Janice Hughes

Partner
Location: Wanaka Department: Business, Private Client & Property DDI: +64 3 443 0911 Fax: +64 3 443 6920 Mobile: +64 274 342 789 VCard: Download
janice.hughes@awslegal.com

Janice Hughes has been the legal brains behind some of the largest property transactions in the south.

After a decade at AWS Legal’s head office in Invercargill, her expertise and drive were called upon to open the firm’s new Wanaka office in 2004.

A commercial and rural law expert, she provides her diverse client base legal support ranging from property transactions to estate planning, wills and trusts, to the complexities of joint venture structures.

But, “no matter the number of noughts at the end”, Janice’s ethos is the same for every client.

“Often I’m dealing with my clients’ futures – their life savings, their life project and it’s really important to them,” she says.

“I can get just as much of a buzz helping someone that’s building their dream home as I can putting the finishing touches on a complicated joint venture.”

While, due to the property market, much of the Wanaka office’s work is in the commercial field, Janice says AWS Legal’s depth of experience across the specialties is a drawcard for clients seeking a “one-stop” legal firm.

“We’re a firm that specialises – we offer the full range of legal services with people working in their specialist areas day in, day out.”

For recreation, Janice and her partner, Chef Clayton Hope, indulge their love of the outdoors mountain-biking, sailing and generally making the most of “living in nature’s playground”. She also dedicates time to another great passion – community work.

Raised in rural Tapanui, Janice joined AWS Legal on graduating from Otago University in 1994. She rapidly scaled the ranks, making Partner in 2001. The move to establish the Wanaka office was a logical progression, both for her and the firm.

“There is a lot going on in and around Wanaka; there are a lot of people doing really exciting new things,” Janice says.

“It’s a dynamic environment that fits very well with our expertise and our commitment to thinking progressively and outside the square.”