Leandra Lambie-Shaw

Downtown Gore may be a world away from dealing with multi-million-pound property transactions at a leading British law firm but, for AWS Legal Associate Leandra Lambie-Shaw, the pay-offs are plenty.

In 2009, Leandra - who is both New Zealand and UK-qualified - came full-circle, returning to our firm to lead the Gore office after a year working as a commercial property specialist in the UK.

Before heading to Europe, Leandra practised both in our Queenstown office and at a large Christchurch firm, specialising in residential, commercial property and company law, advising major property developers and commercial clients in both Central Otago and Canterbury.

Her background also encompasses representing clients in employment matters and providing private client services, including trusts and wills.

While overseas, Leandra gained invaluable experience acting for large-scale commercial clients like Costa Coffee, a major British franchise chain, and Telereal, a £4 billion asset management and property company.

"When you're responsible for deals that big and complex, it's the invaluable experience you gain - for your clients, you're having to think of every single aspect ... the stakes are often very high, and there's no room for error."

While the technical aspects were fascinating, Leandra says the nature of the work in the UK meant much of the liaison was carried out over the phone or electronically, and she missed the personalised client contact.

"I am very much a face-to-face, people person, and that is one of the best parts of practising in Gore - it's a place with a great sense of community, and AWS is very much about relationship-building, client care and going over and above what's expected."

Today, she brings her high-end commercial and property expertise to our rural and agribusiness clients, too - welcome skills given the sector's growth.

"With many of today's rural ventures, we are dealing with such large entities and substantial sums, there are vital commercial components that must be dealt with properly, as with any other business," Leandra says.

The Otago University law graduate also has a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Management/Industrial Relations - providing added insight into the mechanics of business and the practical realities facing business owners.

As well as taking care of the transactional side of her clients' affairs, many also seek her input to innovate, brainstorm and identify opportunities to grow their operations.

For Leandra, her private client practice is another important focus, through which she works with individuals and families to ensure they have their affairs and life planning in sound order.

"In our Gore office, we have the capacity to help our clients on a broad range of legal fronts - from residential to large-scale property work, trust formation and wills, to company law and agribusiness," she says.

"Our clients really appreciate accessibility and seamlessness - the fact we have that on-the-ground, personalised service right here in Gore, but they also enjoy the full backing of AWS Legal's wider expertise and support, should it be needed."

With a keen sense of community, Leandra has previously volunteered for Citizen's Advice Bureau, offering free legal help, and was a Project K Youth Mentor, working to inspire young teenagers to reach their full potential.

Away from work, she also loves travel, theatre, squash, netball and rugby, and has recently taken to the fairway with her clubs.