Fletcher returned to Harmos Horton Lusk full-time in February 2020 after having worked at the firm over July/August 2019 before he went on his overseas travels. The firm appealed to him as it stood out as different from a standard commercial legal practice. His perception was that the people there were uniquely focused on helping clients solve some of the most complex legal issues with a firmly commercial approach.
Here’s Fletcher’s experience in his own words.
Mentorship
The experience so far has been better than I imagined. What has stood out is how generous everyone is with their time. The directors and associates will make sure you understand the background to any piece of work you’re given and always take the time to give you feedback. You’re learning from some of the top commercial lawyers in the country and are part of a team that is invested in your development and wants to see you succeed.
Responsibility
The level of responsibility given to me from day one surprised me. Senior staff and directors encourage you to find solutions yourself and ask for your opinion. It means you learn a lot very quickly and feel as though your work is adding real value to the team.
The learning curve in the first few months is steep, but you are given all the support you need. Senior members of the firm will go above and beyond to include you in projects and make sure you understand the relevant issues. Harmos Horton Lusk is unique in that you will usually be working directly with a director and getting to see how they engage with and help our clients first-hand.
Teamwork
Harmos Horton Lusk operates as one team, which means you work with most of the directors and associates across the firm. I really enjoy that. I’ve had the opportunity to help with M&A transactions, corporate governance and capital markets matters to date.
Because we are a relatively small team, there is a tight-knit culture, which is important to us. The firm invests heavily in initiatives such as team lunches, drinks after work and social functions.
Luke joined Harmos Horton Lusk in February 2020. He knew that the people there are at the very top of their game, and regularly work on the largest corporate deals in the country. He wanted to be part of that.
Here’s Luke’s experience in his own words.
Inclusion
Right from the get-go I’ve been treated like a valued member of the team. The directors have gone out of their way to get to know me and include me in their work, and everyone is so friendly and welcoming. I love working in an environment where people work hard and are focused and incredibly astute, but at the same time helpful, easy-going and fun. I look forward to going to work every single day.
Development
I knew that I’d be involved in high calibre work at Harmos Horton Lusk, alongside very well-respected people in the corporate law space, and that’s definitely the case.
On my first day I worked on a large deal, which featured numerous difficult procedural hurdles. I really enjoyed learning the background of the companies involved, the context of the deal, and the complexity of the directors’ roles in managing the processes and players involved. It’s a steep learning curve and I love the challenge of that.
Respect
It’s well known that Harmos Horton Lusk is one of the top corporate law firms in the country, and the people who work there are some of the best in the business. I feel very fortunate and extremely proud to say that I am now part of the team.
Yvonne joined Harmos Horton Lusk in February 2021 after summer clerking with the firm in the summer of 2019/20. She applied for the summer clerk position because she has a particular interest in corporate law, and she had heard about Harmos Horton Lusk’s reputation as one of the leading corporate law firms in New Zealand.
Here’s Yvonne’s experience as a summer clerk in her own words.
Varied
Harmos Horton Lusk is even better than I had imagined. They are a well-renowned corporate law firm and I assisted with work for a wide range of clients in many different industries. I helped with legal research, writing, searches, and many other legal tasks. It was a great experience – diverse and challenging.
Educational
I felt I was constantly learning from the senior members of the firm – everyone was very inclusive, and always willing to help and answer my questions. I found the trainings to be invaluable. They covered a broad range of topics relevant to corporate law. I found that having the trainings spread out amongst other work for clients made for a more valuable learning experience as I was able to develop a deeper and more meaningful understanding of the concepts taught by applying them in a real-world context.
Ambition
Harmos Horton Lusk has a fantastic culture. There is a real sense of teamwork, and people are hard- working and driven to achieve the best results for clients. At the same time they’re kind and always ready to laugh. I thoroughly enjoy working as a part of the Harmos Horton Lusk team!
