Three leading firms join with Priority One’s Work Life Tauranga to position the region as a serious legal career destination

Competing law firms rarely collaborate on recruitment. In Tauranga, three firms have decided it makes sense. Cooney Lees Morgan, Sharp Tudhope and Holland Beckett have joined forces in a new initiative designed to attract legal talent to the Western Bay of Plenty.

The campaign, Redefining Legal, has been developed with Priority One through its Work Life Tauranga talent attraction platform,  specifically designed to build our regional reputation as an attractive place for skilled talent within New Zealand. Our goal is to promote Tauranga as the preferred regional destination of choice. We do this through digitally showcasing industry, career and lifestyle opportunities.

“Law firms naturally compete, but the challenge of attracting experienced legal talent is bigger than any single firm. By working together, we can better highlight the depth of legal work happening in Tauranga and the opportunities the region offers for lawyers looking to build a meaningful career.”
Campbell Izzard, Partner, Cooney Lees Morgan

Rather than promoting individual firms, the initiative positions Tauranga’s legal sector as a destination for lawyers seeking complex work and a strong quality of life. We attract talent that complements and strengthens our local workforce.

“The Western Bay of Plenty offers lawyers the opportunity to work on significant matters while enjoying a quality of life that is hard to match. Collaborating on this initiative allows us to show the scale of our offering and the options available in the region, helping to attract the legal talent our growing economy needs.” Danielle Brownlie, People and Culture Manager, Holland Beckett

The collaboration reflects a growing challenge across the legal profession. Demand for experienced lawyers continues to rise while the national talent pool remains limited. For the firms involved, addressing that gap collectively is more effective than competing for the same small pool of candidates.

Tauranga’s legal professionals support a wide range of industries including infrastructure development, agribusiness, logistics, property, technology and export businesses. Lawyers in the region regularly work on complex commercial transactions, regulatory frameworks and investment projects that shape the region’s economic growth.

“Tauranga’s economy is evolving quickly, and the legal work here reflects that. Lawyers in the region are involved in complex commercial, property and infrastructure projects, making it an exciting place to build a legal career.” Grant Davidson, HR Manager, Sharp Tudhope

Work Life Tauranga project manager Meg Davis says the campaign reflects a broader shift in how talent attraction is being approached in the region.

“The legal sector campaign is about positioning Tauranga as a serious professional destination. We know talented people are looking for meaningful work and a place where they can build a life. Tauranga offers both.”

“Our role has been to bring employers together and tell a stronger regional story about the opportunities available here.”

Economic modelling shows that attracting high skilled professionals generates significant value for regional economies. Professional services roles support business investment, complex transactions and the wider professional ecosystem that enables regional growth.

The Redefining Legal campaign includes an active international and national marketing campaign to targeted talent profiles. showcasing the opportunities available within Tauranga’s legal sector and the lifestyle advantages of the Western Bay of Plenty. ,

While the initiative focuses on the legal profession, Priority One sees it as a potential model for other sectors experiencing similar workforce pressures.

If you’d like to learn more about talent attraction for your sector contact Meg Davis .

For more information visit: http://www.worklifetauranga.com/legal-careers-tauranga