Law firm grown with the city

Tauranga law firm Holland Beckett is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year and this week it launched one of four initiatives to mark the milestone.

Lawyers from the firm plan to donate 75 hours to the Baywide Community Law Centre, providing free legal advice.

Staff also plan to help the Maketu Ongatoro Wetlands Group and Waipuna Hospice, and give 75 children membership to the Bay of Plenty Steamers Kids Club.

"We are all going to get our hands dirty out in the community and give back to the community that has been supporting us in 75 years of business," practice manager Sharline Fitzgerald told the Bay of Plenty Times Weekend.

Holland Beckett was established in 1937 as WS Holland, when William Sydney Holland took over the legal practice of Bruce Beale, in the old National Bank building on Spring Street.

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In 1949, Mr Holland was joined by "Barney" Beckett, who had returned to law after a long period of rehabilitation from serious injuries sustained during World War II.

Beazley Homes was one of Holland Beckett's original clients, as was the Tauranga Harbour Port, now the Port of Tauranga, which became a client in 1967 and remains one today.

A branch office was opened in Mount Maunganui and then Katikati and in 1972 the firm moved to new purpose-built offices at 96 Cameron Road.

As new lawyers joined, the name evolved to Holland Beckett and C. and when Mr Beckett retired in 1975, in recognition of his contribution, his name was retained. The following year Mr Holland's son William Beau Holland (Bill), who is now a senior partner, joined the firm.

Sadly, two years later, at the age of 63, Mr Holland snr died of a heart attack and Bill Holland, together with Ian Thomas, became joint partners.

Mr Holland said his father was highly regarded and a man of his time.

"[He was] very black and white in his opinions and not afraid of a bit of straight talking," Mr Holland said.

Although there was never any pressure to follow in his footsteps, Mr Holland said he never thought of doing anything else.

The 1986 merger with Maltby Hare and Willoughby resulted in one of the largest law firms in the Bay and the establishment of a Maori legal unit, Te Tari Ture Maori, in 1999 was an important milestone.

In 2008, the growth of the firm necessitated another move, this time to 525 Cameron Road.

"We moved here in the middle of one of the country's most serious recessions," said partner Michael Sharp. "And then grew significantly."

Holland Beckett, nicknamed Hobec, employs about 50 people, 15 of whom have worked there for more than 15 years and five who have managed to clock up more than 30 years.

While Mr Holland's daughter, Anna, is a lawyer with Bell Gully in Auckland, he said he did not see immediate family as necessary to the firm's future.

"At 60 I am the oldest partner, senior by virtue of age," he said.

"But we have a strong contingent of young talent coming through, several of them already partners."