Chapman Tripp

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Established in New Zealand in 1875, Chapman Tripp is one of New Zealand's largest commercial law firms, with 52 partners and around 220 legal staff across its offices in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. The firm practises in all areas of commercial, corporate, securities, property, environmental and public law.

[edit] History

Chapman Tripp started as a one man practice in Wellington in 1875 with Martin Chapman. Chapman was joined in partnership by William Fitzgerald in 1882 and then by Leonard Owen Howard Tripp in 1889, who spend a record 69 years with the firm.

The firm went through many name changes, reverting to Chapman Tripp & Co in 1949.

In 1962 the firm opened an Auckland office, becoming the first law firm to have offices in both Auckland and Wellington. In 1985 Chapman Tripp merged with Sheffield Young and Ellis, becoming Chapman Tripp Sheffield Young, and in late 1997 the Christchurch office was opened.