Time for a change? Try New Zealand

 Ed Crook moved from Herbert Smith to the rolling plains of New Zealand nearly a decade ago. He tells Law and More about the changes for the better that he's ecountered since his big move and encourage others, should they be thinking of spreading their wings, to seriously consider NZ as a roost...

You live with you wife and children in New Zealand, how long ago did you move and how do you find raising a family there?

My wife and I moved here in 1999. The children have all been born in NZ. We have four children, twin boys (age 6) and two daughters (aged 3 and 1).  New Zealand is a fantastic environment to bring up children. We live just around the corner from the beach so in the summer the children spend a lot of time playing on the beach and in the sea.  The boys walk to school and the area is well served for parks also. We also have a beach house an hour North of Auckland and during our time there the boys go surfing, fishing and snorkelling.  It’s a great "outdoors" country.

What prompted you to move so far away for the UK?

We had both worked in London for a number of years and wanted to expand our horizons. I had visited New Zealand on a pre-university trip around the world.  The environment was very appealing and as a common law jurisdiction, with much of the law based on the UK law, the skill transfer was relatively easy.  It also offered the most marked change, in terms of lifestyle, from the London environment which we had been used to.  Our first house in New Zealand had a sea view, a lemon tree in the garden and a short commute to work, which set quite a contrast to our one bedroom flat in Barnes (although we had also enjoyed living there).

Do you think, in light of your move, you’ve enjoyed greater autonomy and opportunities working at Russell McVeagh rather than, say, at a UK multi-national?

The opportunities at Russell McVeagh have been excellent, albeit, from a legal work perspective, with a focus on New Zealand transactions.  The multi-national firms would offer more opportunity to travel internationally but in terms of autonomy, this is likely to be most influenced by the opportunity to become a partner and, through that, to be involved in the running of the business of the firm.  In this regard I would not expect there to be a significant difference between the different firms, except that possibly in a smaller firm (which, on an international scale, would include Russell McVeagh), the opportunities to be involved in firm management may come earlier than in the big firms with a more established hierarchy. This is my fourth year as a partner, and I am on the firm's board of management as well as the chair of our property group.

Could you run us through your career history?

After studying law at Cambridge University, and Law Society Finals at the College of Law in York, I joined Herbert Smith in 1994.   Following my articles I worked in the property finance team at Herbert Smith for 3 years, working principally on PFI and property finance transactions, before moving to NZ in 1999.

What advise would you give those considering practising law in New Zealand?

Do it. New Zealand is a great country to live and work in.  The quality of the work, the intellectual demands of the job and the talent of the people you work alongside are all world class; when it's time to leave work, the recreational opportunities (particularly those based on or around the ocean) are easily accessible and the general living environment is very appealing.

Work-Life balance seems to be the buzzword in legal circles in the UK. Has yours benefited from your move?

My current role in the firm, of  being a young partner as well as being on the board of management and chair of our property team, together require a significant commitment to the work side of the equation.  However, the ease of getting to and from work (I get the ferry across the harbour which gives me a door to door travel time of 30 minutes, with the opportunity for a coffee and a review of the paper in the morning and a glass of wine in the evening) and living next to the beach contribute to a great overall balance. 

Any cons about working and living in NZ? Do you miss anything from the UK?

We still miss being close to family and friends. Both my and my wife's parents live in the UK.  Also, New Zealand is a relatively young country, so the amount of history (which includes old buildings; established universities and churches and old villages etc) is very limited and we occasionally have a pang to be amongst that environment. However overall we are very settled here and will visit the UK from time to time to provide our children with a balance in this regard. The UK also provides an easy base from which to travel to Europe for both summer and winter holidays.  The close travel options are rather more limited in NZ, but at the same time, NZ has both mountains and beaches so there is less "need" to head overseas for a holiday.

How often do you visit ‘home’, if at all? ( bearing in mind that it’s a 26 hour flight away!)

With four children in tow, visits home are relatively few and far between, but we do go once every few years.

What has been your most memorable day working as a lawyer?

My first day as a partner. It was the culmination of a lot of hard work and represented the beginning of a new and exciting phase of my career.

And your most frustrating?

There is no one frustrating day which stands out.  Frustrating days would include those when the deals you have worked hard on fall over for reasons wholly beyond the control or influence of the lawyers, and those days which are consumed by the administration which comes with being a partner, rather than driving deals and relationships forward.

What are the main skills and abilities UK trainees and lawyers should possess should they be contemplating a career at Russell McVeagh?

Probably no different from those required for any other legal practice internationally. Fundamental requirements would include first rate technical ability, by way of conceptual and critical thinking; first rate relationship skills towards both clients and the other partners and staff in the office and a fierce ambition and energy to pursue a legal career at the top level.

Gary McDiarmid, CEO, of Russell McVeagh tells us you’re an avid sportsman and regularly take part in the Iron Man contest! What is your ‘More’ to Law?

I did train for the Iron Man in 2006 at Lake Taupo. Unfortunately on race day we awoke to gales which had whipped the lake into a 3 foot surf.  The result was that the swim was cancelled and we did a half distance ride and run. I will have another go at some point in the future.  Last year I did my first ultra marathon, a 60km run over one of New Zealand's great walking tracks, the Kepler track in the South Island. However my long term passion has been sailing, and after a few years of being distracted by the endurance events, I have picked up the sailing again.

 I race a Laser dinghy (which I can keep at home and wheel around to the beach to launch) at the local club and also race on a larger yacht.  In the case of the latter we are working towards one of NZ's iconic races later in the year.  Known as the Coastal Classic, it is a race from Auckland to Russell in the Bay of Islands which usually attracts a fleet of several hundred boats. Diving, fishing, kayaking and skiing all get squeezed in from time to time also.

For more opportunities for careers at Russell McVeagh visit: www.russellmcveagh.com