The 5 Best Business Lawyers in Bay of Plenty Who Make Legal Stuff Less Stressful
David Sims
| Last Updated: August 2025 Running a business isn’t for the faint of heart. Sure, there’s the day-to-day hustle with operations and logistics, but then there’s the legal part. It’s something that can give you a pounding headache if you try to tackle it all solo.
That’s why having a good business lawyer on your team is something we strongly suggest. They’ve got your back, so you can focus on growing your business instead of drowning in contracts, compliance, and fine print.
To save you the stress, our team rounded up some of the best business lawyers in the Bay of Plenty. Keep reading to find out who made the cut for us.
How much do business lawyer services cost in the Bay of Plenty?
1. Holland Beckett
Address: 525 Cameron Road
Phone: +64 7 578 2199
Business hours:
- Monday to Friday: 8 AM – 5:30 PM
- Saturday to Sunday: Closed
We found Holland Beckett as a big, well-established firm with a lot of experience in business law.
They’ve been around since 1937, and have a large commercial team of 33 people. This means they can handle complex legal matters.
They help start a business and structure partnerships, sell a company, draft contracts, and more. We especially found their agribusiness law useful as it’s a very rare speciality.
One of their biggest strength is how their specialist teams work together. If your business deal involves contracts, intellectual property, or construction law all at once, they can handle it in-house without you needing to hire multiple firms.
Client feedback gives more colour to them. Dean Thompson’s name comes up because of his reliability. He has also guided clients through both technical business law matters and personal property transactions with the same level of care.
On the downside, their fees are a bit higher, so very small businesses or tight-budget startups might find them pricey.
Josh had been very patient and respectful towards my husband
“Highly recommend Holland Beckett, my husband and I would like to thank especially JOSH BHAGEERUTTY, for his outstanding service and help in our legal matter. He has been very supportive of my husband and his language barrier. Josh was able to speak the language we needed and translated everything, which made life a whole lot easier. Josh had been very patient and respectful towards my husband and explained every single complex and legal term in very simple terms to him. We appreciate all Josh’s help, once again, thank you.”
– Mell S., Google review
Have always received excellent legal advice and been looked after superbly
“We have dealt primarily with Dean Thompson of Holland Beckett over the past 10+ years and have always received excellent legal advice and been looked after superbly. Whether it be the sometimes tricky business contracts or the sale of the family home, Dean has always been there to guide us with his expertise. In fact everyone we have dealt with at Holland Beckett has always gone “the extra mile” to make sure everything went smoothly for us when needed, and I can’t say enough to thank them. I would highly recommend.”
– Laraine Carter, Google review
2. The Firm Lawyers
Address: 57 Spring Street
Phone: +64 7 571 0037
Business hours:
- Monday to Friday: 8:30 AM – 5 PM
- Saturday to Sunday: Closed
The thing about The Firm Lawyers is that their directors have actually run their own businesses in the past. It’s interesting, and that just means they know exactly what it’s like to deal with the everyday problems business owners face.
It gives the impression that whatever their advice is isn’t just based on the law; it’s based on real-life experience. It makes it more practical and easier to follow.
They cover a wide range of business law services. This includes sale and purchase agreements, franchise agreements, and help with registering security interests on the Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR).
We liked how they focus on “uncomplicating” the law. They explain things clearly so clients can make confident decisions without feeling lost in legal jargon.
Their fixed pricing is also a big plus. Knowing that a company constitution and a shareholders’ agreement will fall in the $2,000–$3,000 range (rather than getting a surprise bill) makes budgeting easier.
As a boutique firm, yes, they can give more personal attention. However, they may have a lesser capacity than a big law firm. If you have several urgent matters at once, you might need to book ahead.
Cannot recommend The Firm highly enough!
“Aside the great coffees, Toni and the team at the Firm were an absolute pleasure to deal with! Great communication from start to finish. Cannot recommend The Firm highly enough! First time using them, certainly not the last!”
– Gary Cox, Google review
Took the stress out of what was a stressful situation
“Carly took the stress out of what was a stressful situation. Taking time to translate the more difficult concepts and terms so we were informed and confident in our decision-making. Highly recommend!”
– Matthew Bell, Google review
3. Harris Tate Lawyers
Address: 29 Brown Street
Phone: +64 7 578 0059
Business hours:
- Monday to Friday: 8:30 AM – 5 PM
- Saturday to Sunday: Closed
From what our team found, Harris Tate Lawyers is a well-established firm with over 40 years of experience helping local businesses. The firm has seen it all, and the feedback we’ve heard confirms they know how to guide clients through tough times.
They seem especially good with family-owned businesses, where personal and commercial issues are often closely connected.
When we spoke to some clients, they said the lawyers give advice that’s not just legally correct but also practical.
Director Grant Harris, in particular, is often mentioned for being willing to meet onsite. It isn’t just a nice gesture—it allows him to grasp the physical and commercial assets at stake.
It’s also helpful that they handle all kinds of business law, so you only need to make one call to get your question sorted and save time.
However, there are a couple of things to keep in mind. The firm is small, with only four people on the team. They might be stretched thin, especially when dealing with several complex cases at once.
We also came across complaints about slow communication, so just take note of that if you’re considering them.
Personable and empathetic yet professional
“I can highly recommend Leone and her amazing team at Harris Tate. They were personable and empathetic during a very emotional time yet they were professional and delivered an excellent outcome that far exceeded my expectations.”
– Megan Ramsbottom, Google review
Excellent experience dealing with such professional people!
“Excellent experience dealing with such professional people!! Would recommend to others. Also, Go Leone! I needed a lot of help understanding the process of what I needed to do and she was there to assist me every step of the way”
– Frances McAdam, Google review
4. KM Law Limited
Address: 738 Cameron Road, Tauranga South
Phone: +64 7 543 9476
Business hours:
- Monday to Friday: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
- Saturday to Sunday: Closed
We noticed that KM Law Limited is more focused on helping small and medium-sized businesses. They’re very open about costs, which makes them a good option for these businesses.
They break their fees into clear parts that you agree on from the start. They also offer fixed or capped fees, which makes it much easier to plan your budget.
We appreciate how they really take the time to understand each business’s specific situation before outlining a scope of work, then sticking to that scope.
That level of discipline is important because legal matters can easily spiral in cost and complexity without a tight brief.
Their services go beyond just the basics of business law too. They can help you set up a company, create shareholder agreements, protect your branding and intellectual property, and even recover debts.
Also, since they’ve worked inside large companies, we think they understand the balance between legal risks and what’s actually practical for running a business.
That said, we noticed the firm consists of just two people. If you need a lot of work done quickly or have several large cases at the same time, they might not have the same capacity as a big law firm.
Very professional and prompt response
“Exceptional service offered by Kirsten and Amy. Very professional and prompt response, easier to reach by phone and email. Highly recommended. Our business sale was handled very well.”
– Harpreet Sekhon, Google review
Friendly, efficient and thorough, what a dream team!
“Kirsten and Amber were fantastic to deal with. They helped with the sale of our business, and it was just effortless. Friendly, efficient and thorough, what a dream team! Can’t recommend enough.”
– Leandri Smith, Google review
5. Burley Castle Hawkins (BCH) Law Limited
Address: Monmouth House, First Floor/41 Monmouth Street
Phone: +64 7 928 9000
Business hours:
- Monday: 8:30 AM – 5 PM
- Tuesday: 10 AM – 5 PM
- Wednesday to Friday: 8:30 AM – 5 PM
- Saturday to Sunday: Closed
We appreciate that BCH Law Limited goes beyond just registering your business. They take time to explain the different ways you can set up your business and help you choose the one that works best for your long-term plans.
We also like how they think ahead about how you might bring in new investors or partners without losing control. This can save a lot of trouble in the future.
They also help with everyday legal matters, such as employment contracts, licensing, and protecting your business from risks.
On top of that, they can make sure you follow important rules. This includes those covering consumer guarantees, credit contracts, and fair trading.
If your business also involves unique products or branding, they’re a great choice. They have experience with trademarks, copyright, and protecting intellectual property.
From speaking with clients, we found out their strength lies in making complicated legal topics easy to understand. People say the team is friendly and never makes you feel bad for asking questions.
However, a few clients also seem to find them slow to respond to calls and emails. While the end results were still good, this could be frustrating if you’re working to a tight deadline.
Professional, knowledgeable, and truly dedicated to her clients
“Michelle Carey is an exceptional Solicitor —professional, knowledgeable, and truly dedicated to her clients. She provided clear guidance, was incredibly supportive, and handled our complex situation with patience and care. Throughout the process, we felt heard and valued. I highly recommend her services!”
– Ellen Scott, Google review
Highly recommend if you want wanting professional, knowledgeable, friendly lawyer
“Carlene is a legend.. Cool, calm and collected, assuring us it would all work out, thankfully it did. This is not the first nor the last time we will engage Carlene’s services. Highly recommend if you want wanting professional, knowledgeable, friendly lawyer.”
– Deborah Holmes, Google review
