Lawyers link up to offer Hawke's Bay service

Lawyers Langley Twigg and Kelly McNeil are merging to become the first twin-city law firm in Hawke's Bay.

Napier-based Langley Twigg Law will incorporate the Hastings-based Kelly McNeil from January.

Langley Twigg managing partner Stuart McLauchlan said having a greater regional focus was a key reason for the merger.

"Langley Twigg had been looking to open an office in Hastings as a natural expansion for our firm after 148 years in Napier and Ahuriri," he said.

"We already have a large number of clients throughout Hawke's Bay and see the merger as an excellent platform for growth to service more businesses and private clients in Hastings."

Kelly McNeil has operated in Hastings since 1921.

The firm's current partners, husband and wife team Guy and Margaret Wellwood, said they welcomed the opportunity to join forces with lawyers they rated highly.

"The merger gives us every opportunity to quickly become the leading property and commercial law practice in Hawke's Bay," Mr Wellwood said.

Langley Twigg, incorporating Kelly McNeil, will start with a team of 32, including six partners and seven solicitors.

Mr McLauchlan said that, unlike mergers where a larger business was looking to rationalise, the aim was to give a broad reach and strong presence together with the advantages of being close to clients.