Your Business: Less money but exciting work with entrepreneurs

HGM Legal lawyers (from left) Simon Martin, Jason Rudkin-Binks, Wayne Hudson and Mark Gavin. Photo / Brett Phibbs

It is common for professionals reaching partnership level in large practices to become less hands-on in their area of interest.

Their responsibility becomes more about administration, team leading and bringing in new clients.

Former Bell Gully partners, Simon Martin and Wayne Hudson, decided to set up their own boutique firm in November, 2007 to stay connected with their area of interest.

They were joined by Russell McVeagh partner Mark Gavin and senior solicitor (now partner) Jason Rudkin-Binks, and the firm became Hudson Gavin Martin (HGM Legal).

They wanted to plug a gap in the market - to work with the innovative entrepreneurs who needed help in commercialising their ideas, people who couldn't always afford to work with the big law practices.

The firm helps establish intellectual property and secure the appropriate rights to intellectual property.

"Serial entrepreneurs are very exciting people to work with, just to see and talk to," says Martin.

"I'm so excited about where New Zealand could be with these people."

The HGM partner describes himself and his partners as small business owners.

They have set themselves up in Commerce St in Britomart, consciously away from the legal district of Shortland St.

"We wanted something that feels different," says Martin.

The offices are open plan, with a central sitting/kitchen area, exposed brick walls and kauri wooden floors.

The law firm started up a month before the world financial crisis - "then the wheels fell off", says Martin.

He adds: "But it was absolutely the right time to do it," as people are looking for different ways of doing things during a downturn.

The young law firm invests in networking in a variety of places, including industry organisations.

"We are fortunate that Wayne Hudson is very well known by the Icehouse, and by many of the business incubators around the country," says Martin.

HGM clients include Stolen Rum, Lion Nathan, Bendon, AUT University, Microsoft, HP, Vodafone, and Sony.

After three and a half years in business, the firm has just taken on two law clerks.

Since it started in 2007 income has grown by 20 to 30 per cent.

"Our aim is to be a firm that is recognised for being very good at what we do," says Martin.

The business is getting to the point where it is involved in legal work on an Australasian basis.

Martin also wants the firm to be closely involved in IP technology matters which shape the industry, and to reach the point "where people don't need to have explained to them who we are".

The three partners have established their own culture.

"It goes through everything, we break down the barriers," says Martin.

The firm has more women lawyers than men, reflecting trends in the legal profession.

"We have a team meeting each Monday. We stand around and have a coffee, and talk about who has got what on. We let everyone in the firm have their turn at chairing the meeting."

To chair the gathering, you have to bring baking in.

As well as Friday night drinks, there are also family nights at the offices.

"We are all human at the end of the day," says Martin. "We are lawyers, we work hard, you have got to play hard too."

By branching off on their own, the former big firm partners took a salary hit, though they have been careful to keep their staff salaries competitive.

"We have definitely taken a cut, we are not earning what we could earn, but we don't have the aspiration to," says Martin.

And, he says, the interesting work makes up for the lower salary.