When it comes to choosing between being an employee and running your own business, being the boss definitely has its perks. 

While it may sound like it’s full of coffee breaks and flexible hours, it’s not. Like they say, with great power comes great responsibility.

If you’re new to the whole business-owner life, there’s no shame in getting some backup, especially from people who know the ins and outs of the legal stuff.

So, if you’re still on the hunt for a business lawyer, you’re in luck. We’ve rounded up our top picks in Christchurch so you can spend less time searching and more time building your empire. 

1. Weston Ward & Lascelles

Address: 1/10 Leslie Hills Drive, Riccarton

Phone: +64 3 379 1740
Business hours:

• Monday to Friday: 9 AM – 5 PM
• Saturday to Sunday: Closed

Website

Westorn Ward & Lascelles has a lot to offer for small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and startups. 

We liked that they help you choose the right structure from the start. Sole trader, partnership, company…they’ll walk you through the pros and cons and make sure it’s tax-smart by working with your accountant.

That’s very important because fixing the wrong setup later can be a headache and expensive.

Their scope of service pretty much covers the whole business journey. Need a shareholder agreement? Sorted. Buying or selling a business? They’ll help with the due diligence so you don’t end up with unpleasant surprises. 

Even for writing contracts and avoiding disputes, they know how to handle it well. When disputes happen, their network of barristers and solicitors for more specialised issues can be a huge advantage.

Now, for the catch. Their business law work is led by one guy, David Houston. He’s clearly skilled, but if a bunch of clients need him at once, you might find yourself waiting in a queue. 

They can call in others from the firm if needed, but you’ll probably still be waiting for David’s input on the bigger calls. 

The service at every stage was excellent

“Adrian Sullivan is a very efficient and personable person to work with. At all stages of the project, he highlighted potential issues and did his best to safeguard my interests. I would just like to take this opportunity and recommend Adrian to any person seeking conveyancing. The service at every stage was excellent. I was always kept well informed, despite there being numerous problems which Adrian resolved swiftly. Many thanks for all your help and hard work, Adrian!”

Yulia Pike, Google review

Knowledgeable, skilled and goes above and beyond for his clients

“I have had the pleasure of working with Ryan O’Connor for the last two years. Ryan is a kind, compassionate and humble person who is knowledgeable, skilled and goes above and beyond for his clients. He really cares about his clients and takes time to walk alongside them through the difficult circumstances we wouldn’t choose. Ryan has a clear, methodical approach and a good sense of humour. He is down to earth and explains things in a way that people from a non legal background can understand. His communication is efficient, clear and warm. Most of all I admired his commitment to keeping children safe. He is able to think outside of the square when necessary and work adaptively in challenging situations. I would recommend him to anyone who is looking for a lawyer in relationship property and family law. Above all, he has good values and this shows in every aspect of his work. I highly recommend Ryan and the team at Weston, Ward and Lascelles.”

Sheralyn, Google review

2. Cavell Leitch

Address: Level 3, BNZ Centre, 111 Cashel Mall

Phone: +64 3 379 9940
Business hours:

• Monday to Friday: 8:30 AM – 5 PM
• Saturday: Closed

Website

Cavell Leitch covers a lot: setting up companies, sorting shareholder agreements, helping with business sales and purchases, even handling insolvency, and more. The big win here is that they don’t treat these as isolated jobs. 

If your business issue overlaps with property, employment, or immigration law, they’ve got those bases covered too. Clients say the lawyers are hands-on and work with you, not just for you. 

Their coverage of commercial agreements also deserves praise. We saw repeated mentions of them not just reviewing contracts but actively negotiating terms to align with a client’s long-term goals. This can save businesses a lot of grief down the line.

The same applies to acquisitions and disposals. They’re known for spotting potential risks early, smoothing transitions, and keeping the deal on track.

Since they also have a large business law team, it’s reassuring to know there’s always someone available to help.

That said, their fees are definitely at the premium end. While many clients felt the value justified the cost, smaller businesses and start-ups may find the price tag a stretch, especially if they’re in the early stages of growth. 

She knew every document needed and was very professional all the way

“It was absolutely a privilege and a pleasure to be assisted by Vienna Tse. She knew every document needed and was very professional all the way. All applications were approved without question due to her experience. Highly recommend.” 

Azariah Maxwel Munetsi, Google review

We’d highly recommend working with the team

“We worked with David and Sophie at Cavell Leitch to buy our home – they were fantastic! Very professional service, knowledgeable about the local area and great communication – we’d highly recommend working with the team.”

Raven Cretney, Google review

3. Canterbury Legal

Address: 205 Durham Street South, Christchurch Central City

Phone: +64 3 377 0792
Business hours:

• Monday to Friday: 8:30 AM – 5 PM
• Saturday to Sunday: Closed

Website

Our team took a good look at Canterbury Legal, focusing on their business law work. Right away, we noticed they don’t just stick to the basics.

Sure, they handle the usual commercial and corporate contracts, but they also dip into areas you don’t always see. We’re talking about charities, incorporated societies, finance and securities, and even royalty agreements. 

The real gem, though, is how they deal with intellectual property. They cover branding, copyright, licensing, and more. And if there’s an infringement or patent dispute, their own litigators can step in.

It’s very handy because you won’t be bouncing between different lawyers trying to explain your problem over and over.

Another thing we liked is that they don’t just show up when something’s on fire. They offer ongoing advice to keep your business out of trouble in the first place with corporate governance, asset protection, and risk management.

They do a bit of everything, not just business law. Conveyancing, for instance, gets a lot of space on their public profile.

It’s fine if you like a one-stop firm, but it might make some people think they’re more about house sales than corporate deals.

They were great to deal with and fast to respond with advice

“This was our first time needing to use legal services for the purchase of our company. The Canterbury Legal team took care of all our requirements, making sure everything was in place correctly. They were great to deal with and fast to respond with advice and answers to all our questions. We highly recommend them.”

Laurie Sayers, Google review

I can’t thank the team enough for their exceptionally clear, straightforward advice

“I had the pleasure of working with Canterbury Legal on multiple occasions. I can’t thank the team enough for their exceptionally clear, straightforward advice; it was exactly what I needed. The entire team was professional, approachable, and dedicated throughout the process. I couldn’t have asked for better representation. 10/10! Highly recommended! Thanks, guys!”

Jesse Baxter, Google review

4. Saunders & Co Lawyers

Address: 131 Victoria Street, Christchurch Central City

Phone: +64 3 379 7690
Business hours:

• Monday to Friday: 8:30 AM – 5 PM
• Saturday to Sunday: Closed

Website

Saunders & Co Lawyers has been around since 1922. They’ve had more than a century to figure out how to get things right, and it shows. They handle everything from setting up a company to mergers and shareholder agreements.

What we liked most is how they can adjust their approach depending on who they’re working with. 

A one-person start-up means they’ll walk you through the basics like structuring your business. A big corporation means they’ll handle board structure or complex financing. They seem to scale their service to fit.

Their team setup is impressive. They’re split into different areas (commercial, property, litigation), but they don’t work in isolation. 

If your case needs input from a tax expert, a property lawyer, and someone to handle contacts, they’ll pull the right people in. 

Clients we talked to really love that about them. One person praised Sarah Bee for going above and beyond, even calling after hours to keep a business purchase on track. 

However, since they’ve got different teams working on different parts of the law, there’s a possibility that it can be a little messy. You’ll want to make sure there’s still one person keeping your project moving smoothly. 

Would recommend them 100%

“Dealing with Gaylene and Nicole was very easy and a pleasure! They were very quick and efficient at replying to my questions and carrying out all the work. They were extremely helpful in guiding me through and processing the sale of my business. Would recommend them 100%.”

Nadz, Google review

Her advice goes beyond my expectations every time

“I cannot recommend Julia Johnston enough.  Her advice goes beyond my expectations every time, being derived from extensive knowledge in her field… she almost makes talking tax interesting!  She has advised my clients and me on many areas of tax, from complex start-up business & lending structures to tax on foreign inheritance.”

Angela Stockdale, Google review

5. Godfreys Law

Address: Level 3/22 Moorhouse Avenue

Phone: +64 3 366 7469
Business hours:

• Monday to Friday: 8:30 AM – 5 PM
• Saturday to Sunday: Closed

Website

One of the biggest advantages of Godfreys Law is how much ground they cover. Aside from handling contracts and employment, they go deeper into commercial litigation, debt recovery, and compliance matters.

You don’t need to shop around for different specialists. Here, you can get everything under one roof, which is both efficient and less disruptive to your operations.

We liked their focus on asset protection and trusts. Not all business law firms promote this, but it’s critical for those who think about long-term wealth security.

We also appreciated how they’re happy to work with your accountant or tax advisor. It’s important when you’re buying a business or doing due diligence. 

When your legal and financial people talk to each other, you’re less likely to miss something costly. They can even help work out the goodwill value of a business, so they understand the money side, not just the law.

Most client feedback is positive. We’ve heard praises about Charles Mullins, Sally Cunneen, and Kathryn Evans for being approachable, upfront about costs, and reliable.

That said, we’ve also heard a case where someone with an urgent legal matter struggled to get a response, even after following up. 

Would happily recommend their services

“We have recently used Godfreys in setting up several contracts for our business of late. We’ve used Charles Mullins and Sally Cunneen for different fields, who we’re both extremely professional, efficient, clearly outlined their costs and time so there weren’t any surprises and have been pleased with the quality of the contracts provided to us. Would happily recommend their services.”

Sam Baker, Google review

Extremely knowledgeable and helpful on all occasions

“I have engaged Godfrey’s Law for both personal and business reasons and can highly recommend their services. Typically, I have dealt with Kathryn Evans and have found her extremely knowledgeable and helpful on all occasions. 10/10 team, thank you!”

Rebecca Gifford, Google review