Welcome

Welcome back to our first newsletter for 2024. 

We’ve all had a great holiday break and trust you have also had some time to rest and reflect on the past year. As we think of the year ahead, in this newsletter we cover a variety of the topics that clients often ask us about.  These include: 

• Relationship property – what is and isn’t covered? 
• Buying and selling a business – the steps you need to know for a successful outcome. 
• Treadwell Gordon is a ‘full-service firm” – what does that mean for you?

Also, learn a little bit more about one of our Whanganui directors, Pétra Allen, and we include a testimonial from Jill.  

If any of our articles raised any questions for you, please contact us to discuss how we can help you. 

Cheers,

Simon, Pétra, Andrew, Richard, Kirsten & the team

Relationship Property – What is it? 

Relationship property is the property that is shared between partners when a relationship ends. The Property (Relationships) Act 1976 is the law that governs how the property of couples who are married, in a civil union, or in a de facto relationship is divided.  Relationship property includes the family home and all family chattels, regardless of when they were acquired. Family chattels are things like furniture, appliances, household tools, pets, and [read more]

Spotlight on Pétra

Pétra assists clients with relationship property, residential and commercial property transactions, rural law and succession planning. Pétra is passionate about getting to know clients and their background (whether this is personal/family or commercial) in order to develop a good working relationship with her clients. Pétra is focused on the people aspect of the legal sector and how she can best meet the needs of her clients [read more]

Buying or selling a business

Buying or selling a business can be a complex and lengthy process that requires careful preparation, and professional advice for you to achieve a successful outcome.  Whether you are a buyer or a seller, you need to understand the process, the legal requirements, and the risks involved. Here are some key steps to consider when buying or selling a business. Before you enter into a business deal, you need to do your homework. This means checking the [read more]

Leap years are awesome! They give us an extra day to enjoy life every four years. But they also come with some challenges for employers and employees. How do you pay or get paid for working on February 29th? How do you calculate your annual holidays or sick leave? How do you know if you get a public holiday on that day?

Don't worry, we've got you covered. Here are some tips to help you navigate the leap year:

• If you earn a fixed annual salary, you might not get any extra money for working on February 29th, unless your contract says so.
• If you earn by the hour, day, or week, you might get more money in a leap year if you work on February 29th or if that day is in your pay period.
• If your annual holidays or sick leave depend on a year of service, you might have to work an extra day in a leap year to finish a full year of service.
• If your public holidays depend on whether you would normally work on that day, you might have a different entitlement in a leap year if February 29th is your usual working day.

The best way to deal with the leap year is to check your employment agreement and policies and see what they say. And remember to always act in good faith.

We are a full-service firm

If you are looking for legal assistance, you may have come across the term ‘full-service law firm’. Well, that’s us! So, what does it mean and what can we offer you? As a full-service law firm, we offer comprehensive legal services for clients across various sectors and industries. Whether you need advice, representation, or litigation, we have the expertise and experience to handle your legal matters effectively and efficiently [read more]

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