Ask anyone on the team at Willis Legal what being a community law firm actually means, and you'll get a story, not a slogan. Maybe it's a client, a sponsorship, or a Saturday spent somewhere other than behind a desk. After 135 years in Hawke's Bay, the community is just part of how the firm works.

Whanaungatanga: More Than an Office 

We have offices in Napier and Hastings, but our connection to Hawke's Bay goes further than a street address. We're proud of our deep family connections here. Lawrie Willis is our third-generation representative at the firm, Mark Goodson is second-generation, Kevin Callinicos has had two of his children work at Willis Legal, and other team members also have ties that go back far. 

For us, it's always been about the connections we make, both in and out of the office.

That kind of continuity means our advice is grounded in decades of understanding of this region and the people in it. We're a local law firm, not a national chain with a local branch, and we've grown up alongside the community we serve.

One of our core values is Team, Whanaungatanga. We don't just work together; we show up for one another, in the team, in our client relationships, and in the wider community. 

• Local volunteering at Heretaunga Women’s Centre and Citizens’ Advice Bureau
• Social sports like pickleball, WL Warriors social netball team, participating in running/walking events across the region (like the HB Marathon)
• Sponsoring local sports teams and organisations (currently Green Family Taradale Pool, Gisborne Pirates Rugby Football Club, Napier Boys’ High School 1st XI cricket team, Hawke’s Bay Canoe Polo team, plus many others in the past)
• Supporting local businesses and community organisations (HB Cancer Society, Hōhepa, Plunket, Hawke’s Bay Property Investors’ Association to name a few, plus many others in the past like Napier Operatic Society)

Being part of Hawke's Bay means turning up to the things that matter to the people who live here. In our experience, it also makes us better lawyers and legal executives.

Why It Matters

When your lawyer or legal executive actually lives in the community you're part of, you get more than legal advice. You get context. We understand the local property market, local businesses, and the challenges our clients face because we're facing many of the same things ourselves.

As one recent client put it: "We recently had an urgent family matter to deal with. By using Willis Legal, this was carried out efficiently and promptly with no issues. We were impressed with the timing, the follow-up of correspondence, the empathy of the staff and the conclusion of the matters dealt with." That's what being part of a community actually looks like, not sponsorship logos, but the kind of care that comes from knowing the people we’re helping.

Still Local, After 135 Years

Being a community law firm in Hawke's Bay isn't a campaign for us. It's the reason Willis Legal has lasted this long, and we plan to keep showing up for a lot longer yet.

Want a legal team that's actually invested in this community? 

Get in touch today or follow us on Facebook to see what we get up to.