Tony Southall - Partner

About Tony Southall

Career to date

"I started my legal career over 30 years ago as a general practitioner undertaking a wide range of work from property and commercial through to court work.

The diversity was interesting, fun and challenging and gave me a broad knowledge base, which has really helped me throughout my career. I now specialise in providing commercial advice to businesses and business owners."

Tony has extensive general practice experience, with an emphasis on general Commercial Law, Property, Business and Personal Structuring [Trusts], Business Acquisitions, Sales, drafting and negotiation of the full range of Business contracts (from IT to Franchising) and Restructuring.  Tony also provides legal support to an extensive private client practice.

Tony is Gibson Sheat's Chairman of Partners, a role that involves representing the firm in the public arena. Internally he assists the General Manager in managing the firm and ensuring it stays focused on its strategic goals. Tony finds the role, at times, very challenging but also very rewarding.

Professional Associations and Community Organisations

I am Deputy Chairman of both the Cancer Society in Wellington and the Board of Trustees of my daughter's school.  I believe it is important to find time to contribute to the community in which you live.

My approach to working with my clients

I try hard to really understand their legal issue in its wider commercial or personal context. This often enables me to find an alternative or simpler solution that may minimise legal inputs yet still produces the right result for them commercially.  For businesses it really helps if clients share their business plans with me.  They provide the client's "game plan" and context for avoiding or solving an issue.

An instance when I've given a client a competitive edge

I advised a client to undertake an internal systems and legal compliance check and to position the company to be acquired by an overseas competitor. It worked a treat. The business owners became very wealthy and retired early.

Another instance was project managing a team on a complex commercial deal with a tight deadline. Getting it across the line by orchestrating all the various professional advisers involved was satisfying. The business outcome for the client was superb as well.

The best piece of advice I've ever been given

"Treat people how you would like to be treated".

What stimulates me

It's a real privilege to be asked to help someone solve a business or personal problem and it's rewarding to do so. I enjoy making a difference, making my clients' lives easier and helping them to achieve a goal.

In general you could say I am stimulated by people. I enjoy meeting different people and learning about their lives.

What I enjoy outside of work

I really enjoy reading and interacting with a diverse range of people. Wellington is a great place for doing that.  I also enjoy most sports and walking/tramping.  My great great grandfather settled in Wellington in 1844 so I have a special intest in early New Zealand/Wellington history.  We have a house at Riversdale Beach and I love going there and diving for paua and crayfish - sometimes with success!

If I wasn't a lawyer I'd be...

An investigative journalist because getting to the truth and exposing misconceptions is a healthy thing in society.