Areas that Wakefields Lawyers can help you with
Employment Law
If you’re an employer, you will know that creating a great place to work is like a puzzle with a thousand pieces. Every workplace has its own puzzle and its own pieces – what works for one, does not work for all. We can help make your particular puzzle a bit simpler by ensuring you have employment agreements and policies in place that are tailored to your business and the people who work in it.
Hiring Staff
We believe there is no substitute for employment agreements tailor made for your business with your particular industry, operating environment and employees in mind. It’s what we do and we are here to help you.
Corporate & Commercial Law
We specialise in providing a full suite of legal services to small and medium size businesses. Our areas of expertise include capital and debt financing, business sale and purchases, franchises, company restructures and shareholder agreements.
Business Sales
& Purchases
We specialise in providing a full suite of legal services to small and medium size businesses. Our areas of expertise include capital and debt financing, business sale and purchases, franchises, company restructures and shareholder agreements.
Corporate
Finance
This is where increasing the value of your business happens, as well as raising operating capital and improving financial returns to shareholders. Working quickly and effectively, Wakefields Lawyers will offer you a wide range on how to grow your business financially.
Joint Ventures & Co-ownership Agreements
If you are setting up a business with another person, whether they are a family member or ‘unrelated’, it is strongly advised that you consider entering into a Shareholders Agreement, Partnership Agreement or Joint Venture Agreement (‘Co-Ownership Agreements’).
Commercial
(contracts, policies & terms)
Our Commercial Team are highly experienced in providing practical advice on all types of commercial contracts and corporate governance. Our expert team of commercial lawyers can help you establish terms of trade specifically written to protect your business.
Privacy
Once we understand your business and why and how you collect, store and use personal information, we can tailor a privacy approach specific to your needs. We aim to make the complex simple so it is easy for you and your staff to comply with the law.
Corporate
Restructuring
If you think your business may be struggling, the first step is to seek professional advice. This is where Wakefields Lawyers steps in. When the daunting moment of financial difficulties appears, it is important that a business considers all options available in order to cope.
Technology &
IP
Our Wakefields Lawyers Commercial team can assist you in the protection of your brand and logo. We register trade marks in New Zealand and Australia and where registration is not possible we can advise on alternative options for protection.
Startup
Services
Starting a new business and growing it, whether in the technology space or otherwise, presents a wealth of issues and requires many decisions to be made. We have developed our ebook, Guide to Startups to help you navigate those issues and come to well reasoned and pragmatic solutions.
Property Law
We specialise in both residential and commercial property investment and development. We have extensive knowledge and experience in both residential and commercial conveyancing, small and large scale subdivisions, commercial leasing and building contracts.
Residential Conveyancing
It’s exciting finding the property you’ve been looking for or even to sell one. However, the property purchase requirements and conditions can be quite daunting, which dims a bit of the fun. Wakefields Lawyers ensures whether you’re purchasing or selling, the process is smooth, exciting, and beneficial to you.
Commercial Conveyancing
Leasing a commercial property is often the largest fixed cost for their business. It is a complex process, and it is important it’s done right to protect against unforeseen costs. Wakefields Lawyers ensures that the leasing arrangements are fair and consistent to attract the highest calibre tenants.
Property Guide
The Wakefields Lawyers Property Team have seen it all before and can help you with anything property, such as guidance on your best offer; applying for your KiwiSaver funds; how to choose a real estate agent; and even what to do when a potential purchaser makes an offer with unusual conditions.
Subdivision &
Land Developments
For any planned or potential subdivision of a property, whether for a personal or commercial project, you will need to involve a lawyer. At Wakefields Lawyers, we are property law experts and can help seamlessly guide you through the process. We help to ensure the project meets all council requirements so you can enjoy the new property!
Trusts & Succession
You’re always prepared for the expected, but what about the unexpected? While none of us can predict the future, our Trusts & Succession team can help you be ready for the unforeseen (and often unfortunate) events that occur throughout your life.
Trust Establishment
Trusts are extremely popular tools for protecting your assets both during your lifetime and after. It is estimated that one in every ten people in New Zealand has a trust and we believe every Kiwi family should consider one.
Trusts
Administration
A tailored trust can be a useful structure to help protect assets long term and enables the organised and tailored distribution to specific beneficiaries.
Wills
Wakefields Lawyers helps you plan out your desired plan of action with advice and looking over when writing your wills.
Powers of Attorney
Wakefields Lawyers assists you in your Powers of Attorney and helps you act in a way that is beneficial to you only.
Family Law
When your family has legal issues, it’s important that you have sound legal advice. Whether it relates to your children, partner, a relationship break-up, and/or custody issues, our Family Law team has years of experience representing clients in such matters.
Legal Aid & FLAS
The Wakefields Lawyers family team are very experienced in the FLAS process. They can advise you on whether it is applicable in your circumstances and, if so, provide the initial legal advice and recommendations for FLAS providers.
Adoption
The Wakefields Lawyers family team can assist you with all aspects of adoption law in New Zealand providing sound and pragmatic advice at competitive pricing.
Caring of Children
Often the children are caught in the middle, which is both confusing and distressing. We can help you to understand the best options and the support that is available through the Family Court.
Family Violence
Victims of such abuse can find it very difficult to come forward and speak to a lawyer. Our Family Law team is here to support you and provides a welcoming, passionate and confidential environment.
Relationship Property Agreements
We can advise you on the best and most effective way to achieve an agreement that will comply with the law and protect your interests when identifying each partner’s property.
Immigration Law
New Zealand’s immigration system is facing unprecedented scrutiny. In response to this, the government is implementing a series of rapid changes to its skilled, business and family policies. These changes can leave migrants unsure of their future in New Zealand, or in some cases, facing deportation.
Visa Applications
Making a visa application can be one of the most important processes you, your family or partner may go through. Here at Wakefields Lawyers, we have a wealth of experience dealing in with all types of immigration matters. Chances are we have seen any issues you may be experiencing with your application. We understand what is needed to overcome these hurdles and will guide you through from beginning to end.
Estates Administration
When someone passes away, the property they owned passes to their deceased estate and is managed by an executor, if one is named in a will, or a Court-appointed administrator if there is no will. The executor or administrator is responsible for administering the estate for as long as it takes for them to tidy up the deceased’s financial affairs and distribute the estate property to those they have left behind.
Elder Law
The lifestyle options and benefits offered by retirement villages can start to look very appealing to many retirees. The services offered can become necessary when failing health or changes in family circumstances force people to need more help during their day-to-day routines.
Retirement Villages
Regardless of the legal and financial structure of any retirement village you may be considering we, at Wakefields Lawyers, have the experience to help you and make sure you understand all the benefits and potential disadvantages before you decide.
PPPR Applications
We recommend you obtain expert help to ensure the application is successful and that it will appropriately address the needs of the affected person. At Wakefields Lawyers, we have experience in preparing PPPR applications and assisting our clients through what we know can be a potentially distressing process.
Reverse Equity Mortgages
We have experience in advising people on all the complexities of reverse equity mortgages. We can take you through the maths, explain the details in the contracts, describe the benefits and the drawbacks, and help you decide if it is the right option for you.
Insolvency & Debt Recovery
Whether you are pursuing or defending a company debt, negotiating a financial dispute with a business partner, supplier or customer or attempting to enforce a judgment order, our Insolvency and Debt Recovery team is here to help.
Corporate Insovlency
Our team’s experience means we can act on all aspects of insolvency advising directors, creditors, administrators, liquidators, trustees and debtors in respect of their rights and obligations relating to bankruptcies, voluntary administrations, liquidations, company administrations, deeds of company arrangement, and corporate receivership’s.
Debt Recovery
Should you have an issue in relation to bankruptcy or have been contacted by a debt collection agency then the Wakefields Lawyers bankruptcy team is here to assist. You will deal directly with a qualified bankruptcy practitioner who will take the time to understand your situation and explain all the available options.