Trusted lawyers for good reason

CLIENT GUIDE

Our approach is simple; impeccable service and exceptional quality delivered by a results-focused team who cares about our clients.

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Our Approach
Olga Pelevina and Phil Shannon discussing a legal matter

Our Expertise

Turner Hopkins is a well-respected and highly regarded, multi-service law firm located on the North Shore in Auckland. We first opened our doors in 1923, and with 100 years of experience, we pride ourselves on being able to provide a practical and common sense approach to a diverse range of legal issues for local, national and international clients.

Samuel Ames and Catherine Pendleton discussing a legal matter

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Our Expertise

Assisting you and your family

Trusts, Wills & Estates

Family Law

Residential Property

Immigration Services

Land Compensation

Employee Relations

Delivering legal outcomes

Delivering real value, with better outcomes.

Read our story
Meet the team

Helping Businesses flourish

Debt Recovery

Employer Relations

Franchising

Commercial Property

Civil Litigation

Business Law

  • Hi Phil and Samantha: Just a note to say that I appreciate everything you’ve done to help us get to this stage of our lives: I would recommend you guys if any of the other property owners should ask...thank you; I have purchased another place and am very pleased: so wish you guys the very best, and if there is anything I can do to help I will. Thank you

    D Osgood

  • I found Turner Hopkins very professional and reliable. As first-time homebuyers, we sought not only professional advice but also someone to protect us and help us find the right property. Tya was exceptionally helpful throughout the process. She provided valuable insights and guidance, ensuring that we made informed decisions every step of the way. We are grateful for all those amazing ladies' hard work, and we highly recommend their services to anyone looking to purchase their first home.

    ~ Survey Respondent

  • We recently had the pleasure of working with Paul to secure our parent resident visa, and we couldn't be more grateful for his exceptional service. From start to finish, Paul demonstrated remarkable proactivity, professionalism, and dedication, making the entire process smooth and stress-free. We highly recommend Paul to anyone seeking immigration assistance. His exceptional service, proactive nature, and professional conduct make him an outstanding agent. Thank you, Paul, for everything you've done for us!

    ~ Satisfied Immigration Client

  • Stephen has always offered great advice over the 20 years I have been dealing with him . Above all his attention to detail is very reassuring. The business portrays a professional team environment.

    ~ Survey Respondent

  • Also, I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks and gratitude to Turner Hopkins especially to you Maam Olga, for the help and assistance you have extended to me throughout the smooth process of the claims. This wouldn't be possible without you and it's a great relief for me. Though, we are just communicating through this media but the trust, compassion and love is there.

    ~ L G - Property Client

  • Thank you so much for your assistance in this matter. You have been so sweet and helpful and have made a stressful life event a bit easier. If I ever make it back to New Zealand one day (which I would love to) I will buy you a drink! Better yet, a bottle of wine!

    ~ Satisfied Family Law Client

  • I was referred to Paul four years ago by my cousin. Since our first interaction with Paul my family and I have had the most amazing journey. It's been a rollercoaster ride, with Covid lockdown thrown into the mix, but Paul kept us focussed on the prize and helped to ease our fears. I'm so glad that we decided to persevere with the move. Paul didn't make us feel like just another client.

    ~ L C - Immigration Client

  • For over eight years, I have always found Turner Hopkins level of service excellent and their work to a very high standard. The best firm with very positive experiences. I would highly recommend them.

    ~ D S - Property Client

  • We cannot thank you enough for your help with our purchase! You have been wonderful to deal with and so proactive (and patient with my numerous emails). We will be visiting NZ in April so will make sure we drop in to thank you in person.

    ~ Satisfied Immigration Client

  • I wanted to thank you and your colleagues for many years of excellent service to the Bank. You have an outstanding business that has proved to be one of the most reliable and ethical businesses that Collections have dealt with in the almost 9 years I was with the Bank.

    ~ Head of Collections

  • I have engaged with a number of the people in the firm and always found them professional, punctual in their responses and very sound in the advice provided.

    ~ D R - Commercal Client

  • Timely communication and variable explained so well up front. Easy to contact and I definitely had trust in both Paul and Jackie .

    ~ Survey Respondent

  • Joy and her team helped us very professionally and comprehensively. She has organized everything’s for us and considered everything we need to pay attention to. We are extremely happy with Joy and her work. I will be Joy’s loyal client!

    ~ Property Client

  • Turned around an unpleasant neighbour dispute situation for me so I had a very favourable outcome. Avdo and Kate gave good advice and were reassuring throughout. It did take a while to resolve but that had more to do with the other party drawing things out rather than anything Avdo was doing.

    ~ Survey Respondent

  • Throughout an incredibly complex and emotionally taxing process, their professionalism, clarity, and genuine commitment to our case have been invaluable. Despite being based at the opposite end of the North Island, we always felt fully supported and informed. Our matter involved navigating the legal requirements of government protocol and property acquisition processes, which added layers of complexity and stress. Phil and Samantha brought a wealth of knowledge and expertise in this area, ensuring that all legal obligations were met and that our rights and interests were protected throughout.

    ~ Public Works Client

  • Dear Catherine, I wanted to take a moment to personally thank you for your support throughout the case. Your steady guidance made all the difference in successfully resolving the matter. It was a challenging experience, but having you in my corner gave me the confidence and support I needed to stand up for myself and see it through. Please know that I will gladly recommend your services to anyone in need of legal representation. Thank you once again for everything.

    ~ S Pattnaik

  • Catherine was absolutely amazing, 10/10!! She was very professional, fair, and insanely intelligent. She cleaned up a very stressful and toxic situation for me in a surprisingly short amount of time, I'm very grateful. A lovely person, and a ridiculously amazing lawyer.

    R Eddy

  • I am incredibly grateful for Catherine Pendleton, who is an exceptional lawyer who genuinely cares. I have known and worked with her since 2023 and I cannot recommend her highly enough. I know I was in capable hands but Catherine's support during my recent case this year has meant so much to me. It has been incredibly long and stressful, but she was my strength throughout the entire process. In moments when I felt overwhelmed, her empathy, deep understanding, and steady guidance kept me grounded. She explained everything and provided clarity with practical and strategic solutions. I am grateful we achieved a very positive outcome through her dedication and guidance. Turner Hopkins is lucky to have her as a true ambassador of your values. A massive thank you for everything, Catherine. Look no further if you need a lawyer who combines a brilliant legal mind with genuine human compassion.

    Gen O

  • I highly recommend Phil Shannon from Turner Hopkins to anyone dealing with a matter under the Public Works Act. Over a 12-month period negotiating with Auckland Transport, Phil provided clear advice, strong representation, and a thorough understanding of the legal process. What stood out most was his transparency, responsiveness, and persistence in following matters through to completion. I am extremely grateful for the support and guidance he provided throughout what was a difficult and stressful experience. I would encourage anyone who receives a Public Works Act notice of acquisition to contact Phil Shannon and have him represent their interests.

    Frankie J

  • Paul was every bit the experienced and expert guide I hoped he would be. He provided clear direction in writing and verbally about what documentation and "evidence" I needed to provide for my visa application. He set realistic expectations. He was personable, too, and a calming force in the context of an immigration bureaucracy that can be pedantic and slow to respond. On a scale of one to ten I would give Paul a score of eleven for the quality of his service and work on my behalf. Kudos!

    J Haggin

Stay informed

Immigration Services

Employment Law

Trusts, Wills & Estates

Debt Recovery

To help you understand how we work, we have prepared a very simple guide to our services. No matter what your legal issues might be, we can assist you.

OUR GUIDE

Stay up to date

Stay Informed
Litigation Funding
Residential Property
Litigation Funding
Residential Property

Turner Hopkins is very proud to have now been selected as one of the few New Zealand law firms to become an accredited partner of JustFund, Australasia’s leading family law litigation finance provider.

The JustFund model allows clients of our firm to obtain loans specifically designed to meet their legal expenses.  This means that clients can now obtain legal representation without any upfront cost.  Payment of the legal fees is ultimately met from the relationship property recovered once settlement of any disputes and all relationship property matters has been resolved.

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Residential Property
Newsletter - July 2026
News
Newsletter - July 2026
News

Take another look at the image above. It looks convincing enough right? The lighting, detail and overall scene all appear perfectly plausible and very much “New Zealand”. But is it a genuine photograph, or was it created by artificial intelligence (AI)? If you are not entirely sure, that is rather the point.

AI can now create writing, images, video and audio that look remarkably authentic and can fool almost anyone. It is also becoming part of everyday business: drafting emails, summarising documents, answering customer questions and helping people make important, often life-changing decisions. Used well, it can save considerable time, however used carelessly, it can produce confident nonsense, expose private information or create a very convincing record of something that never actually happened. We will reveal the answer about the image shortly.

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News
Newsletter - June 2026
News
Newsletter - June 2026
News

As winter approaches, many of us start turning our minds to the practical things: checking the gutters, finding the warm coats, pretending we know how to programme the heat pump, and wondering why the school term always seems to end at exactly the busiest possible time.

It is also a sensible time to take stock of the legal arrangements that sit quietly in the background of everyday life — until they suddenly do not. Property decisions, parenting arrangements, relationship changes, and family obligations all have a habit of becoming more stressful when people are busy, tired, or trying to make plans around work, school holidays, travel, and the weather.

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News
Garnishee Proceedings
Residential Property
Garnishee Proceedings
Residential Property

If someone owes you money and you have a court judgment, the judgment does not always mean you will be paid straight away. The judgment says the money is owed. If the debtor still does not pay, you may need to take another step to collect the money.

A garnishee application is one way to do this. It can be used when another person, business, bank, or organisation owes money to the debtor or is holding money for the debtor. You can ask the Court to order that third party to pay the money to you instead of paying it to the debtor.

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Residential Property
Newsletter - April 2026
News
Newsletter - April 2026
News

The year has started quickly as everyone floods back in from the beach or their backyard, and if the first few weeks are anything to go by, 2026 is shaping up to be a busy and hopefully very productive one.

We’re already seeing a steady stream of questions around property, immigration, estate administration and public works, often from clients who are trying to plan ahead rather than react once issues arise.

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News
Mortgage Fraud - Case Study
Residential Property
Mortgage Fraud - Case Study
Residential Property

In property transactions, there is often pressure to move quickly. Opportunities present themselves as solutions - a structure that works when others do not, a pathway to lending that appears just within reach, or an approach that promises to “get the deal across the line.”

But where that pathway depends on information being incomplete, recharacterised, or withheld, the risk is not commercial. It is legal. And increasingly, it is criminal.

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Residential Property
Accountant or Lawyer?
Residential Property
Accountant or Lawyer?
Residential Property

When it comes to managing a trustee company, the choice of leadership can shape the long-term success of the trust. Trustees carry significant responsibilities — not only safeguarding assets but ensuring that the trust operates in accordance with the law and in the best interests of its beneficiaries.

Two professions are often considered for this role: accountants and lawyers. Both bring valuable expertise, but their skill sets differ. Understanding these differences can help determine who is best placed to guide a trust over the long term.

Here’s a rundown of what’s been announced and what it means in practice for both residents and operators.

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Residential Property
Newsletter - March 2026
News
Newsletter - March 2026
News

The year has started quickly as everyone floods back in from the beach or their backyard, and if the first few weeks are anything to go by, 2026 is shaping up to be a busy and hopefully very productive one.

We’re already seeing a steady stream of questions around property, immigration, estate administration and public works, often from clients who are trying to plan ahead rather than react once issues arise.

Read more →
News