About
Present
The partners of Le Pine & Co are Alan Vane, Brent Winkelmann, Terry Kirkham and Nigel McAdie.
The Le Pine & Co partners and staff of 20 offer a variety of specialised services from offices in Taupo and Turangi. The staff and partners are a happy and enthusiastic group respectful of the history of Le Pine & Co.
Le Pine & Co's main office in Taupo is tastefully appointed including lift access. The office has secure separation between public and work areas to assist maintenance of client confidentiality.
Le Pine & Co also takes its role in the community seriously and participates in many community organisations. It supports many more.
History
For over 50 years Le Pine & Co has been offering legal services to the people and businesses of Taupo and the Central Plateau, becoming the largest practice in Taupo and one of the leading law firms in the region.
The name "Le Pine" originates from one of the firm's earlier partners, Raymond Horton "Tiny" Le Pine who was a partner in the Napier firm Le Pine Morrissey and McParland in the 1940s.
Tiny Le Pine had a bach in Taupo and visited frequently from the 1930s. There were no solicitors in Taupo (apart from a retired solicitor Garnet Arrowsmith who no longer practiced) and Tiny Le Pine was increasingly called upon to establish an office in Taupo.
He decided to do so in 1953 when it was anticipated a Borough would be established in place of the Taupo Town Board. The Borough was finally constituted under the Municipal Corporations Act in 1954.
In 1953 an 1880s cottage in Heu Heu Street was acquired by the partners of the firm (then called "R H Le Pine & Co") and opened initially as a branch office of the Napier firm. Under the guidance of its Taupo partners the office later became an independent legal practice.
The Le Pine name has continued to be attached to this, one of Taupo’s early pioneering businesses.
The reputation of Le Pine & Co is largely attributable to the constant, the name "Le Pine", and the long service and commitment of both John Corry and Marian Glazewski. John's association going back to 1953 and Marian's to 1970. Marian remains active and valued member of the Le Pine & Co team. John passed away on 11 June 2011.
In 2003, the firm celebrated 50 years of continuous service to clients in the Central North Island area. While other firms have come and gone through this time, Le Pine & Co has been a constant presence, acting for many of the original settler families. In many ways the growth of Le Pine & Co and Taupo and the Central Plateau have paralleled each other.
Today Le Pine & Co continues with a forward looking spirit, but with a special regard for its role in Central Plateau commerce and communities and the contributions made to the practice by its staff and valued clients over many years.
John Corry
The partners and staff lost a dear colleague in John Corry, who passed away on Saturday 11 June 2011. John aged 83 founded the Le Pine & Co Taupo office in 1953.
John was a relentless advocate for his clients and had a passion for the law and this firm. John worked and participated in firm activities until May 2011. His contribution to the spirit of our office and the individual support he gave is a great loss.
A part of Taupo’s history has gone with him.
The following is adapted from John's website profile prepared approximately 1 year before he passed away.
Qualifications
LLB Victoria University 1952. Notary Public.
John was appointed a Notary Public by the Court of Faculties, London in 1956. At the time it seemed more than coincidental that he was appointed as a Notary shortly after a director of the Rolls Royce company visited Taupo to fish and was put to some inconvenience by the absence of a resident Notary.
Started his career
John began his career at the Head Office Legal Services of the State Advances Corporation while studying for his degree. After completing his degree John worked at Le Pine, Morrisey & McParland in Napier. This involved travelling to Taupo on Court days as there was no permanent solicitor in Taupo. John came to Taupo on a permanent basis in 1955.
John has also worked overseas where he sat as a Magistrate in the Hong Kong courts for 3 years. On returning to New Zealand John practiced from home in Atiamuri for clients in Taupo and Rotorua before returning to Le Pine & Co.
Areas of practice
Over his many years at Le Pine & Co John built up a large and varied practice. In some instances he acted for families over 5 generations. He continued to assist clients in a variety of property and business areas up until May 2011. John maintained a substantial Maori Land Court practice for which he was recognised in the region.
Reflections on the law
The practice of law has changed since John started. He recalled that the role of a lawyer was more of a vocation and that due to the pressures of modern society the practice of law has changed to be less so now.
What he enjoys about his work
John enjoyed his work. He had close relationships with his clients and enjoyed the continued contact and the opportunity to help in times of need. There was nothing John liked more than careful reading of the law to find the winning solution.