Chapman Tripp was first established in 1875 by Martin Chapman, as a one-man practice in Wellington. He was joined in partnership by William Fitzgerald in 1882 and then by Leonard Owen Howard Tripp in 1889, who spent a record 69 years with the firm. In 1962 we became the first law firm in New Zealand to have offices in both Auckland and Wellington, and in late 1997 we opened our Christchurch office. Our vision is to be Aotearoa New Zealand’s leading law firm, trusted and valued by our clients, people and community.
We relish our position and reputation as an innovative and leading law firm. In a market crowded by legal tradition, we choose to look to the future. We embrace technology and see it as a tool to better serve our clients, and we are constantly pushing the boundaries of legal know-how. We are not content to stand still. We never stop learning and improving.
Our team across three offices comprises over 135 business services staff, 57 partners, and a legal staff over 200. Not only do we work with our clients to help them succeed, but we are at the forefront of regulatory change, using our knowledge and expertise to shape a better future for all New Zealand.
With a diverse range of perspectives at the leading edge of legal practice, we support our clients to succeed across the full spectrum of industry, commerce and government.