All services
Business
Property
Employment
Dispute Resolution
Relationships
Environmental and planning law
Trusts, estates and Wills
Governance and formation
Business structuring, corporate governance, directors’ duties, shareholder agreements, joint ventures, partnerships
Succession planning
Succession plans, employee share purchase schemes
Corporate transactions
Business sales, business purchases, mergers & acquisitions, franchising
Capital raising
Capital (debt or equity) raising for a business.
Commercial agreements
Distribution and agency agreements, terms of trade
We provide reliable, practical, and accurate legal advice so you can confidently base your most important decisions on sound guidance.
Commercial property
Assisting developers, commercial landlords and private owners with subdivisions, leasing, sales and purchases.
Residential property
Whether you’re buying, selling or building, our team will work alongside you to get you where you need to be.
Subdivision and developments
Working with private landowners and development companies on consent requirements, title issues and on-sale.
Construction
Legal advice for contractors, developers, design professionals and private owners for all aspects of construction.
Rural property
Serving farmers, agribusiness owners and rural developers on everything from leasing, succession planning and land acquisitions.
Whether you’re buying, selling, leasing, developing, farming, or building, our residential and commercial property lawyers are here to help with all your property needs across New Zealand.
Employee management
Disciplinary meetings, investigations, performance management, serious misconduct, termination, warnings, medical incapacity, enforcement of restraints, pay issues
Employment documentation
Partnership, work and residence visas, dependent child visa, visitor visa, citizenship, family violence visa.
Restructure and redundancy
Restructure proposals, redeployment, redundancy compensation, obligations arising from business sales, purchases, liquidations or receiverships
Employment claims
Mediation, negotiation, settlements, breach of contract, good faith, penalties, compensation, Employment Relations Authority, employment court
Privacy and human rights
Information privacy requests, personal information, privacy and human rights, privacy breach, complaints, discrimination
Regulatory Investigations
Health and safety, WorkSafe, labour inspectorate, professional body complaints
In New Zealand, employment law presents a complex array of obligations. We guide employers and employees through these challenges with proactive and practical advice.
Commercial
Contractual disputes, restraints of trade, intellectual property, Shareholder disputes, company law, partnership and joint venture, Fair Trading Act advice, Sports law.
Debt recovery and insolvency
Acting for receivers and liquidators, PPSR disputes, mortgagee sales, rating sales and pursuing debt recovery including statutory demands and court proceedings for liquidations and bankruptcy.
Contract disputes on sales and purchases, lease and rental arrears, abandoned land applications, rating sales, mortgagee sales, charging orders and caveats.
Trusts & estates disputes
Representation for family protections claims, Will and Estate Disputes, testamentary promise claims, Estate and Asset protection, Invalid or informal Wills, estate resolution and settlement, probate application.
Defective workmanship claims, all aspects of the Construction Contracts Act 2022 including adjudication, arbitration and court proceedings arising from construction disputes, leaky building and Weathertight Homes Resolution Service claims.
Insurance
Disputed claims, professional indemnity and negligence actions, policy interpretation and drafting, analysis and advice on recent decisions or legislative changes, declinature advice.
We can assist you in finding a resolution, no matter your dispute. Our team is here to provide clear guidance and legal support throughout the process.
Contracting out Agreements
Negotiating, drafting, and providing independent advice on contracting out agreements
Separation
Negotiating and implementing division of relationship property including complex trust and company structures
Children
Care and contact arrangements, guardianship disputes
Protection orders
Applying for and defending protection orders including occupation and furniture orders
Claim against estates
Family protection act claims, testamentary promise claims and disputes relating to the validity of Wills
Welfare guardians and property managers
Applying for orders under the Protection for Personal and Property Right Act 1988 including property manager, welfare guardians and disputes relating to enduring powers of attorney
Whether it’s a contracting-out agreement, relationship property division, marriage dissolution, childcare arrangements, protection orders, or estate claims, our experienced relationship lawyers are here to ease the process and help you achieve the best possible outcome.
Resource Consents
Permit applications, discharge permits, water take permits, certificates of compliance, existing use certificates, advice on notification, submissions, negotiation, mediation, environment and higher court appeals.
Planning processes
Policy analysis, plan changes and reviews, drafting advice, submissions and further submission preparation, representation at hearings, environment and higher court appeals.
Enforcement actions and responses
Advice on enforcement options, preparation of abatement notices, enforcement orders and prosecutions, defending against enforcement action.
Local government processes
Bylaw preparation and reviews, LIM reviews, due diligence investigations, land acquisition and compensation, road stopping procedures, information requests and responses, annual and long-term processes.
We provide tailored guidance on all aspects of resource management, including enforcement actions, offering support to projects of all sizes. No job is too big or too small.
Trusts
Set up and manage trusts to protect and distribute your assets.
Estate administration
Distribute a deceased person’s assets according to their Will or intestacy laws.
Estate planning and elder law
Protect your assets and ensure they go where you intend.
Powers of attorney
Appoint someone you trust to make decisions on your behalf.
Wills
Create a Will to outline how your assets are distributed.
Asset planning
Protect and preserve family wealth from risks
We are one of the South Island’s largest trusts, estates and Wills teams. This means we’re experienced in handling the most complex situations and guiding you every step of the way.
News and opinions
Case studies
Downloads
Amanda provides secretarial support to our busy trusts & estates team. As a motivated self-starter with a can-do attitude and strong attention to detail, Amanda makes it her mission to ensure Cavell Leitch clients have a seamless experience.
Areas of expertise