Wynn Williams

Wynn Williams has a legacy of successful dispute resolution, achieving the very best outcomes for our clients. Our recipe is simple - clear advice, innovative strategies and commercial insight. We approach any professional relationship with integrity and a sense of responsibility. Dispute resolution can often be a challenging and complex process, and we always navigate our clients' disputes through the right pathway, whether that's the courts, arbitration, mediation, or negotiation. Wynn Williams is recommended as a leading firm for Litigation & Dispute Resolution by The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2022, Chambers Asia-Pacific 2022 and Chambers Global 2022 legal directories.

Wynn Williams works with every type and size of business that makes up the fabric of New Zealand's economy. We well understand the nuanced requirements of SMEs compared to that of corporates, and the different requirements again of organisations operating in the not-for-profit space. We also understand that the needs of a business turning profit are very different to that of a start-up or a business looking to exit.

We advise our clients at a governance level around business structure and directors' obligations, and support at an operational level helping to resolve day-to-day issues impacting almost every aspect of their business - from contractual matters and financing, to gaining brand protection and enforcing intellectual property rights, to employment compliance, health and safety compliance and more. Our advice is pragmatic and it's timely, but equally importantly we take the time to understand how our clients wish to receive our advice and the level of detail required.

While our team of commercial lawyers are experienced across the spectrum of business matters, wherever it adds value, we draw on specialised teams within Wynn Williams to provide clients with wrap-around advice. Whether you're a CEO or a sole-trader, our goal is simple - to work with you to find the best solutions to your challenges and to maximise your opportunities.

We have forged an international reputation for our expertise in the insurance sector amongst insurers and their policyholders. Our team is recognised as leaders in dispute resolution - sought after for our knowledge of technical aspects of policy coverage as well as the rigour of our liability defence. We are also engaged for our advisory and corporate legal services. The Wynn Williams insurance team consistently receives glowing recommendations from the likes of the Asia Pacific Legal 500, Chambers and Partners, and individuals within the team are consistently listed in NZ Lawyers rankings.

Wynn Williams is a leading firm in employment law. Our sizeable team is renowned for its ability to guide clients through the employment process in an ever-changing legislative and social landscape. We are trusted to manage highly sensitive matters for a range of public and private sector clients, and have a proven track record of resolving matters discretely and effectively. We are known for our strong advocacy skills, be that in mediation, arbitration or litigation, and for our ability to balance commercial priorities with the human ramifications of a given course of action. Mitigating risk is always a concern in employment matters and our team is well experienced in advising on strategies to ensure decision making is 'de-risked' and that organisational and professional reputations remain intact.

We regularly represent clients before the Employment Relations Authority and the Employment Court and beyond. Given the extent of our expertise, we are frequently invited to speak at conferences and seminars on employment matters.

Wynn Williams has been advising clients in legal aspects of their personal lives since day one. We are known for our strategic and prudent advice in helping clients future proof the things that are important to them. Our team is highly experienced in advising clients who are going through challenging situations in their relationships and assisting them to achieve their objectives through negotiation, mediation and, if necessary, litigation. We can also provide expert advice and assistance on a broad range of family law matters, including the care of children and family violence. Whether you are entering into a new relationship or your relationship has broken down, we always work towards a successful outcome for our clients - discretely and sensitively wherever possible.

Wynn Williams supports clients to make an indelible mark on the global marketplace as they enter new markets, scale wholesale, distribution and service networks, or go about building and protecting their brands. We represent much-loved household names, global brands, manufacturers, franchisors, online businesses, consumer services and retail networks. We are respected for our intuitive understanding of the nuances of consumer markets. The team draws on expertise from across the breadth of practice areas within the firm to support our clients on a day-to-day basis in their business operations. This helps in delivering milestone projects and realising long term strategic business goals, sometimes necessitating capital raising or acquiring competitors. We also work closely with in-house legal teams to deliver a seamless product or form part of a project team.

When it comes to avoiding or resolving disputes, our strong advocacy skills and intricate understanding of consumer laws (Fair Trading Act, Consumer Guarantees Act & Privacy Act), as well as intellectual property, trademarks and brands, delivers optimum outcomes for our clients. When getting marketing campaigns across the line without undermining market position or stifling creative genius, we're appreciated for our creative flare and collaborative approach to considering advertising standards and codes.

Wynn Williams' renowned property team is made up of experienced lawyers specialising in commercial, industrial and mixed land use and residential and rural property matters. We have a range of clients, including domestic and international companies, listed entities, public and private bodies, intergenerational landowners, entrepreneurs and everyday New Zealanders.

We specialise in both commercial and residential property, so whatever your needs, we can put together an expert team for your individual situation. Find out about our specific services in one of the sections below.