Russell McVeagh

Russell McVeagh is a leading New Zealand commercial law firm, known as the go-to team for tackling complex legal problems. With more than 350 people across its Auckland, Wellington, and Te Waipounamu South Island offices, including a Queenstown office that opened in April 2025, the firm combines national reach with deep local knowledge and offers a collaborative, one-firm approach. As a full-service firm, its practice groups support clients across corporate advisory, banking and finance, litigation and disputes, real estate and construction, tax, public law and environmental law matters. The firm has been independently recognised as New Zealand Law Firm of the Year, and was named New Zealand Law Firm of the Year at the Chambers Asia-Pacific and Greater China Region Awards 2026.

In 2023, Russell McVeagh celebrated its 160th anniversary as one of Aotearoa's oldest and established law practices. The firm began in 1863 as a one-man practice established by John Benjamin Russell. He was joined by various partners over the years, including Robert McVeagh in 1904, and the firm has held the 'Russell' and 'McVeagh' names ever since. From these beginnings, Russell McVeagh has grown to become a leading, large national firm with offices in Auckland and Wellington. Over the years, the firm has assisted clients with some of the most influential cases and projects in New Zealand's history, from the growth of the Auckland Harbour port in the late 1800s, shipping rights in the early 1900s, the seminal Waitangi Tribunal Lands case in 1987, to the creation and evolution of New Zealand's largest company, Fonterra. More than 160 years on, the firm's tradition of providing outstanding legal advice to clients has continued from its foundation up to the present day.

A leading New Zealand commercial law firm, known as the go-to team for tackling complex legal problems, offering a collaborative, one-firm approach.

• Corporate Advisory

  The Corporate Advisory group is widely recognised as market-leading in New Zealand and the 'go-to' for complex corporate advisory and commercial work, offering services including Mergers and Acquisitions, Equity Capital Markets, Initial Public Offerings (IPOs), Private Equity, Commercial contracts, Joint Ventures and other commercial arrangements, Investment in New Zealand by overseas entities, Compliance and corporate governance, Insolvency and debt restructuring, Funds management, Competition and Antitrust, Technology, and Outsourcing.

1. 1Homepage - Russell McVeaghrussellmcveagh.com
2. 2Our History - Russell McVeaghrussellmcveagh.com
3. 3Who we are - Russell McVeaghrussellmcveagh.com
4. 4Corporate Advisory - Russell McVeaghrussellmcveagh.com