says.
“That’s because we’re keenly aware of the benefits that offers clients. By engaging with Anderson Lloyd clients get to enjoy the direct, personal feel you get from dealing with a boutique firm – but because we’re national, in our specialist areas in particular, our clients get access to a very deep pool of expertise.”
Anderson Lloyd now has more of its 21 partners working from outside Dunedin than within its traditional home, Barton says.
The firm has also achieved international recognition, winning three awards at the Australasian Women in Business Law Awards 2014, and earlier this month was recommended in seven practice areas in the 2015 Asia Pacific Legal 500 independent guide.
Some of its larger recent client work involve public private partnerships including a $298 million schools building programme, and acting to support consents for a Lake Wakatipu marina plus Thames, Coromandel and Ngai Tahu Property residential subdivisions.
Anderson Lloyd takes on many corporate social responsibility roles including a significant amount of pro bono work.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Frazer Barton, at Anderson Lloyd, 027 222 4117 or (03) 467 7161.
All other media queries to: Alan Wood, Convergence Communications & Marketing, 027 225 0268.
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