8 | Dawsons Lawyers REGIONAL Wilson McKay Award an inspiration Dawsons Lawyers was thrilled to wion the Business and Professional Services category at the 2026 Ōrākei Business Awards. T T Anne Boswell Trust underpins law firm’s longevity T T Anne Boswell Winning the Business and Professional Services category at the 2026 Ōrākei Local Board Business Awards has reinforced Dawsons Lawyers’ position as a valued member of the local community – and inspired the firm to become even more involved. Dawsons Lawyers director, Claire Endean, says the team was delighted to receive the award, particularly given the strength of the other businesses represented. “We were thrilled to receive the award,” she says. “It was a wonderful event to be part of. The awards evening was very special, and it was great to be able to see the achievements of all the other entrants and finalists.” She says the win was also something of a surprise for the practice, which has not entered many awards previously; the result reflected a combination of public voting, the firm’s submission and the judges’ assessment. For Dawsons Lawyers, the recognition is particularly meaningful because of the strong connections it has built in east Auckland over the past 60 years. While the original iteration of the business was established in the 1960s in Howick, Dawsons continued to build its presence across east Auckland by opening its Kohimarama After almost 70 years in business, Auckland law firm Wilson McKay believes its longevity comes down to one key component: trust. Maintaining that trust, however, means continually adapting to changing clients, technology and the legal profession - an approach that has helped Wilson McKay earn recognition as a finalist in the 2026 Ōrākei Local Board Business Awards. The firm was first established in the 1950s as Kendall Wilson, operating from Queen Street in Auckland’s CBD in 1981. It was rebranded as Wilson McKay in 1995 before moving to Remuera. “Since then, we’ve established ourselves as a boutique property, trust and commercial law firm with a strong family focus,” Senior Associate James McKay says. That family focus is demonstrated in the firm’s long-standing relationships with its clients, reflecting a strong reputation and tradition for acting for successive generations of families, with a significant number of family trusts in its care. Colin McKay and Tina Wilson have been senior partners for some years, while Jay Shen became a partner in 2025, bringing another generation into the firm’s leadership. While the firm has deep roots in Remuera and the surrounding community, it also has clients throughout New Zealand and globally. “With our many decades of experience, we have proven legal skills and offer comprehensive advice,” James says. “Our professionalism, integrity and expertise are such that we ensure each client office in 2021, and strengthening its connection with the wider eastern suburbs. “The business has a long legacy that continues to grow,” Claire says. Property and conveyancing make up around half of Dawsons Lawyers’ work, from firsthome buyers through to more complex transactions. The rest spans estate planning, family trusts, relationship property and commercial matters, giving clients a genuine full-service firm on their doorstep. Strong communication is central to the ‘human first’ philosophy. Rather than relying on legal jargon, the team explains matters in plain language, recognising that clients may be navigating unfamiliar territory. “We understand that this might be the first time they’ve experienced the legal system, whereas we do it every day,” Claire says. “Empathy, communication, integrity and honesty are at the core of how we work with clients.” “Since winning the award, we have had a greater appreciation of our value in the community and have made it our mission to support even more community events. That includes involvement with The Bays Kids’ Market, and sponsoring an education talk regarding the use of digital technology in Kohimarama School. receives superior confidential advice. We pride ourselves on building and maintaining long-lasting relationships by ensuring that we take the time to understand our clients’ individual and business needs.” That commitment to relationships was particularly fitting recognition when Wilson McKay was named a finalist in this year’s Ōrākei Local Board Business Awards. Held on June 9, the awards attracted 59 entries across nine categories, celebrating businesses making a contribution to the local area. “We were very proud to be named as a finalist,” James says. “Although this is the first year we have been involved in the awards, we are deeply ingrained in the community here. “It was fantastic to see some of our neighbouring businesses perform well in the awards, too; they are strong businesses and we want to make sure we are aligned with them. “It will be interesting to see the feedback from judges and look at the breakdown of how we can improve and get to the top of that table.” For James, the nomination also reinforces the importance of maintaining the personal connection at the heart of the firm’s approach. “In the legal profession, the trust factor is vital,” he says. “Although this is the first year we have been involved in the awards, we are deeply ingrained in the community here.” YOUR LOCAL LAND SURVEYING SPECIALISTS Services include Topographic Surveys, Setouts, Height to Boundaries, Subdivisions and Asbuilts Phone 09 265 2277 | Mobile 022 544 0500 duncan@stewartsurveying.co.nz 12B Amera Place, Botany www.stewartsurveying.co.nz COMMERCIAL | DOMESTIC | FINANCIAL | LIFE & MORE
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