Corban Revell Lawyers

As a cornerstone of the West Auckland community Corban Revell offers a broad range of legal services to businesses, organisations and private clients throughout New Zealand.

Technical excellence in the law and offering exceptional client service are core to all work we undertake. Our people are committed to advancing their legal expertise and knowledge to ensure clients enjoy the advantage of legal professionals who are leaders in their field.

The talents of our people are a source of pride and we know that people are key to our success. This includes our clients, our staff, our suppliers and our wider business and legal community.

If you would like to work with a team that prizes technical excellence, dedication and hard work please contact us, we look forward to meeting you.

John Kahukiwa, Managing Partner

Lisa Roberts, Senior Partner

Mark Tolich, Senior Consultant

Frank Chan, Senior Associate

Our legal expertise includes: Banking and Finance, Civil and Criminal Litigation, Employment, Environmental Law,Family, Māori Business and Governance, Property, Relationship Property, Resource Management Treaty of Waitangi Claims Trusts and Legal Entities,Wills Estates and Asset Protection.

News and Events

Our business at Level 3 - Keeping business unstoppable at Alert Level 3.

Covid-Safe at Alert Level 3 - We are committed to being Covid-Safe at Level 3, and our staff will still be working remotely where possible. At Level 3, MBIE requires that client meetings still need to be by telephone or AV/video call (the list of exceptions to this rule is very small and unlikely to apply to us). The good news… Continue reading

Uniting Against Covid-19 - There are many ways New Zealanders can make a difference in the fight against Covid-19. From staying home and maintaining social distancing to working in our supermarkets or essential medical and social services. Amongst the Corban Revell whānau we even have people using their 3D printers to create protective face shields. One of the whānau… Continue reading

Level 4 Alert – Update - With the updated guidance today we can advise as follows: Corban Revell Lawyers will be working remotely until Level 4 is downgraded to Level 3 or lower. We know a lot of you are in the same position. You can still ring our main line, direct lines and mobiles if you need assistance (when the… Continue reading

Covid-19 Update – Level 3 - With the increased alert by the government to level 3 from 24 March, we have implemented our remote work plan. All our staff are able to work remotely and many will start to do so from tomorrow. Direct lines will be diverted to cellphones from 24 March. You will still reach us by phone, email… Continue reading

Covid-19 Update - An update to Corban Revell’s response to Covid-19 Corban Revell will be making daily decisions as to whether to open the office during Monday to Friday, or for our staff to work from home, from 23 March 2020 based on the alert system announced by the government this weekend. As a guide, while the alert… Continue reading

Congratulations, Judge Goodwin - Former Managing Partner of Corban Revell, Alan Goodwin has been appointed a District Court judge. We congratulate Alan on his appointment. Alan was a key member of the Corban Revell legal team from 1995 to 2011. He joined the firm’s family team in 1995 and soon became partner, leading the firm’s successful family team and… Continue reading

KiwiBuild, what you need to know. - The KiwiBuild programme: What do first home buyers and building developers need to know? KiwiBuild is a government programme that aims to deliver 100,000 affordable, quality homes for first home buyers over the next 10 years. Around 50,000 of these homes will be in Auckland. To implement this ambitious programme, the government will work with… Continue reading

Family Dispute Resolution Service - We can advise clients on the government's new Family Dispute Resolution Service for Care of Children matters. If you meet certain eligibility criteria, this service will be at no cost to you.

Legal Insights

A new Immigration Bill: What’s in it for work and student visa holders? - On 5 May 2020, the Minister of Immigration presented an urgent Immigration Bill to Parliament to ensure that the Government can respond appropriately and efficiently to the COVID-19 outbreak by providing additional flexibility in the immigration system. The Immigration (Covid-19) Response Amendment Bill will enable the government to amend visa conditions for groups of people,… Continue reading

Key Changes to Trust Law - The new Trusts Act 2019 will come into force on 30 January 2021. This is the first major reform to trust law in New Zealand which provides greater transparency of trustee activities and increased trust compliance requirements. If you are a settlor or a trustee of a trust (or family trust), it is important to review… Continue reading

Immediate changes to executing a Will during Alert Levels 3 and 4 - Immediate changes: Executing a Will during Alert Levels 3 and 4 With many New Zealanders isolating alone or in a bubble that comprises their immediate family, spouse or other relatives, they may not be able to arrange for two other adults to be physically present to witness. The Wills Act provides that any person who witnesses… Continue reading

Post lockdown and Migrant workers - Post lockdown: Impact on migrant workers Most employers and migrant workers are aware that all Immigration New Zealand (INZ) offices, onshore and offshore offices included, are currently closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the current lockdowns happening around the world. Some INZ staff are working out of the INZ head office in Wellington and… Continue reading

Covid-19 and Insolvency - Given the Covid-19 lockdown it is, unfortunately likely several businesses will be considering insolvency. Insolvency has a number of legal implications. As a result, the Government is considering making changes to insolvency and company law. These include: A ‘Safe Harbour’ for Directors from some of their duties Placing business debts in Hibernation until the start… Continue reading

Commercial Rent Break? - Can we take a break from paying our commercial rent during Covid-19 lockdown? The impact of COVID-19 and the unprecedented lockdown have created a lot of uncertainty in business. Non-essential businesses find themselves scrambling to find ways to make ends meet. Many tenants, in particular, are finding they are unable to pay their lease rental… Continue reading

Recruiting Migrant Workers from the Philippines - Migrant workers from the Philippines are becoming an important source of labour to a number of New Zealand employers. When you recruit from the Philippines you must follow the legal requirements of the New Zealand and Philippine governments. Immigration New Zealand (INZ) is responsible for deciding the visa applications of the migrants while the Philippines Overseas Employment… Continue reading

Recruiting Overseas Workers. - Options for Employers recruiting overseas workers: Becoming an Accredited Employer There are a range of options for those wishing to employ skilled workers from overseas. If your business has an ongoing need for skilled workers, you could either obtain an Accredited Employer status from Immigration New Zealand (INZ) or request for an Approval in Principle to streamline a seemingly… Continue reading

Employment Relations Amendment Act: What You Need to Know - The Employment Relations Amendment Act 2018 (“the Act”) was passed into law on 6 December 2018.

Employer’s Guide to Disciplinary Action - In QWI v the Great Gatsby Ltd [2017] NZERA Wellington 52 the Employment Relations Authority determined that a chef who, on the balance of probabilities had attempted to sell methamphetamine to her colleagues whilst at work, was unjustifiably dismissed. This is because in order for a dismissal to be lawful it must be substantively justified… Continue reading