Our specialist industries
Lawyers who understand your industry and add value to your business
At Ford Sumner we have special expertise and experience in some critical New Zealand industries and sectors, including aviation, construction, property, and the government sector. We support clients in those sectors with a close understanding of both the regulatory context and the commercial realities.
Whether clients need advice in commercial or corporate law, or are dealing with an employment issue, or need expertise in resolving disputes, our team provides clear, practical advice that safeguards the client’s interests and furthers their business goals.
Our specialist industries
Ford Sumner are trusted advisers to 20 New Zealand airports, some of them servicing small communities, others fast-growing cities. We provide them and our other aviation clients with the full circle of legal support – from regulatory compliance, to corporate governance and finance, to employment law and dispute resolution.
Whether you need guidance on complex new CAA requirements, or you want a carefully crafted lease, Ford Sumner are the specialist aviation lawyers you need. We are experienced and responsive, and we always have a strategic eye on your business goals.
As an AoG panel member, Ford Sumner provides government agencies with smart, cost-effective legal counsel. We untangle procurement rules for you, draft watertight contracts, manage your employment and privacy risks, and defend your decisions against challenges.
We have a deep understanding of not only the public-law frameworks that govern our public sector but also the commercial realities agencies have to grapple with. Our tight-knit, responsive team will help your agency achieve better results for New Zealanders, while ensuring you’re fully accountable as a government organisation.
We provide developers, builders, contractors and other construction clients with clear, practical advice on contracts, legal and regulatory risks, health and safety issues, and disputes. We understand your industry, and we will support you and your business goals with clear, practical legal advice, so you can focus on the job at hand.
Whether we are drafting an NZS agreement, helping you navigate a payment claim, or resolving a disagreement through adjudication or negotiation, we will supply the pragmatic support you need to keep your project moving.
Through our Tradie Law website, we also offer ready-made templates and compliance checks for quick, day-to-day support.
Our seasoned property lawyers bring hard-earned experience to every deal. We guide owners, investors, and developers on purchases, finance, leases, and subdivisions. We also help individual clients secure their assets through trusts, wills, and enduring powers of attorney.
You might be managing a complex property portfolio or you might be buying your first home – whatever your legal needs, we provide the expertise and support you need so you can move ahead with confidence and a clear direction.
We advise clients across a wide range of industries and sectors – from technology and energy, to manufacturing and agribusiness, to healthcare and professional services. We bring legal expertise in contracts, governance, employment, and dispute resolution, along with an astute sense of commercial realities.
Our team will quickly understand your operational context and business goals, and translate complicated regulatory requirements into a clear compliance strategy for your organisation. We will clear the legal landmines for you and provide the pragmatic advice you need to keep your organisation moving and succeeding.