Harkness Henry, one of the Waikato’s oldest and most respected law firms, and Malloy Goodwin Harford, a trusted provider of specialist legal services based in Newmarket, Auckland, have announced a merger, creating a stronger, more connected legal practice across the North Island.
The combined firm, which will practice under the name Harkness Henry, will welcome two new partners - Marise Allan and Patrick Casey.
The merger brings together two firms that are strongly aligned in their values of delivering legal excellence and have, independently, built reputations on the deeply held conviction that good people are what make a law firm thrive.
Sarah Rawcliffe, Managing Partner of Harkness Henry, says the merger reflects what both firms believe make legal practice.
“Good people are what make a law firm thrive, irrespective of geographic location or size. In a merged firm values must also be aligned. MGH operates the same way in Auckland that Harkness Henry operates in the Waikato: close client relationships, specialist advice, and personal legal service. This merger is fundamentally about creating better lives for our people, and better outcomes for our clients.”
Marise Allan, Partner of Malloy Goodwin Harford, says the merger with Harkness Henry consolidates and enhances the joint practices of the merged firm for the future.
“Malloy Goodwin Harford has been in business for nearly 35 years building a legacy started and grown by its founders and continued by the next generation. Merging with Harkness Henry that has just celebrated 150 years of legal practice, consolidates and enhances the legal offering we can provide to all our clients for the future.”
The merged firm’s 10-partner team, led by familiar faces on both sides, will bring together over 60 staff across five offices in Auckland, Hamilton, Cambridge, Paeroa and Matamata.
Rawcliffe says the merger offers the benefit of an expanded suite of legal expertise to all clients.
“The complementary nature of our two firms’ legal expertise was a driving factor in the decision to merge. We are now able to offer our clients a more complete service without compromising the personal, specialist approach that defines us both.”
Marise Allan and Patrick Casey, partners of Malloy Goodwin Harford, will join as partners of Harkness Henry. David Ruck and David Moorman will become Consultants for Harkness Henry and both Sarah Paterson and Sarah McLaren will continue as Senior Associates. All other MGH staff will continue working in the merged firm.
.png)
