We are proud of our rich history, and our position as a trusted adviser to Kiwi and global businesses for more than 140 years.

We recognise our people, both past and present, and their contribution to shaping our firm’s success.

The firm that would eventually become MinterEllisonRuddWatts, began in 1880 as Stewart Johnston Campbell Drummond & Co in the late 19th century, becoming Rudd & Garland in 1938 when co-founders Jack Garland and Laurie Rudd joined forces to form the practice.

The firm grew and evolved over the next 50 years, eventually becoming Rudd Watts & Stone in 1984 through the merger of three law firms – Rudd Garland Horrocks Stewart Johnson in Auckland, and Stone & Co and Watts & Patterson in Wellington. This created New Zealand’s first ‘mega-firm’ with a significant presence in both Auckland and Wellington.

The firm became MinterEllisonRuddWatts in 2001, with the name change reinforcing the firm’s international profile and recognising the 15 year partnership between Rudd Watts & Stone and the MinterEllison Legal Group.

Today, MinterEllisonRuddWatts stands as an independent, top tier New Zealand law firm with excellent connections in Australia, and around the world, including as a member of the World Law Group – the most elite global network of independent firms providing borderless collaboration and global expertise.