Latest News
Cooneys CEO Named Law Firm Leader of the Year
Our firm is incredibly fortunate to have Cecilia Burgess at the helm as our CEO and now she has been recognised nationally for her outstanding performance, winning Law Firm Leader of the Year (<100 lawyers) at this year’s NZ Law Awards.
Cecilia attended the gala dinner at Auckland’s Viaduct Events Centre along with a big team of CLM partners and staff who all celebrated in style. She is humbled by the win, saying she never expected to take home top honours in what was her debut nomination.
“I was chuffed just to be a finalist and I couldn’t believe it when I won! It was a special moment and proves that a female non-lawyer can lead a law firm and affect rapid and effective change.”
Cecilia join...
Recent News
Mary Hill One of NZ Lawyer's Elite Women for 2024
Every year New Zealand’s top female legal professionals are recognised for their outstanding dedication and ability to lead from the front in NZ Lawyer’s Elite Women list. We are...
National Excellence Awards Beckon For Cooney Lees Morgan
The legal industry’s most outstanding individuals and firms will be celebrated at the upcoming NZ Law Awards 2024, and Cooney Lees Morgan is proud to be among the best of the best! For the...
Michael Cooney MNZM
14 June 1944 - 13 August 2024 Cooney Lees Morgan wants to acknowledge the sudden passing of Michael Cooney on 13 August 2024. Michael was a key figure at our firm for many years, and his legacy...
Supporting our surf lifeguards on and off the water
Omanu Beach Surf Life Saving Club is an iconic community organisation and one Cooney Lees Morgan is proud to support with its single largest sponsorship agreement. Omanu Beach SLSC is one of the...
Dress for Success 'Humbled' By Generous Donation
Professional women from leading Tauranga companies have come together to support Dress for Success and help female job-seekers while refreshing their own wardrobes at the same time. Women who work...
Promotions Announced as our Legal Talent Excels
Our desire to always do better and continue developing our services and expertise, is one reason why many clients stay with us for generations. Career progression is an important part of that ethos...
Patrick Anderson Named 2024 Rising Star
Senior Associate Patrick Anderson is a top performer at our firm – and now NZ Lawyer has officially named him a ‘Rising Star’ for 2024. “It’s an honour to be recognised...
Introducing Our Firm's Newest Partner - Chad Wallace
Many lawyers aspire to become a Partner in a successful law firm and we’re excited to announce that Chad Wallace will fulfil that career ambition this April. He will join CLM’s...
Oriens Capital Invests in Healthcare & Professional Services IT
Cooney Lees Morgan has played a key role in advising Oriens Capital ‘Fund 2’ on its recently completed fourth investment, an acquisition of 53% of the equity in TMG Cloudland Group, an...
Uni Students Enjoy Taste of Law Firm Life
Studying law at university and practising law in the real world are two very different things, and Cooney Lees Morgan is proud to help bridge that gap. Seven aspiring lawyers from Victoria and Otago...
Celebrating Diversity With The Rainbow Tick
The best working environment will always attract the best people, and inclusivity is a big part of our ethos. So we are proud to announce Cooney Lees Morgan has just received the Rainbow Tick –...
Celebrating Legal Excellence
Celebrating Legal Excellence: Cooney Lees Morgan excellence awardee for the New Zealand Law Awards 2023 We’re thrilled to share the exciting news that Cooney Lees Morgan has again been...
CLM's Legal Expertise Ensures Basketball Deal a Slam Dunk
New Zealand’s youngest-ever Tall Black, Tai Wynyard, has just become the first Kiwi to sign a professional contract to play 3x3 basketball in China – and Cooney Lees Morgan is proud to...
Cooneys Celebrates Promotions Success
As a law firm, we believe in setting the bar high and striving to provide the best legal service and advice to our clients every single day. So it’s heartening to see our staff achieve their...
Katie Brown - Associate
Ten years ago I worked as a summer clerk at Cooney Lees Morgan while I was studying law at Canterbury University. I was lucky enough to be placed in the litigation team where I got a wide exposure to...
Dedication & Hard Work Paves The Way For Success
Career progression is one of life’s most satisfying achievements and the Office Junior position at Cooney Lees Morgan has proved an ideal launch pad for several of our top performing...
Deeanah Winders - Senior Associate
I’m delighted to have been promoted to Senior Associate. It’s an honour to be recognised by Cooney Lees Morgan for the skills and experiences I bring to the firm. My pathway to law...
Erin Handley - Senior Solicitor
There is no one linear path in life and those who know me, have seen me walk a very long path indeed. I started out making tea and coffee as the Office Junior at Cooney Lees Morgan in 2001 and...
Patrick Anderson - Senior Associate
People like to know where they stand. At Cooney Lees Morgan, there is a formal set of criteria to measure yourself against and the onus is on you to apply for promotion. Compared to the traditional...
Tinka Bowyer - Senior Associate
I love working in the field of property law because the property industry is filled with opportunity. Over the years I have acted for many individuals who have taken chances and transformed their...
Rachael Zame - Special Counsel
I’ve always been fascinated by the intersection of law and science, and as a child I dreamed of becoming a forensic scientist or a pathologist. However, I realised I didn’t have the...
Chad's Star Continues to Rise
NZ Lawyer has just named Senior Associate Chad Wallace among their ‘Rising Stars’ for 2023, proving once again the outstanding level of legal talent we have working at Cooney Lees...
2023 Summer Clerks Enjoy Real-World Experience
While most of us had a leisurely summer break, six promising law students threw themselves headfirst into ‘summer clerk’ positions at Cooney Lees Morgan. It’s an opportunity we...
Welcome to our 2023 Summer Clerks
Dealing with real legal complexities on behalf of real clients is vastly different from studying theoretical knowledge at law school – and that’s exactly what our 2023 intake of summer...
Fresh Start in Tauranga for Senior Lawyer
After 30 years of litigation experience at every level of New Zealand’s judicial system, Greg Stringer could easily opt to become a barrister sole. But the former Partner at a well-known...
Why Rising Star Hilary Anderson Puts People First
Having made the NZ Lawyer 2022 ‘Rising Stars’ list, Senior Associate Hilary Anderson continues to prove why she’s one of Cooney Lees Morgan’s most valuable...
Cooney's Estate Administration Expert Retires
Estate administration and dealing with bereaved families requires a special set of skills, and Cooney Lees Morgan is lucky to have had Margaret Cannon’s empathy and expertise on hand for 22...
Cooneys Recognises its Rising Stars
The legal talent and expertise at Cooney Lees Morgan are now stronger than ever, with seven staff members receiving promotions in 2022. Tania Waikato’s unparalleled litigation skills have led...
Sophia's Hard Work and Ambition Rewarded
When you love what you do, it’s easy to put your heart and soul into it and reap the rewards that hard work brings. That’s exactly what 27 year-old Sophia Antonopoulos is doing at...
Lydia's Global Career Pathway Leads to Success
Moving from one side of the world to the other has been a lifechanging experience for Lydia Harris – but it’s also thrown some extra obstacles into her career path. “I...
Passion for Property Fast-Tracks Lucy's Career
“For me it was always property,” Lucy McDougall says. “At university I loved property and land law. So all my elective law papers were actually very much property-focused. It...
Nicola's Taking Control of the Corporate Ladder
Striving to earn that next big promotion has never been a priority for Nicola King. Throughout her career her philosophy has always been to “let the universe provide and see what turns...
Rachel's Maternity Leave No Barrier to Promotion
Making sure you are present at home for your children and in the office for your professional career is an ongoing challenge that many parents face. And in a profession now dominated by young...
Erin Charts Her Own Path To Success At Cooneys
Erin Handley never thought she was cut out for university study, let alone a career as a Solicitor. She left Otumoetai College in the very first week of her seventh form year (Year 13) to escape the...
New Graduates Get Head Start On Legal Career
Transitioning from university to fulltime work can be daunting – but Cooney Lees Morgan’s summer clerk programme is the ideal first step for law students. Each summer the firm takes on a...
Cooneys Welcomes New CEO Cecilia Burgess
We are fortunate to have some of the best legal minds in the country at Cooney Lees Morgan – and now we have appointed one of the best in the business to lead our firm. Our new CEO, Cecilia...
Passing The RMLA Baton On At Cooney Lees Morgan
Cooney Lees Morgan Partner Mary Hill recently completed her two-year term as President of the Resource Management Law Association (RMLA) – just as her colleague, Senior Associate Kate Stubbing,...
Cooney Lees Morgan Supercharges Its Resource Management Expertise
Professional resource management advice is more sought-after than ever, and Cooney Lees Morgan is ready to deliver. The firm’s specialist Resource Management and Local Government team, which...
Flexibility Allows Rebecca To Realise Ultimate Career Goal
Rebecca Graham is helping set a new benchmark for work-life balance in the legal industry thanks to a deliberate focus on flexible work arrangements at Cooney Lees Morgan in Tauranga. The 40...
Growth Creates Recruitment Opportunities
The chance to work with top national and international clients while living in one of New Zealand’s most desirable places doesn’t come around often. But if your dream is to have a...
Taking PRIDE In Who We Are
UPDATE Unfortunately this years event has been cancelled, we will be back next year proudly supporting the Tauranga Moana Pride Picnic. “Be yourself – everyone else is...
Last Cooney Bids Farewell To Century-Old Family Firm
One of Tauranga’s oldest and most successful law firms is approaching the end of an era as Owen Cooney – the third generation of his family to work at Cooney Lees Morgan – announces...
Promoting Top Talent In 2020
Rewarding our staff for outstanding results, hard work and commitment is a key focus at Cooney Lees Morgan and our Partners are thrilled to announce promotions for five of our talented team members...
A Landmark Project for Tauranga CBD
Tauranga’s first major apartment build in recent years required Cooney Lees Morgan to be across all legal aspects of the project from start to finish – including the settlement of 24...
Introducing new partner Campbell Izzard
Bay of Plenty exporters are sure to welcome the arrival of commercial law specialist Campbell Izzard at Cooney Lees Morgan who has vast experience in the Asia-Pacific market. Izzard joined the...
Busy Summer Ahead For Law Students
Every year we welcome one or two law students to Cooney Lees Morgan during their university summer break – but this year we’ve recruited five to help foster the next generation of...
Mary Hill Elected RMLA President
Cooney Lees Morgan Partner Mary Hill has just been elected President of the Resource Management Law Association (RMLA) at their annual conference in Christchurch. The organisation boasts 1100...
Support For Tarnished Frocks And Divas As Strong As Ever
Tarnished Frocks and Divas celebrates and empowers women over 40 and has become an iconic event on Tauranga’s social calendar. Tauranga law firm Cooney Lees Morgan is proud to have been...
Murray Humbled By Export Honour
Growers, post-harvest operators and exporters are all key clients at Cooney Lees Morgan and we’re delighted one of our own has been recognised for his significant contribution to New...
Michael Cooney Retires After Nearly 50 Years Service
For almost 50 years Michael Cooney has led from the front – making his mark on Tauranga’s legal fraternity, business community and the city itself. After a stellar career at...
Donation Drive
Rachel Van Rossen, a Senior Solicitor in our Private Client and Trust team took it upon herself to contact the Tauranga Women's Refuge recently to ask what their current needs were....
Promotions Recognise Our Top Talent In 2019
Putting yourself forward for promotion can be a daunting prospect but we like to do things a little differently here at Tauranga law firm Cooney Lees Morgan. Rather than waiting to be mysteriously...
Welcoming Our Newest Partner
We have an exceptional pool of talent at Cooney Lees Morgan and we’re delighted to welcome one of our young stars to the firm’s partnership team. At just 33 years of age, Cameron Russell...
Celebrating 25 Years With CLM
As a new graduate walking through the door of Cooney Lees Morgan on 14 March 1994, Peter Rust recalls feeling “a bit nervous”. It was his first job in the legal profession and...
Helping Spread Christmas Cheer
Food is a central part of everyone’s Christmas celebrations but many Tauranga locals struggle to afford the basics at this time of year. That’s why we organise a special collection...
Cameron Russell - Young Employee Of The Year
Cameron Russell Scoops Tauranga’s ‘Young Employee Of The Year’ Award We’re lucky to have some outstanding individuals working at Cooney Lees Morgan and one of our Senior...
Bringing Soft Paradise To Tauranga
Acclaimed New Zealand visual artist Dr Fiona Pardington MNZM will stage a solo photographic exhibition at Tauranga Art Gallery later this month thanks to generous support from Cooney Lees Morgan. As...
Unveiling Our New Gift To Tauranga City
Five new towering pohutukawa trees now provide much-needed shade beside Tauranga’s popular waterfront playground thanks to Cooney Lees Morgan. Our firm is delighted to have sponsored the...
Helping Clients Grow & Succeed On The World Stage
It was wonderful to see one of my long-standing clients, Greg and Mandy Jarvis, owners of Bluelab Corporation, win the ‘Service to Export Award’ at the recent Bay of Plenty Export...
Important Changes for Clients
From 1 July 2018 all lawyers were required to comply with the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Act 2009 (“AML/CFT Act”). What is the purpose of the AML/CFT...
New Promotions Announced
Fostering young talent and encouraging staff to progress their legal careers are two important values here at Cooney Lees Morgan. Our partners are pleased to announce the following promotions have...
Reflecting On 100 Years Of Success
The Cooney family has had the unique privilege of watching our Tauranga law firm grow and evolve over the past 100 years and we’re all immensely proud to have reached this significant...
Cooneys back St Johns Building project
St John Tauranga will soon move into their brand new headquarters – a $4.5m project which Cooney Lees Morgan has been instrumental in helping to build. Our firm, together with other tenants in...
Mary Hill appointed RMLA Secretary
We are proud to announce that Cooney Lees Morgan Partner Mary Hill has been appointed as Secretary of the Resource Management Law Association. Established in 1992, the Resource...
Presentation Partner for TAG
Cooney Lees Morgan has a strong association with Tauranga Art Gallery, supporting the gallery through sponsorship of their exhibitions. As lovers of the arts Cooney Lees Morgan Partners and...
Celebrating Administrative Professionals Day!
A fabulous day was enjoyed by all to celebrate Administrative Professionals Day in style! A series of fun games and events were held, where we put the Cooney Lees Morgan Partners to the test, with...
Lunch Break Battles make the local news!
There were smiles on their faces and sweat on their brows as Monique Lowry, Stu Robertson and Julia Edward completed the Cooney Lees Morgan Lunchbreak Battle this afternoon. The trio from Team Up...
Mary features in Uno Magazine
Cooney Lees Morgan's newest Partner, Mary Hill features in the brand new issue of Uno Magazine, out now. Mary's tale from her arrival in Tauranga to becoming a Partner at the firm makes for...
Tauranga Boys Cricket team off to the Nationals!
This story orignally appeared in the Bay of Plenty Times, 12:00 PM Monday Apr 3, 2017. Cooney Lees Morgan Tauranga Boys' College cricket team have qualified for the Secondary School...
Mary Hill becomes a Partner!
On the 1st of April Cooneys officially welcome Mary as the firm's latest Partner and are very excited to have her onboard. Mary's 15 years experience as a Litigator,...
Forty Million Dollar Orchard Deal
Having a long-standing relationship with Ngai Tukairangi, Cooney Lees Morgan were delighted to be entrusted with the responsibility of acting for them on their recent acquisition of a 60...
Don't miss Sam Curtis on tour!
Recently promoted and now called on tour; a dislocated thumb for a fellow cricketer means Cooney Lees Morgan Associate, Sam Curtis, will join the White Ferns One-Day squad to contest the Rose Bowl in...
Look who got promoted...
There is a quote from iconic, businessman, Richard Branson, that states “If you take care of your employees, they will take care of the clients.” It’s a statement that we like to...
New appointment for Mary Hill
An exciting opportunity recently arose for Cooney Lees Morgan Associate, Mary Hill, with her appointment to the National Committee of the Resource Management Law Association. The Resource Management...
Sam Curtis to take on South Africa
Article by Peter White, published in the Bay of Plenty Times on Sunday Sep 25, 2016 When Sam Curtis played her last ODI for the White Ferns two years ago she wondered if she would get another chance...
5 Minutes with... Rachel Boyte
Published in NZ Lawyer 12 September 2016 What made you decide to become a lawyer? I fell into it – started out at university doing business and languages, and did LAWS101 as I thought a basic...
We are New Zealand Law Awards finalists
Cooney Lees Morgan is officially a finalist in the 2016 New Zealand Law Awards! The Mid–Market Deal of the Year merger to form Coretex and Milford Investment was shortlisted for the Awards...
Tania strong arms the competition
Yet another member of our team, Tania Waikato has a hidden talent. Not only a highly successful senior solicitor for us, but also a highly successful CrossFit athlete. Having won the Master...
Sam Curtis called up to the White Ferns
Huge congratulations to senior solicitor Sam Curtis for making the New Zealand White Ferns Cricket team. Sam Curtis has been chosen as a member of the New Zealand White Ferns cricket team on the...
New Deputy Chairperson at TECT
One of our very own, Cooneys partner, Paul Tustin has been elected Deputy Chairperson for the Tauranga Energy Consumer Trust (TECT) after previously being elected as a trustee of TECT in...
Supporting TAG and Project Tauranga
Tauranga’s residents will soon be enjoying two special exhibitions at the Tauranga Art Gallery thanks to Project Tauranga partner Cooney Lees Morgan’s generosity – and Art Gallery...
The healing power of sport
During this time of worldwide Olympic spirit we get to experience a world brought together by the achievements and successes of many dedicated athletes and now this same experience has been brought...
Cooneys attends 2016 GP Conference
For the second year in a row the team at Cooney Lees Morgan attended the annual GP Conference in Rotorua, mixing and mingling with GPs, nurses and practice managers who had travelled from far and...
Sponsor of TAG exhibitions
Did you know that Cooney Lees Morgan is sponsoring some upcoming exhibitions at the Tauranga Art Gallery? By Rebecca Graham We are supporting a series of exhibition at Tauranga Art Gallery by...
City Explorer Challenge Final Results
This year’s Cooney Lees Morgan City Explorer Challenge was a great success. It was impressive to see how many creative photos were received and how positive the vibe was over the...
City Explorer Challenge Update
We’re just over the halfway mark, and things are heating up. A good number of competitors are enjoying getting out and about, sending in photos of their smiling faces at various...
Comvita announces Denyer in board position
NZX-listed Bay of Plenty honey and health products company Comvita has announced the appointment of Tauranga lawyer Murray Denyer to the board, effective April 1. The Cooney Lees Morgan partner is...
Health and Safety Law Changes
You may have seen an article in the Bay of Plenty Times (4 April 2016) about the new health and safety legislation which has now come into effect. The new legislation is called the Health and...
Great Scott!
We are proud to announce Scott Goodwin as our newest partner. Scott’s broad range of experience, diligence and appetite for a challenge will stand him in good stead as he takes...
Comvita's new Independent Director
The Board of natural health products company, Comvita is pleased to announce the appointment of Murray Denyer as an Independent Director of Comvita, effective from 01 April 2016. Murray is an...
Join up for inter-firm fitness challenge
Time is running out for workers who want to enter an exercise-focussed team event aimed at exploring the bike and walkways of the city. The Cooney Lees Morgan City Explorer Challenge is a chance to...
Businesses unite for Tauranga Foodbank
Article courtesy of Bay of Plenty Times An "amazing" effort by a group of businesses sharing a building pulled together a van full of food and a large cheque for the Tauranga Community...
New Trustees for Art Gallery
Article courtesy of Bay of Plenty Times The Tauranga Art Gallery Trust has today announced the appointment of three new trustees - Rebecca Graham, Ben Eagleson and Simon Clark. Rebecca Graham...
TECT boost much-needed for St John station upgrade
Article courtesy of Bay of Plenty Times St John Tauranga's base is to get a major overhaul after receiving a TECT grant worth more than $2 million. The Tauranga Energy Consumer Trust...
Sale of Route K frees up Council cash
Article courtesy of Bay of Plenty Times The Route K sale has freed up the council's options and allowed it to focus on developing civic amenities and public spaces. The sale of strategic toll...
Buddy Day underway
Article courtesy of Bay of Plenty Times They may be imaginary friends – but the cardboard buddies created by Mount Maunganui Intermediate School pupils are sending out a strong message...
New Chamber of Commerce board announced
Tauranga Chamber of Commerce have announced their new board for the year ahead. New President Luke Stewart thanked the outgoing President Paul Bowker and board members Richard Craven, Tracy...
What does business want from local government?
RDC chief executive Peter Guerin's Council Talk column in today's Daily Post. Paul Tustin is a partner in Tauranga law firm Cooney Lees Morgan and was a key speaker at a recent Chamber of...
