About Us

WHERE IT BEGAN: OUR RURAL ROOTS

Our rural roots have always been in serving provincial areas. It began in 1935, with what was described at the time as a ‘very distinguished’ Buller practice founded by Michael Scully. It evolved through various partnerships with highly respected lawyers who went on to become Senior Magistrates and District Court Judges (Scully & Sullivan and DJ Sullivan & Smith).

David Orchard ran the Westport law firm for four decades from 1966. Bravely in 2001, during a regional downturn, David opened the Nelson law office (Stoke). In 2007, Lee James (previously Stevens) took over the management of the Nelson and Westport law offices, and in 2012, the firm was incorporated as Stevens Orchard Lawyers Limited. Margot Harkness and Jane Duncan joined Lee as Co-Directors. Driven by the same community values and desire to do good – all are highly experienced lawyers with a reputation for being tenacious in support of their clients. Meet all Stevens Orchard, Westport and Nelson lawyers, solicitors, registered legal executives and support staff here.

OUR PEOPLE

WHERE IT’S HEADING: FIRST CHOICE

We are proud of how our provincial law firm has grown from a small local Westport law firm to providing legal services to the wider regions of Nelson, Tasman, Marlborough, and the West Coast. We are active members of Law Alliance New Zealand. We will remain provincial in our provision of legal services as it allows us to specialise and be hands-on “involved” in the way we know works best for people. We have developed a structure that allows us to be more agile and responsive to clients’ legal needs, and run our practice as a caring efficient business. This means clients can enjoy senior lawyer attention for good fair value. Our specialist legal areas are Rural Law, Property Law and Commercial Law – and we offer the full range of legal services in Asset Protection and Planning, Civil Dispute and Family Law.

OUR SERVICES

GENUINE CARE: THE CORE OF OUR APPROACH

Best outcomes are our focus and empathy is our point of difference. We are smart professional lawyers who genuinely care for our clients – offering excellent advice and rock solid support.

TESTIMONIALS

Thank you for your work and the great advice that you have given us both. I would highly recommend you to others. Kind regards, Annette MacPherson NZ DipBus, NZIM

Brilliant, thanks for all your help. I've found the service from you guys to be excellent! Really clear, concise and prompt! Many thanks.

I am writing to say what a great firm Stevens Orchard Lawyers is. I have had the sad duty to be the executor for 3 close family members over the last 3 years. None of these wills were easy to navigate and settle. Fractious family members made it tough going. The lawyers I dealt with over all of these and…read more

L.F

The lovely Stevens Orchard Team of Ladies are indeed a “highly qualified, feisty team of lawyers with heart, integrity and great heads for business”. It is with some sadness, that we are leaving Westport after 10 years in residence, during which Louise and Jane have assisted us with buying three sections, selling 3 homes, setting up one Family Trust, and…read more

C & W.F

As always, superb service. Thank you. Enjoy your weekend.

We have settled into our new home and have a moment to say Thank You for your good work with reorganising our sales and purchases. We found you to be very organised and clear with your dealings with us. When we get a moment we will call in and thank you personally but wanted to take a moment to do…read more

We just want to say thank you very much for all your hard work in making our dreams come true. We truly appreciate your positive attitude and the fact you never let us give up. Thank you Jane from the bottom of our hearts.

T & J

Thank you so much for taking care of all our stress!!! You have done an amazing job.

V & H

We are delighted with the service we have received for the settlement of Mum’s estate & with the updating of our legal documents. All have been conducted in a friendly atmosphere with lots of smiles and a genuine caring attitude. We’ve really appreciated your advice, your easy-to-understand explanations of all the detail & the efficient way in which you have…read more

L & J Hill

We were thrilled with the service you provided! We were hoping you would be able to represent us again…?

K & B

Thank you for your exemplary assistance in this matter and earlier with our Mother’s estate.

Margot was excellent in helping me through a really difficult time for me and my daughter. She was always upbeat and I was impressed with the quality of advice and legal service she gave me in my parenting dispute. Margot walked me through the process and made it easier. Words can’t describe how awesome she has been!

D.L.

The Committee have asked me to express their thanks for the work that you carried out for us in the purchase of the land. It truly is appreciated.

Robyn Nahr, Secretary SPCA Buller