Queenstown Law Firm Mactodd Opens Lyttleton Office

Queenstown Law Firm Mactodd Opens Lyttleton Office

September 14 2009: The partners of South Island legal firm Mactodd are delighted to announce that prominent former Central Otago lawyer Ray Blake has agreed to join the partnership as a Senior Associate.

Mr Blake will lead the opening of a branch office for Mactodd in his newly adopted home town of Lyttelton. He will also assist with the manning of Mactodd's recently opened Christchurch city office.

Mr Blake had a long and distinguished legal career in Central Otago before relocating to Lyttelton 12 months ago. He was formerly a partner in the law firm Bodkins based in Alexandra, before establishing a firm in Wanaka, known as Blake Horder Gowing.

Mactodd managing partner John Troon said his partners were pleased to formalise their long standing professional and personal relationship with Mr Blake.

"Ray joined Bodkins at about the same time as Mactodd partner Graeme Todd was starting his career in Queenstown. They both eventually became partners of their respective firms, then both practised in Wanaka. Between the two of them they have left an indelible mark on the provision of legal services in Central Otago and now they will be offering the benefit of that experience in Canterbury.”

Mr Troon noted that there were not many areas of general legal practice that Mr Blake has not engaged in during his career. “We are very pleased to have secured Ray to assist with this latest phase of the development of Mactodd. He is a very colourful character and is well known throughout Canterbury and the South Island. He is a natural fit for our firm and the services we offer our clients."

Mr Blake said he welcomes the opportunity to work alongside Mactodd partners and he enjoys the challenge of establishing a legal practice and the interaction with clients.

"I am thoroughly enjoying living in the close knit community of Lyttelton. It’s obvious the town and the surrounding Banks Peninsula area will benefit greatly from a fulltime law firm, especially one with the many and varied skills that we at Mactodd can provide.”

Mactodd currently has five offices with the launch of the Lyttleton office. The head office is based in Queenstown and other offices operate in Cromwell, Wanaka and Christchurch CBD. Overall the firm has 40 personnel making it one of the larger firms in the South Island.

The Queenstown office is relocating to new premises, in the recently completed Ballarat Holdings complex in Church Street early in 2010 after 23 years based in the O’Connells Centre.

“Due to the expansion of our Queenstown staff we have outgrown our present space and we will shift to Church Street next year when the fitout of the new premises is complete,” said Mr Troon.

ENDS

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