Insight

Announcing The Best Lawyers in New Zealand™ 2025 Awards

Best Lawyers is announcing the 16th edition of The Best Lawyers in New Zealand for 2025, including individual Best Lawyers and "Lawyer of the Year" awards.

New Zealand flag over image of country outline

Best Lawyers

April 17, 2024 08:00 AM

The Best Lawyers in New Zealand Awards for 2025

Every year, Best Lawyers employs its rigorous Purely Peer Review^® methodology, which encompasses nominations, outreach, voting and research, to identify the most distinguished legal talent worldwide.

The 16^th edition of The Best Lawyers in New Zealand™ celebrates the prowess of 601 lawyers practicing at 159 law firms across four metropolitan areas. Auckland emerges as the metropolitan hub with the highest number of recognized lawyers in New Zealand for 2025.

The Practice Areas Behind Each Award

An impressive 69 practice areas are encompassed within The Best Lawyers in New Zealand awards this year, reflecting the diverse legal talent across the country. Among these practice areas, the top 10 with the highest numbers of recognized lawyers include Litigation, Corporate Law, Intellectual Property Law, Labor and Employment Law, Banking and Finance Law, Mergers and Acquisitions, Real Estate Law, Insurance Law, Capital Markets Law and Construction Law.

Those seeking legal representation often turn to the Best Lawyers website in search of a lawyer. With more than 60 practice areas in New Zealand, website visitors most frequently searched the Best Lawyers website for lawyers in these 5 practice areas this year: Labor and Employment Law, Health Care Law, Corporate Law, Litigation and Arbitration and Mediation.

"Lawyer of the Year" Awards

In addition to individual lawyer recognitions, the 16^th edition awards also feature the coveted "Lawyer of the Year" titles, honoring one lawyer per practice area in each metropolitan region. In 2025, we bestowed 60 lawyers with the esteemed "Lawyer of the Year" distinction across New Zealand.

Showcasing Your Award

Best Lawyers offers various avenues to showcase awards through impactful marketing strategies.

To learn more about highlighting individual lawyer and firm awards through your website, social media channels, Best Lawyers Profile Suite packages and commemorative items, please contact sales@bestlawyers.com.

Interested in exploring Best Lawyers honorees in New Zealand? Utilize our Find a Lawyer tool to search by location and specialty.

Access the full report of Best Lawyers international releases, continuously updated for comprehensive insight.

Headline Image: iStock/pop_jop; iStock/rambo182

The Best Lawyers in New Zealand™ 2024 Awards

by Best Lawyers

The Best Lawyers in New Zealand 2024 awards include an elite field of top lawyers and law firms.

Auckland, New Zealand Skyline at twilight

Law Firm Marketing ROI: Strategies for Small and Midsize Firms

by Jamilla Tabbara

Understand how to improve your marketing ROI with methods tailored for law firms.

3D Computer with Icons Representing ROI Tools and Metrics

Law Firm Marketing: 5 Strategic Steps to Attract More Clients

by Jamilla Tabbara

A practical framework for marketing a law firm with purpose.

Light bulb above a chalkboard illustrating strategic ideas

Best Lawyers Introduces Smithy AI

by Jamilla Tabbara

Transforming legal content creation for attorneys and firms.

Start using Smithy AI, a content tool by Best Lawyers

Why Visibility Matters: The Case for Legal Thought Leadership Today

by Jamilla Tabbara

Build trust before the first consultation.

lawyer standing on a staircase, symbolizing advancement and thought leadership

How Whitepapers Become Legal Content That Builds Trust

by Jamilla Tabbara

Turning expertise into visibility with strategic white papers.

Stack of legal white papers on a desk representing thought leadership

How to Use Content Syndication to Get Your Law Firm Website Content Seen

by Jamilla Tabbara

Syndicate your law firm’s content on trusted legal platforms to reach a wider audience and drive qualified traffic back to your website.

Legal professional drafting syndicated content on a laptop for third-party publication

Introducing the 2026 Best Lawyers Awards in Australia, Japan, New Zealand and Singapore

by Jennifer Verta

This year’s awards reflect the strength of the Best Lawyers network and its role in elevating legal talent worldwide.

2026 Best Lawyers Awards in Australia, Japan, New Zealand and Singapore

Changes in Employment Arbitration for 2025

by Debra Ellwood Meppen, Brandon D. Saxon and Laurie Villanueva

What businesses need to know to stay ahead of the curve.

Suited man holding up falling walls with gray and yellow backdrop

Legal Content Strategy: A Key Driver of Law Firm Growth

by Jamilla Tabbara

Is your law firm’s content missing the mark? Here’s why it’s not delivering results.

Marketer developing a strategic plan for legal business growth.

The Best Lawyers Network: Global Recognition with Long-term Value

by Jamilla Tabbara

Learn how Best Lawyers' peer-review process helps recognized lawyers attract more clients and referral opportunities.

Showcasing Legal Knowledge: Leveraging Success Stories

by Jamilla Tabbara

Let your firm's success stories speak for themselves.

Person reading client testimonials on a laptop, highlighting social proof for a law firm

Is Your Law Firm’s Website Driving Clients Away?

by Jamilla Tabbara

Identify key website issues that may be affecting client engagement and retention.

Phone displaying 'This site cannot be reached' message

6 Steps to Finding the Right Keywords for Your Legal Content

by Jamilla Tabbara

Follow a practical guide to keyword research and boost your law firm’s SEO to reach more potential clients.

letters symbolizing keywords for legal content

Effective Communication: A Conversation with Jefferson Fisher

by Jamilla Tabbara

The power of effective communication beyond the law.

Image of Jefferson Fisher and Phillip Greer engaged in a conversation about effective communication

Jefferson Fisher: The Secrets to Influential Legal Marketing

by Jennifer Verta

How lawyers can apply Jefferson Fisher’s communication and marketing strategies to build trust, attract clients and grow their practice.

Portrait of Jefferson Fisher a legal marketing expert

Trending Articles

Introducing the 2026 Best Lawyers Awards in Australia, Japan, New Zealand and Singapore

by Jennifer Verta

This year’s awards reflect the strength of the Best Lawyers network and its role in elevating legal talent worldwide.

Revealing the 2026 Best Lawyers Awards in Germany, France, Switzerland and Austria

by Jamilla Tabbara

These honors underscore the reach of the Best Lawyers network and its focus on top legal talent.

map of Germany, France, Switzerland and Austria

Effective Communication: A Conversation with Jefferson Fisher

by Jamilla Tabbara

The power of effective communication beyond the law.

The 2025 Legal Outlook Survey Results Are In

by Jennifer Verta

Discover what Best Lawyers honorees see ahead for the legal industry.

Person standing at a crossroads with multiple intersecting paths and a signpost.

The Best Lawyers Network: Global Recognition with Long-term Value

by Jamilla Tabbara

Learn how Best Lawyers' peer-review process helps recognized lawyers attract more clients and referral opportunities.

Jefferson Fisher: The Secrets to Influential Legal Marketing

by Jennifer Verta

How lawyers can apply Jefferson Fisher’s communication and marketing strategies to build trust, attract clients and grow their practice.

Is Your Law Firm’s Website Driving Clients Away?

by Jamilla Tabbara

Identify key website issues that may be affecting client engagement and retention.

A Guide to Workers' Compensation Law for 2025 and Beyond

by Bryan Driscoll

A woman with a laptop screen reflected in her glasses

Best Lawyers Launches CMO Advisory Board

by Jamilla Tabbara

Strategic counsel from legal marketing’s most experienced voices.

Group photo of Best Lawyers CMO Advisory Board members

Common Law Firm Landing Page Problems to Address

by Jamilla Tabbara

Identify key issues on law firm landing pages to improve client engagement and conversion.

Laptop showing law firm landing page analytics

Changes in California Employment Law for 2025

by Laurie Villanueva

What employers need to know to ensure compliance in the coming year and beyond

New Employment Law Recognizes Extraordinary Stress Is Everyday Reality for NY Lawyers

by Bryan Driscoll

A stressed woman has her head resting on her hands above a laptop

Turn Visitors into Clients with Law Firm Website SEO That Converts

by Jamilla Tabbara

Learn how to create high-converting law firm landing pages that drive client engagement and lead generation.

Laptop screen displaying website tools to improve client conversion rates

SEO for Law Firms: Overcoming Common Challenges

by Jamilla Tabbara

Tackle common SEO challenges and take the next step with our guide, How to Make Your Law Firm Easier to Find Online.

Graphic image of a phone displaying SEO rankings, with positions 1, 2 and 3 on the screen

Best Lawyers Introduces Smithy AI

by Jamilla Tabbara

Transforming legal content creation for attorneys and firms.

6 Steps to Finding the Right Keywords for Your Legal Content

by Jamilla Tabbara

Follow a practical guide to keyword research and boost your law firm’s SEO to reach more potential clients.

Announcing The Best Lawyers in New Zealand™ 2025 Awards

Related Articles

Trending Articles