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    About Us

    Our History

    Gibson Sheat Lawyers

    100 Years of Legal Expertise

    For nearly 100 years, Gibson Sheat has proudly served the Wellington region. Our origins began in both the Hutt Valley and the Wairarapa, where our founders aimed to build trusted law firms that supported their local communities.

    In the Hutt Valley, our origins trace back to 1927 when Eric Francis Rothwell opened his practice on High Street in Lower Hutt. In the Wairarapa, David Kennedy Logan established his firm in 1905, laying the groundwork for what would become Gibson Sheat’s Masterton office.

    Over the decades, the firm has grown and evolved while staying focused on practical legal advice and strong relationships with the people and communities we work with.

     

    Joining Forces

    Many of the strengths and specialist areas Gibson Sheat is known for today were shaped through strategic mergers with respected local firms. These mergers strengthened our regional presence and expanded the services we now offer across life, business, and community legal needs.

    Our key milestones include:

    Joining Forces

    1983

    Macalister Mazengarb Prothero & Co.
    Macalister Mazengarb Prothero logo

    1985

    Lee & Boyer
    Lee & Boyer

    1987

    Killalea Hale Robinson & Sarginson
    Killalea, Hale, Robinson & Sarginson

    2001

    Southall & Associates
    Southall & Associates Logo

    2014

    Harkness Law Limited
    Harkness Law logo

    2014

    Mark Coubrough
    Coubough Law logo

    2015

    Logan Gold Walsh
    LGW logo

    2020

    Nowland Gordon & Associates
    Nowland Gordon & Associates logo
    The Start of

    Our Story

    Our Hutt Valley chapter began in 1927 when Eric Rothwell opened his practice. In the 1930s he was joined by John Stanhope Reid, during a period when partnerships were essential to surviving the challenges of the time.

    In the 1940s and 1950s, Keith Gibson, E F Page and Bill Sheat joined the firm, each helping shape its direction and culture. Future Prime Minister Jack Marshall also played a role in the early years as a silent partner.

    The name Gibson Sheat was formally adopted in 1966 to honour the long serving partners who shaped the firm. Since the 1980s, our Lower Hutt office has been located in the former Power Board building, a familiar home for our people and our clients.

    Rothwell Gibson Page & Marshall sign
    Expanding into

    Wellington and the Wairarapa

    Our connection to central Wellington began in 1945 when E F Page joined the firm. This led to the formation of Rothwell Gibson & Page with offices in Wellington and Lower Hutt.

    We re established a dedicated Wellington office in 1999 on Customhouse Quay. After moving to Grey Street, we relocated to our current premises at 50 Customhouse Quay in 2021.

    In the Wairarapa, our roots date back to 1905 when David Kennedy Logan began practising law. The Logan family continued the firm for generations. After further partnerships and mergers, the practice became Logan Gold Walsh Lawyers before joining Gibson Sheat in 2015.

    Today, with offices in the Hutt Valley, Wellington and the Wairarapa, we remain committed to serving the region we have been part of for nearly a century.

    Turning back the clock

    A Look Through the Decades

    A visual journey through the firm’s past, showing early office life, community moments and the people who helped shape Gibson Sheat across generations.

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