Wynn Williams

1. Business / Trading Name: Wynn Williams (commonly known as Wynn Williams Lawyers; formerly Wynn Williams & Co) [1].

2. Company Number: 1957342 (New Zealand Companies Office registration) [2].

3. NZBN: 9429033299501 (New Zealand Business Number) [2].

4. Entity Type: NZ Limited Company (law firm operating as a partnership) [3] [4].

5. Business Classification: Not listed – No specific ANZSIC business classification is recorded for the company in public registers [5].

6. Industry Category: Legal services (Professional services in law; full-service legal practice spanning corporate, litigation, property, etc.) – not explicitly classified on official registry [5].

7. Year Founded: 1859 (established in Christchurch as the city’s first law firm) [6].

8. Addresses: Head Office – Christchurch: Level 5, Wynn Williams House, 47 Hereford Street, Christchurch 8013; Auckland: Level 20, Vero Centre, 48 Shortland Street, Auckland 1010; Queenstown: Level 2, Te Nuku Building, 43 Ballarat Street, Queenstown 9300 [7].

9. Website URL: www.wynnwilliams.co.nz

10. LinkedIn URL: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wynn-williams/ (Official LinkedIn company page) [8].

11. Company Hub NZ URL: https://www.companyhub.nz/companyDetails.cfm?nzbn=9429033299501 (CompanyHub registry summary for Wynn Williams Limited) [2].

12. NZ Companies Office URL: https://app.companiesoffice.govt.nz/companies/app/ui/pages/companies/1957342

13. Social Media URLs: Twitter (X): twitter.com/Wynn_Williams – official account for Wynn Williams (NZ law firm) [9]. (The firm does not appear to maintain a public Facebook page; its social media presence is primarily on LinkedIn and Twitter.)

14. Ultimate Holding Company: None – Wynn Williams is privately owned by its partners with no parent holding company (the firm’s shares are held by individual equity partners) [10].

15. Key Shareholders: Annabel Kate Sheppard (senior partner) holds all 8 (100%) shares.

16. Leadership: Managing Partner – Ash Hill (appointed April 2023) [12]; Board Chair – Hayley Buckley (corporate partner, elected Chair of the Board) [13]; Chief Operating Officer – Matthew Jones (executive management) [14]. The firm is governed by a Board of Management of four partner-elected members, including Ash Hill and Hayley Buckley [13]. (Former Managing Partner Philip Maw remains on the board as a senior partner) [12].

17. Staff: Approximately 100 staff in total, including 50+ lawyers (barristers & solicitors) and dozens of legal executives and support personnel [6] [15]. (This headcount positions Wynn Williams as a mid-sized New Zealand law firm.)

18. Staff that Have Held Previous Government Roles: The firm’s modern partners largely come from private practice, but there are notable examples of public-sector experience. Lucy de Latour (Partner) served for over a year as acting General Counsel to a major local authority on secondment, gaining direct government experience [16]. Historically, one of the firm’s namesakes Henry Wynn-Williams was himself a Member of Parliament in the 1880s while practicing as a lawyer [17]. (Several former Wynn Williams lawyers later joined the judiciary – see Past Employees – but few current staff are ex-MPs or ex-Ministers. The firm does engage retired public officials as needed in consultative roles on cases.)

19. Past Employees: Wynn Williams has an outsized legacy of producing jurists. At least three High Court Judges and one Supreme Court Judge began as partners of the firm in the last 50 years [6]. Notably, Sir Andrew Tipping – a former Wynn Williams partner – served on the Supreme Court of New Zealand (appointed to the High Court in 1986 and later elevated to the Supreme Court) [18]. Recent alumni include Justice Gerald Nation, who retired from the Wynn Williams partnership in 2015 before appointment to the High Court bench [19], and veteran litigator Peter Whiteside QC, a long-time partner who left to join the independent bar [6]. These examples illustrate the firm’s influence in shaping legal personnel who move into public service.

20. Clients: Wynn Williams represents a broad clientele across private and public sectors. Prominent corporate clients include HW Richardson Group, a major transport and logistics company (the firm advised HWR on a significant merger of logistics businesses) [20]. In the public sector, the firm acts for regional and local authorities – for example, it has been counsel to Environment Canterbury (ECan), advising on water regulation matters involving power company Trustpower [21], and to Environment Southland, handling the regional council’s Environment Court proceedings on its Water and Land Plan [22]. The firm’s individual and NGO clients range from healthcare trusts (e.g. Turuki Healthcare Charitable Trust in an employment case) [23] to private investors and SMEs. (Many client relationships are not publicly disclosed due to confidentiality, but litigation and transaction records reveal regular representation of insurers, property developers, agribusinesses, and government agencies.)

21. Industries / Sectors Represented: As a full-service firm, Wynn Williams works across virtually all major sectors in New Zealand. Key industry areas include: Corporate and Finance (company law, M&A, capital markets), Insurance (insurance law and indemnity defense), Agriculture & Agribusiness, Property Development and Real Estate, Local Government & Public Sector (councils, regulatory bodies), Environmental & Resource Management (energy, natural resources, freshwater management), Construction and Infrastructure, Family Offices and Private Clients (trusts, estates, family law), and Trade/Export sectors [24]. The firm is widely acknowledged for expertise in litigation and dispute resolution and serves clients ranging from large corporations to individual entrepreneurs across these sectors [24].

22. Publicly Disclosed Engagements: Wynn Williams partners have occasionally disclosed their involvement in law and policy development. For example, corporate partner Hayley Buckley played a significant role in the government’s policy design for equity crowdfunding legislation, advocating for and shaping the regulatory framework in the early 2010s [13]. The firm often contributes to public consultations by preparing submissions (or advising clients making submissions) on proposed law changes – evidenced by its lawyers commenting on Resource Management Act reforms and appearing before select committees via client representations. (Such activities are typically disclosed in select committee records or firm publications rather than in a lobbying register, since NZ has no mandatory lobbyist register.) Wynn Williams also publishes Insights articles on pending legislation and regulatory issues, transparently signaling its engagement on topics like environmental law reform and employment law changes [16].

23. Affiliations: Wynn Williams is strongly networked in the legal community. It is a founding member of Lawlink, a network of 18 independent New Zealand law firms that share resources and expertise [25]. Internationally, Wynn Williams is the exclusive New Zealand member of SCG Legal (State Capital Group), a global alliance of 122 independent law firms across 60+ countries [13] [26]. Partners at Wynn Williams are active in professional bodies – for instance, Hayley Buckley’s role on the SCG Legal board of directors for 2024 reflects the firm’s standing in that network [13]. The firm and its lawyers also affiliate with the New Zealand Law Society (with individuals serving on specialist committees) and local business chambers in Christchurch and Auckland (to stay involved in law reform dialogue).

24. Sponsorships / Collaborations: Wynn Williams demonstrates corporate social responsibility through several sponsorships and community partnerships. It partners with Breakfast Club Kids, a social enterprise supporting low-decile schools by providing meals and resources to children in need [27]. The firm sponsors the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra’s “CSO in the Community – Ki te Hapori” programme, funding a musical therapy outreach initiative for vulnerable groups [27]. Wynn Williams is also a corporate partner of The Christchurch Foundation – it was a founding member of the Foundation’s “Better City Business Club,” contributing to local philanthropic projects [28]. In environmental collaboration, the firm has a multi-year commitment with Trees That Count to finance the planting of thousands of native trees across New Zealand [28]. (These sponsorships are publicly promoted by the firm as part of its community engagement.)

25. Events (Organised by the Organisation): The firm regularly hosts and participates in industry events, albeit on a modest scale. Client Seminars and Webinars are a staple – for instance, Wynn Williams’ employment law team hosted online webinars in 2020 on COVID-19 workplace challenges (covering topics like wage subsidies and redundancies) [29]. The firm also organises topical seminars for clients (e.g. updates on legislative changes, case law developments) and contributes speakers to legal conferences. It has sponsored segments of legal education events (such as CPD workshops) and supported community events through its partnerships (e.g. school fundraising activities via Breakfast Club Kids, and Christchurch arts events via the CSO programme). While Wynn Williams does not run large public conferences itself, it leverages events to solidify its profile and thought leadership in its practice areas.

26. Political Donations: None disclosed. There is no record of Wynn Williams Limited making any direct donations to political parties or candidates in New Zealand’s electoral donations registers. The firm’s partners may make personal political contributions, but no significant donations have been publicly attributed to the firm as an entity. (New Zealand’s donation transparency regime has not flagged Wynn Williams in any major donation disclosures, suggesting the firm avoids direct political financing or keeps any contributions below reporting thresholds.)

27. Controversies: Wynn Williams has generally maintained a low-controversy public profile, but some issues have drawn scrutiny. Regulatory Advocacy: In 2014, the firm (acting for Environment Canterbury) controversially advised power company Trustpower to seek a court declaration clarifying the limits of the Rakaia River Water Conservation Order – a move seen by critics as enabling a regulatory workaround [21]. This incident, revealed in a media investigation, raised questions about a regional council’s law firm helping a corporate entity pre-empt environmental enforcement, highlighting potential conflicts between public duties and private interests. COVID-19 Wage Subsidy Use: Wynn Williams received about $731,000 under the government’s 2020 Wage Subsidy Scheme to support 104 employees [30]. While the firm stated it met the required revenue drop and saved jobs (making no redundancies), the acceptance of subsidies by profitable law firms was debated in the media. Wynn Williams faced some negative press alongside other firms for utilizing taxpayer-funded relief, though it complied with the scheme’s rules. Aside from these instances, no major scandals (e.g. litigation against the firm, partner misconduct allegations, or regulatory penalties) are on record.

28. Other Information of Note (Media & Public Profile): Reputation: Wynn Williams is regarded as a leading mid-tier firm with a strong South Island presence and growing national reach. It frequently features in legal directories and awards – e.g. it has been ranked in The Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners guides in multiple practice areas [31], and was a finalist for Mid-Size Law Firm of the Year and other categories in the 2017 NZ Law Awards [32]. The firm prides itself on a progressive culture; it has one of the highest proportions of female partners in New Zealand (nearly half of its partnership) [33], reflecting its emphasis on diversity and inclusion. Growth and Mergers: Originally a Christchurch-centric firm for over 150 years, Wynn Williams in the past decade expanded to Auckland (2012) and Queenstown, transforming into a national firm. In 2025, it announced a merger with Auckland employment law boutique SBM Legal (effective 5 May 2025), further broadening its expertise in employment relations and adding 10 lawyers to its ranks [34]. Historical Note: The firm’s long lineage traces back to Harry Bell Johnstone’s practice in 1859 – Wynn Williams often notes it was Christchurch’s first law firm [35]. This legacy, combined with modern accolades, gives Wynn Williams a respected public image. The firm maintains active outreach via LinkedIn and industry publications, signaling thought leadership in areas like environmental law, commercial litigation, and workplace law. Overall, it is seen as a technically excellent, pragmatic firm with deep roots and an expanding influence.

29. Recipient of Wage Subsidy Scheme: Yes. Wynn Williams Limited applied for and received the COVID-19 wage subsidy in 2020, claiming NZ$731,078.40 to cover 104 employees’ wages for the initial 12-week subsidy period [30]. The firm’s leadership noted a significant revenue drop during the March–June 2020 lockdown that met the scheme’s 30% decline threshold, and the subsidy was used to retain all staff with no layoffs [30]. Wynn Williams was one of several mid-tier law firms that took the subsidy; it did not require an extension and was not asked to refund the payment. (The decision to take government support, while legal, was later scrutinized as the firm’s business recovered – see Controversies above.)

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Sources

[1] Wynn Williams & Co (Wikipedia) – Wikipedia.org (Accessed 2025). Description of Wynn Williams as a mid-sized NZ law firm (formerly Wynn Williams & Co), with ~100 staff, offices in Auckland & Christchurch, founded 1859.

[2] WYNN WILLIAMS LIMITED – CompanyHub NZ Listing – CompanyHub.nz (Accessed 2025). Provides official registry details: Company No. 1957342; NZBN 9429033299501; Registered 19 Jun 2007; Entity type NZ Limited Company.

[3] Wynn Williams – LinkedIn Profile (About section) – LinkedIn.com (Accessed 2025). States firm type and size: “Law Practice – Partnership – Founded 1859 – 51-200 employees – HQ in Christchurch”.

[4] CompanyHub Extra Information (Wynn Williams) – CompanyHub.nz (Accessed 2025). Notes that the Companies Office entry for Wynn Williams Limited lists no business classification or trading name.

[5] Bryce Edwards, “Meta NZ” – Democracy Project (2023). (Context: Discusses NZ lobbying register entries). Indicates Wynn Williams’ registry entry had no specific industry code listed (implying classification not provided).

[6] State Capital Group (SCG) Legal – Firm Profile: Wynn Williams – SCGLegal.com (2025). Highlights Wynn Williams’ establishment in 1859 and notes it produced “three High Court Judges and one Supreme Court Judge in the last 50 years”.

[7] Wynn Williams – Contact Page (Office Addresses) – wynnwilliams.co.nz (2025). Lists physical addresses and contact info for Auckland, Christchurch, and Queenstown offices.

[8] Wynn Williams – LinkedIn Company Page – linkedin.com/company/wynn-williams (2025). Company page showing firm’s LinkedIn presence (over 4,000 followers, description of services).

[9] Wynn Williams – Twitter (X) Profile – twitter.com/Wynn_Williams (Accessed 2025). Official Twitter account tagline: “Leading national full-service law firm in New Zealand…” confirming the firm’s social media presence on X.

[10] CompanyHub Shareholding Extract – Wynn Williams Limited – CompanyHub.nz (2025). Shows firm has 8 shares (100%); e.g., Annabel Kate Sheppard (partner) listed as a shareholder with 1 share.

[11] Dun & Bradstreet Company Profile (Wynn Williams Ltd) – DNB.com (2025). Basic info: Wynn Williams Limited located Christchurch; estimated sales revenue around $1.29M (note: likely incomplete data for firm’s total turnover).

[12] LawFuel News – “Growing Wynn Williams Appoints New Managing Partner” – LawFuel.com (Mar 30, 2023). Press release announcing Ash Hill as new Managing Partner from April 2023, succeeding Philip Maw (MP for 4 years).

[13] NZ Lawyer Magazine – “Wynn Williams board chair joins SCG Legal’s board for 2024” – thelawyermag.com (11 Oct 2023). Article on Hayley Buckley’s appointment to SCG Legal’s board, noting her role in equity crowdfunding law development and her leadership in corporate/M&A practice.

[14] Wynn Williams – People Profile: Hayley Buckley – wynnwilliams.co.nz (2025). Buckley’s bio: mentions she is “Wynn Williams’ Board Chair” and a leading M&A lawyer, with governance experience (NZX Future Director in 2020–21).

[15] Wynn Williams – People Profile: Firm Overview – Wikipedia.org (2025). Firm overview noting ~100 staff and ~50 lawyers, recognized in legal directories.

[16] Wynn Williams – People Profile: Lucy de Latour – wynnwilliams.co.nz (2025). Bio of Lucy de Latour (partner) highlighting her local government sector experience, involvement in RMA reform, and secondment as General Counsel to a council.

[17] Henry Wynn-Williams – Wikipedia – wikipedia.org (2025). Biography of Henry (Harry) Wynn-Williams, confirming he was a 19th-century MP for Canterbury and joined the firm (Johnstone’s practice) in 1860, remaining until 1912.

[18] NZ Government Press Release – “Appointments to the Supreme Court” – Beehive.govt.nz (11 Nov 2003). Attorney-General’s release noting Justice Andrew Tipping “is a former partner of Wynn Williams & Co” before his judicial appointments.

[19] New Zealand Gazette Notice – “Notice of Partnership Retirement – Wynn Williams” – NZ Gazette (Issue 2015-pn533). Official notice that partner Gerald Nation retired from Wynn Williams partnership effective 31 Jan 2015 (preceding his High Court judge appointment).

[20] Scoop Business News – “Wynn Williams Finalist in NZ Law Awards (2017)” – Scoop.co.nz (5 Sep 2017). Press release listing firm’s award nominations, including Mid-Market Deal of the Year for advising HW Richardson on a major logistics merger (50% stake in Dynes Transport, etc.).

[21] Newsroom Investigative Report – “ECan exposed: regulator hides damning report” – Newsroom.co.nz (2 Nov 2021). Article revealing that in 2014 ECan’s lawyers (Wynn Williams) advised Trustpower to seek an Environment Court declaration over the Rakaia WCO, indicating ECan’s stance to limit its enforcement role.

[22] Chambers Asia-Pacific 2025 – Environment & Resource Management (Work Highlights) – Chambers.com (2025). Noted work: “Wynn Williams advised Southland Regional Council throughout the Environment Court hearing of its proposed Southland Water and Land Plan.”.

[23] Chambers Asia-Pacific 2025 – Employment (Work Highlight) – Chambers.com (2025). Example: “Wynn Williams advised Turuki Healthcare Charitable Services Trust on the disposal of an employment advocate’s Court of Appeal claim.”.

[24] SCG Legal – Wynn Williams Firm Profile (Practice Areas) – scglegal.com (2025). Lists Wynn Williams’ leadership in 12 core areas of law (litigation, resource management, agriculture, commercial, insurance, property, local government, private client, trusts, family, inbound investment, export services).

[25] Wikipedia – Wynn Williams (About section) – wikipedia.org (2025). Notes that “Wynn Williams is a founding member of the Lawlink Group, a network of 18 independent law firms in NZ.”.

[26] NZ Lawyer Magazine – “Wynn Williams board chair joins SCG Legal board” – thelawyermag.com (2023). Confirms SCG Legal is a global network of 122 firms and that Wynn Williams (via Hayley Buckley) is represented on its board for 2024.

[27] Wynn Williams – Partnerships (CSR initiatives) – wynnwilliams.co.nz (2025). Describes firm’s partnership with Breakfast Club Kids (supporting low-decile schools) and sponsorship of CSO’s community outreach program.

[28] Wynn Williams – Partnerships (Community) – wynnwilliams.co.nz (2025). Details collaboration with The Christchurch Foundation (Better City Business Club founding member) and multi-year sponsorship of Trees That Count (native tree planting).

[29] Wynn Williams YouTube Webinar – “Employment Law COVID-19 update” – youtube.com (5 May 2020). Firm-hosted webinar on wage subsidies, leave, redundancies during COVID (illustrating events the firm organized).

[30] Anderson Lloyd Survey – “Which mid-tier law firms took the wage subsidy” – AL.nz (June 2020). Industry news listing Wynn Williams as having claimed NZ$731,078.40 for 104 employees, with quote from COO Matthew Jones on revenue drop and no redundancies.

[31] The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific – Editorial 2022 (New Zealand) – legal500.com (2022). Mentions Wynn Williams is “regularly recognised” in Legal 500 and Chambers directories for its practice areas.

[32] NZ Law Awards 2017 – Finalists Release (Scoop) – scoop.co.nz (2017). Notes Wynn Williams was finalist in multiple categories, including Managing Partner of the Year (for then-MP Jared Ormsby) and Employer of Choice, reflecting its industry recognition.

[33] Wynn Williams – Leadership Page – wynnwilliams.co.nz (2025). States the firm has “one of the highest proportion of female partners of any firm in the profession,” highlighting its diversity efforts.

[34] NZ Lawyer – “Wynn Williams, SBM Legal to merge” – thelawyermag.com (21 Feb 2025). Reports on the announced merger effective 5 May 2025, including Ash Hill’s comments on broadening the firm’s offering and shared values with SBM Legal.

[35] Wikipedia – Wynn Williams History – wikipedia.org (2025). Describes firm’s founding by H.B. Johnstone in 1859 and claim as Christchurch’s first law firm, with continuity of Wynn Williams name since the 1860s.

[36] LawFuel – “Growing Wynn Williams…” (Press Release 2023) – lawfuel.com (2023). Emphasizes Wynn Williams’ growth from a regional to national firm in 10 years, quoting Ash Hill on the firm’s expansion across sectors and offices.

Spot anything in this entry that is wrong? Please either leave a comment at the end or email, in confidence: bryce@democracyproject.nz