When Noel Gaze and Jim Burt set up their legal practices in the 1920's, lawyers laboriously copied documents by hand and knew every other lawyer in town.

They would not recognise the legal profession today but we believe that they would recognise Gaze Burt, not because it bears their names some 80 years later but because of its ethos.

Throughout Gaze Burt's history its partners and staff have sought to provide quality personal service to their clients, a rich diversity of people, organisations and businesses. Important niche areas in that time have been non-profit bodies (many of them but by no means all Christian based) and small to medium businesses.

More recently the franchising area has been pioneered by partner David Munn. These niche areas have been built on a solid foundation of property, estates, trusts, matrimonial, employment, tax, resource management, dispute resolution, and commercial law areas. All these areas continue to be an important part of our firm.

As with any law firm Gaze Burt is a reflection of both its past and present partners. The current partners are Gaze Burt chairman David Asbury; Ross Dillon, our vastly experienced litigation partner, who has made two appearances in the Privy Council;  David Munn, our franchise specialist;  David Asbury who leads our property team; Michael Hockly who heads our rapidly expanding North Shore office, Les Allen who leads our commercial team,  Vincent Naidu (business and property law) and Andrew Clemow (dispute resolution and employment) who both joined the partnership in May 2006 having previously been associates with the firm. In 2006 Carl Gruebner, a West Auckland sole practitioner, moved to Gaze Burt short term with an aim to pass his clients over to Gaze Burt before he retired from law, which he has now done.

The partners lead an enthusiastic and talented team of lawyers and legal executives supported by many legal secretaries and office staff. There is a depth of experience among the partners as well as associates and former partners such as Rodney Deeble and Neil Evans. The addition of Bruce Westbrooke's practice to the firm adds a long-standing Devonport and North Shore client base, with Bruce having strong expertise in commercial property.

The partners believe that the firm has carved out a unique place on Auckland's legal landscape. This is in large part due to the fact that Gaze Burt partners have always placed emphasis, during all periods of change and challenge, on solidarity and commitment between the partners and commitment to quality personal service to the firm's clients. The current partners value this heritage and are proud to carry it forward.