Bramwell Bate Lawyers

Bramwell Bate Lawyers With origins dating back to the 1920’s, Bramwell Bate provides a wide range of Legal Services to Hawke’s Bay

About us
Our team of around 30 have significant experience providing first class legal services to clients in Hawke’s Bay and throughout the country. Our Directors work alongside a team of highly skilled Associates, Solicitors and Legal Executives, all supported by an outstanding administrative crew. With a broad range of expertise ranging from conveyancing, corporate and commercial law, employment law, to family law and criminal law, Bramwell Bate is one of the only full-service law firms in Hawke’s Bay. As a team, Bramwell Bate has come together and agreed on five core values. We pride ourselves in being “trusted, approachable, caring, resilient & progressive”. Our values reflect what we prioritise in everyday practice. They motivate how we work with our clients, what we look for in our recruitment processes and our growing relationships within the local community. Where we come from
Bramwell Bate is a result of a merger in January 2017 between two well-known and established Hawke’s Bay firms – Bate Hallett (established in 1917) and Bramwell Grossman (tracing back to the 1950s). Both firms shared a deep commitment to client service, and the merger in 2017 was a seamless fit, strategically, culturally, and professionally. We are proud to be one of the longest standing law firms in Hawke’s Bay. Our history, as part of the community, reflects in our ability to cater efficiently to our client’s needs. We are open-minded and adapt not only to changes in the law, but also to the exciting developments within our team and new technologies.

Bramwell Bate is proud to be sponsoring Harry McHardy as he represents Hastings East at this year’s Ross Shield.Making t...
01/10/2026

Bramwell Bate is proud to be sponsoring Harry McHardy as he represents Hastings East at this year’s Ross Shield.

Making the occasion even more special, Harry was capped by his grandfather, Ray Bernie, who represented Hastings in 1963 and was vice-captain of the team, back before Hastings was divided into East and West.

More than 60 years later, it’s pretty great to see another generation taking the field.

All the best to Harry and the Hastings East team for the rest of the tournament. We’ll be cheering you on!

If you sat in on an average day at Bramwell Bate, you might be surprised how little of it looks like the movies.Most day...
25/09/2026

If you sat in on an average day at Bramwell Bate, you might be surprised how little of it looks like the movies.

Most days, the job looks less like "sign here" and more like working through a problem with a client - figuring out what they actually need, making the difficult call when they'd rather not, and giving practical advice when things get complicated.

None of that's on the door plaque... It's most of the job!

www.bramwellbate.co.nz

23/09/2026

Meet Ryan: freshly self-employed, master of his own schedule, and increasingly bitter about doing his own invoicing.

A few beers into planning a business with his mate Ray, and there's exactly one thing missing from the deal... A partnership agreement.

Some species negotiate elaborate territorial agreements before joining forces. Ryan and Ray settled theirs with a handshake and a second round.

Turns out, they shook on it. Nobody wrote on it.

Life's Fine Print, Ep. 4 of 4. That's the series... but don't go anywhere 👀

If you need help with life's fine print, get in touch.

Wills and enduring powers of attorney are two of those things everyone means to sort out eventually. A couple of weeks a...
21/09/2026

Wills and enduring powers of attorney are two of those things everyone means to sort out eventually.

A couple of weeks ago, one of our Directors, Christine spent time talking through exactly that - first at Taradale Anglican Church, then again at the Hastings Elim Church Expo - as part of Dying Matters Week, themed this year around "Shaping Your Legacy."

It's not the easiest thing to think about, but it's one of the kindest things you can do for the people around you. If you've been meaning to get your will or EPOA sorted (or just don't know where to start), get in touch - no judgement for how long it's been sitting on the list.

www.bramwellbate.co.nz

How long does probate actually take? What happens to the house if a relationship ends? Is a 90-day trial even legal for ...
17/09/2026

How long does probate actually take? What happens to the house if a relationship ends? Is a 90-day trial even legal for your job anymore?

These are some of the exact questions our team gets asked all the time and we've started answering them for you, in plain English, on our Insights page.

It's a growing library covering relationship property, buying a first home in Hawke's Bay, probate timelines, employment law changes, and more... the kind of thing you'd otherwise have to ask a lawyer just to find out.

While you're there... how good does our new website look? 👀

Have a look: bramwellbate.co.nz/insights

Every farming family has a version of the same conversation they keep meaning to have - who takes over, what happens to ...
14/09/2026

Every farming family has a version of the same conversation they keep meaning to have - who takes over, what happens to the land, how everyone's actually looked after if something happens sooner than planned.

Last week, one of our Directors, Christine talked through exactly that with a room full of women from across Central Hawke's Bay, as part of the Central Hawke's Bay Rural Women's Evening on legal planning, succession, and protecting the people who matter most.

We are proud to have been one of the sponsors behind such a good night, alongside Forsyth Barr, Federated Farmers, BM Accounting and FMG!

www.bramwellbate.co.nz

10/09/2026

Meet Hana: newly engaged, seating chart sorted down to the diplomacy, and unfortunately losing sleep over whether eggshell or ivory is the right shade of white.

Six months into planning for the big day, and there's exactly one line on her checklist still untouched... The contracting-out agreement.

Some species spend months perfecting a single courtship ritual. Hana spent three of those weeks on a cheese table.

Turns out, there's a ring. There's just no ring-fencing.

Life's Fine Print, Ep. 3 of 4. Final episode coming soon 👀

Most people put this off... Not because they don't care, but because it's uncomfortable.This week is 'Dying Matters Week...
08/09/2026

Most people put this off... Not because they don't care, but because it's uncomfortable.

This week is 'Dying Matters Week', run by Cranford Hospice to open up honest conversations about death, dying and planning ahead.

As part of it, Christine from our team is talking Wills & EPOAs - twice. Put plainly: a Will looks after what you leave behind. An EPOA looks after you while you're still here but can't decide for yourself.

Catch her Friday 11 September, 12:30-1:15pm at the Octagon Room, Taradale Anglican Church (23 Puketapu Rd, Taradale, Napier), or come find us Saturday 12 September at the Dying Matters Week Expo - Hastings Elim Church, 405 Victoria Street, Hastings. Both are free to attend, and we'd love to help you get the difficult questions sorted.

And, if you're reading this knowing you've still got that Will to sort... you know where to find us!

www.bramwellbate.co.nz

31/08/2026

Meet Jordan: first home, first feature wall, first letterbox with an actual name (it's Gerald).

Six weeks post-settlement, and there's one document that Jordan never got... The LIM report.

Some species inspect every inch of a new territory before settling in. Jordan settled for "the light in the kitchen is nice."

Turns out, there's no limit to how much Jordan loves this house. There's just no LIM to go with it.

Life's Fine Print, Ep. 2 of 4. Ep. 3 coming soon 👀

If you need help with life's fine print, get in touch.

What a night!Huge congratulations to every finalist and winner at this year's Hastings City Business Awards - it was spe...
27/08/2026

What a night!

Huge congratulations to every finalist and winner at this year's Hastings City Business Awards - it was special seeing so much of Hawke's Bay's business community celebrated in one room.

We came away runner-up in Professional Service of the Year, and we're so proud just to be recognised by our own community.

Thank you to our clients, our team, and everyone who's backed us along the way. Hastings City, you do these events so well.

Address

Level 1, 303 Karamu Road North
Hastings
4122

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 5pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 5pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 5pm
Thursday 8:30am - 5pm
Friday 8:30am - 4:30pm

Telephone

+6468728210

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