Hesketh Henry has been an integral part of central Auckland for 150 years. Two respected firms, Hesketh Richmond and Wilson Henry, merged in 1987 to form the current partnership.

Hesketh Richmond started in 1865 when Thomas Gillies set up practice with John Richmond. Gillies was a real character and one of Auckland’s earliest streets, Gillies Avenue, is named after him. When he left in 1869 to become the Superintendent of Auckland, Edwin Hesketh joined and Hesketh Richmond was formed. The population of Auckland was about 12,000 (now it is 1.4 million) and the firm was one of the first on the new telephone exchange, allocated number ‘16’.

Wilson Henry commenced in 1924 when George Finlay set up practice with Alec Wilson. When Finlay moved to the Bench in 1943, Wilson joined with Trevor Henry and Frederic McCarthy and Wilson Henry McCarthy was formed. 

Hesketh Henry and its foundation firms has produced 7 Judges and a number of local Law Society Presidents. 

The 1987 merger brought together the strong litigation and commercial practices of Wilson Henry and Hesketh Richmond respectively. From there the firm has grown into the commercial law firm that it is today providing legal services to a wide range of well known domestic and international businesses and individuals. Our international focus is supported by the managing partner, Erich Bachmann, who is the Honorary Consul for the Federal Republic of Germany in Auckland and a fluent German and Spanish speaker.

Hesketh Henry joined ADVOC in 2006. We have advised many Advoc network clients in New Zealand and look forward to continuing collegial relationships for many years to come.