COVID-19 Response

Ussher Lawyers is a boutique law firm servicing the entire Thames Coromandel, Waikato and Bay of Plenty region and beyond. We service a diverse clientele based locally, nationally and internationally.

We specialise in personal and real property law. This includes residential,commercial and rural conveyancing, business sales and acquisitions, subdivisions and cross-lease matters, easements, financing, wills, estates, relationship property, enduring powers of attorney and more.

Formed in 2007 (originally as Coromandel Law but in March, 2014 rebranding as Ussher Lawyers) by Michael Ussher, Ussher Lawyers Limited has undergone rapid growth with offices now located in both Whangamata and Whitianga.

The team at both Ussher Lawyers offices are professional and personable, and will be sure to handle your work with utmost care, confidence and competence.

MICHAEL USSHER, Director

Michael has been practicing law since 2002 and has considerable experience working on a wide range of legal matters. Michael has experience as a senior solicitor within one of New Zealand’s top 5 law firms in Auckland, as well as at a medium-sized law firm in Tauranga. Michael also has practical experience in owning and operating a successful small business in Whangamata.

Our General Terms of Engagement

Ussher Lawyers will be following best practise by only taking pre-booked appointments in our offices. Our everyday business transactions will remain the same as before, however to keep our staff and clients safe, we do ask that you assist us by adhering to sensible hygiene precautions when coming into our office. Please sign in on arrival, wear a facial covering and observe the recommended safe distancing measures. We ask that if you or someone you have had recent contact with are feeling unwell, are suffering from fever, cough, runny nose or flu like symptoms, or if you have any other reason for possible Covid19 related concern, please do not come and see us – please call us first to discuss your situation, so that we can reschedule or arrange an alternative method to meet. We really appreciate your cooperation.

PROPERTY

• Conveyancing:
  Buying real estate, whether residential, commercial or rural, is often one of the most significant and life changing events we experience in our lives. For most of us, it will be the greatest financial obligation you will ever commit to. It pays to get the job done properly. Ussher Lawyers want to see you succeed in making all the right decisions. Ussher Lawyers provides a comprehensive conveyancing service that considers all aspects of development or investment, from initial scoping, contracting, conveyancing, financing structure, dispute resolution, negotiation, tax efficiencies, resource management issues and more.Please ring us before you sign any contract. The considerations to make when purchasing property are exhaustive and you are better off using our skill and expertise before you sign to avoid any unwanted complications in the future.
• Leases:
  Ussher Lawyers can provide you with ongoing lease advice, including preparation of leases, leasing structure, current trends, renewals, right of first refusals, rent reviews, variations, assignments and change of control, advising landlord and tenant on make good and default provisions, rent review mechanisms, additions, alterations and termination procedures.
• Subdivisions:
  We make the process easy. We liaise with your surveyors, you, your neighbours, your Bank and LINZ to ensure title issues in a timely manner. We’re experts in drafting easements, covenants and other interests.
• Easements:
  Easements are often overlooked and contain hidden issues. Disputes between neighbours are common and we have the expertise to assist you to interpret the fine print and resolve any disputes.

FINANCING

Ussher Lawyers can advise and assist you on borrowing and security structures. We make it easy to change from Bank to Bank.

WILLS & ESTATES

Estate planning and personal wealth protection involves making informed decisions,with careful planning to protect your hard earned assets by minimising exposure to creditors, relationship property claims, and challenges against your estate. Will drafting is becoming more and more complex and we don’t believe you should draft them without seeing your lawyer.

Ussher Lawyers can assist you with all aspects of estate planning and administration including drafting wills and appointing powers of attorney, as well as establishing and managing family trusts.

 COMMERCIAL LAW

Ussher Lawyers can assist in ensuring the internal governance of your company is maximising the limited liability advantages offered by the Companies Act 1993. Ussher Lawyers can also assist you with company incorporation and administration, shareholders agreements, sale and purchase of businesses including drafting agreements and conducting due diligence investigations, ongoing internal governance issues and procedures and protecting the relationship between shareholders and directors.

Our General Terms of Engagement

Ussher Lawyers Limited (“Ussher Lawyers”) is committed to ensuring compliance with its legal obligations under the Privacy Act 2020 (the “Act”).

SCOPE

This privacy policy sets out how Ussher Lawyers will collect, store, use disclose and protect your personal information.

PERSONAL INFORMATION

Personal information is described as any information that relates to an identifiable person.

Ussher Lawyers collects and stores personal information for the purpose of conducting our business, understanding our client(s) needs, and to meet our legal obligations relating to the Act and anti-money laundering legislation.

Depending on the nature of your relationship with Ussher Lawyers, the personal information we will collect from you may include:

• Name, date of birth, address & contact details;
• Occupation;
• Valid photo identification;
• IRD number;
• Employment details;
• Evidence of source of wealth/funds (in some cases); and
• Any other information required to fulfill our legal obligations so that we can meet our legal obligations and can act for you.

COLLECTING PERSONAL INFORMATION FROM YOU

Ussher Lawyers may collect personal information from you directly, by email, phone, forms, face to face meetings, and via our website.

Ussher Lawyers must comply with the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Act 2009 (“AML/CFT law”) meaning we must collect specific personal information from you, this is called customer due diligence (CDD).

Please refer to our AML policy for more information on CDD and AML/CFT law.

Ussher Lawyers use third party APLYID software to complete CDD, you can learn more about APLYID online at https://www.aplyid.com/
If you are unable or unwilling to complete our CDD requirements, Ussher Lawyers may be unable to act for you.

SECURITY & STORAGE – ENSURING YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION IS SAFE WITH US

Ussher Lawyers takes all steps to ensure that your personal information is both safe and protected from any misuse.

All information is stored either electronically (requiring logins and passwords) or physically (in secured premises), meaning only authorised persons have access to your personal information.

We will use, disclose, or retain your personal information for as long as necessary to fulfil the purpose for which we collected the information, and as otherwise permitted or required by the Act and or AML/CFT law.

DISCLOSURE

Ussher Lawyers may need to disclose your personal information for the purpose of complying with our legal obligations, responding to your queries, carrying out your instructions, or as otherwise stated at the time of collection. We will not disclose personal information, except in accordance with the Act and AML/CFT law.
Ussher Lawyers may disclose your personal information to third parties who:

• Perform checks necessary under law on our behalf;
• Provide services and perform functions on our behalf (data storage provider, consultants and barristers); and
• Maintain databases against which your identity may be verified (Aplyid).

We may disclose your personal information to the courts, tribunals and regulatory authorities and anyone else to whom you authorise us to disclose it.

ACCESSING YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION

You as a client have the right to access your readily retrievable personal information we hold and request that your personal information be updated or corrected. Please contact our offices if you would like to update any personal information we hold about you. We may charge a fee for providing access and making the corrections, we will advise you in relation to our fees at the time of the request.

COMPLAINTS

If you have any concerns about the way that we collect, store and use your personal information, or if you have any queries about this Privacy Policy, please contact our Privacy Officer, Natasha Ussher at natasha@ussherlawyers.co.nz