Chapman Tripp
Chapman Tripp is New Zealand's largest commercial law firm, founded in 1875, providing full-service legal advice across corporate, finance, litigation, infrastructure, energy, and government mandates to corporates, financial institutions, and public sector clients.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1875
- HeadquartersAuckland, New Zealand
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Chapman Tripp does
Chapman Tripp is New Zealand's largest commercial law firm, founded in 1875 by Martin Chapman in Wellington and now operating as a private partnership across three offices in Auckland (headquarters at PwC Tower), Wellington, and Christchurch. The firm provides a full-service legal offering with 163 lawyers and staff organised around both sector specialisations (banks and financial institutions, energy, government, infrastructure, insurance, Māori business, fintech, technology/media/telecommunications, charities, primary sector, retirement living) and practice areas (corporate and commercial, banking and finance, litigation and dispute resolution, construction and major projects, IP, privacy and cybersecurity, ESG, employment, tax, restructuring, property, international law, competition, investment funds, and digital litigation solutions). It advises corporates, financial institutions, government agencies, and not-for-profits on New Zealand's most complex transactions and disputes, including the circa $1.5b Dunedin Hospital redevelopment, Auckland Airport's multibillion-dollar Terminal Integration Programme, ANZ's $700m sale of OnePath Life NZ, and Jardine Matheson's A$3.4b acquisition of I-MED Radiology Network.
Chapman Tripp firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Chapman Tripp
- Legal name
- Chapman Tripp
- Website
- https://chapmantripp.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1875
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Chapman Tripp is New Zealand's largest commercial law firm, founded in 1875, providing full-service legal advice across corporate, finance, litigation, infrastructure, energy, and government mandates to corporates, financial institutions, and public sector clients.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Chapman Tripp is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Auckland
- HQ country
- New Zealand
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices3 records
Markets served
Chapman Tripp business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Legal Services Fees: Professional legal services billed on fee-for-service basis including hourly rates, fixed fees for specific matters, and transaction-based fees for M&A, capital markets and other corporate transactions
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Chapman Tripp product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Chapman Tripp is a full-service commercial law firm providing legal advice to corporate clients, financial institutions, government agencies and not-for-profits across New Zealand. The firm delivers specialist legal services across corporate and commercial, banking and finance, litigation and dispute resolution, infrastructure and construction, energy, government, intellectual property, privacy, ESG, employment, tax, restructuring, property, international law, competition, investment funds, charities, Māori business, impact investing and digital infrastructure. Services are billed on a fee-for-service basis including hourly rates, fixed fees and transaction-based fees.
Product overview
Chapman Tripp is New Zealand's largest commercial law firm offering a comprehensive suite of legal services across multiple sectors. The firm operates a unified service model with specialist teams covering corporate & commercial, banking & finance, litigation, infrastructure, energy, government, intellectual property, privacy, ESG, employment, tax, restructuring, property, international law, competition, investment funds, charities, Māori business, impact investing, and digital infrastructure. The firm complements its legal services with thought leadership through the Sound Counsel podcast series and Trends & Insights publications, pro bono community services, and a graduate recruitment programme. The service portfolio is organized by both sector expertise (financial institutions, energy, government, infrastructure, insurance, Māori business, technology/media/telecommunications, charities) and legal practice areas, enabling holistic advice on complex transactions and disputes.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Corporate and Commercial Legal Services Comprehensive corporate and commercial legal advice covering corporate governance, equity capital markets, mergers and acquisitions, and private capital services for large corporates and multinational companies.
- Banking and Finance Legal Services Financial services legal advice including debt capital markets, finance and financial services regulation for banks, insurance companies, wealth managers and other financial institutions.
- Litigation and Dispute Resolution Full-service litigation and dispute resolution including corporate crime, digital litigation solutions, coronial inquests and complex commercial disputes for corporate and government clients.
- Construction and Major Projects Legal Services Construction and major projects legal services for infrastructure development across New Zealand including PPP projects, transport, health, education, utilities and digital infrastructure.
- Energy Sector Legal Services Energy sector legal advice covering upstream, midstream and downstream, traditional and renewables including oil, gas, electricity, hydro, geothermal, wind, solar and minerals.
- Government Legal Services Legal advice to government agencies including policy, commercial contracting, procurement, large-scale infrastructure, PPP projects and public law matters for ministries, Crown entities and public sector organisations.
- Intellectual Property Legal Services Intellectual property services including patents, trade marks and IP disputes, ranked in IP STARS 2026 and IAM Patent 1000 2026.
- Privacy, Data Protection and Cybersecurity Legal Services Privacy and data protection legal services for compliance with New Zealand privacy laws and cybersecurity requirements.
- Climate Change, Sustainability and ESG Legal Services Climate change, sustainability and ESG legal services including human rights, responsible business, impact investing and sustainable finance.
- Employment Legal Services Employment law services including workplace investigations and employment relations.
- Tax Legal Services Tax advisory services for corporate and commercial transactions.
- Restructuring and Insolvency Legal Services Restructuring and insolvency legal services for distressed companies.
- Property and Real Estate Legal Services Property and real estate legal services for commercial and residential transactions.
- International Law Services International law services including international trade, investment, arbitration and sanctions regimes.
- Competition and Antitrust Legal Services Competition and antitrust legal advice for merger clearances and regulatory compliance.
- Investment Funds and Superannuation Legal Services Investment funds and superannuation legal services for fund managers and investors.
- Charities and Not-for-Profit Legal Services Legal services for charities, not-for-profits and social enterprises including establishment, governance, compliance and tax concessions.
- Māori Business Legal Services Legal services for Māori business including Pakihi Māori, iwi relationships and Treaty of Waitangi considerations.
- Impact Investing Legal Services Impact investment legal services for social and environmental change including green bonds, social bonds and sustainability-linked investments.
- Digital Infrastructure Legal Services Digital infrastructure legal services including data centres, broadband networks, mobile network towers and telecommunications.
- Sound Counsel Podcast Expert insights podcast series covering legal topics and trends including The Special Conditions series on infrastructure and construction law, Capital Markets and Corporate Governance series.
- Trends and Insights Publications Legal insights publications covering banking, finance, infrastructure, energy, government and regulatory developments in New Zealand.
- Graduate Programme and Clerkships Law graduate recruitment programme including clerkships, structured training, study support and CT Academy knowledge sharing.
Quantifiable outcome
- Tenth consecutive win at KangaNews Awards for NZ Law Firm of the Year
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Chapman Tripp
Customer profileNamed customers14 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles6 records
Chapman Tripp technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Chapman Tripp partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- BLAKEcoreCommunity partner providing environmental and leadership programmes; Chapman Tripp provides ongoing operational support including intellectual property, employment advice, constitutional changes and board secretarial services
- The Aotearoa CirclecoreLeadership organisation bringing 50+ public and private NZ organisations together to restore natural capital; Chapman Tripp has worked on five pro bono projects including Sustainable Finance Forum report and director duties toolkit
- Circa TheatreminorCommunity partner - New Zealand's leading theatre company
- NZ OperaminorCommunity partner - national opera company
- Auckland City MissioncoreCommunity partner providing social services; Chapman Tripp supports fundraising and contractual needs for life-changing projects including HomeGround facility development
- First FoundationcoreCommunity partner sponsoring academically talented but financially disadvantaged students through university with financial support and work experience
- Wellington City MissionminorCommunity partner providing social services in Wellington region
- Māia Health FoundationminorCommunity partner supporting women's health initiatives
- Centre for Sustainable Finance: Toitū TahuacoreCommunity partner focused on sustainable finance initiatives in New Zealand
- Sustainable Business NetworkminorMember committed to improving sustainability performance and supporting restoration of NZ waterways through Million Metres programme
- Sustainable Business CouncilminorMember working on developing and implementing sustainability plan to reduce carbon footprint and drive sustainability through supply chain
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Chapman Tripp competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- DLA Piper: DLA Piper is a major global law firm active in New Zealand corporate and finance mandates; it competes with Chapman Tripp where NZ matters require multi-jurisdictional reach.
- King & Wood Mallesons: King & Wood Mallesons is a leading Asia-Pacific-headquartered global law firm that competes with Chapman Tripp on cross-border M&A, banking & finance, and major project mandates involving NZ clients.
- Dentons: Dentons is the world's largest global law firm with a New Zealand presence; it competes with Chapman Tripp on cross-border M&A, infrastructure, and government mandates while offering broader international scale that the domestic firm cannot match.
Direct peers
- Buddle Findlay: Buddle Findlay is a leading New Zealand commercial law firm competing head-to-head with Chapman Tripp in corporate, banking, infrastructure, energy, and government advisory work across Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch.
- Anderson Lloyd: Anderson Lloyd is a top-tier New Zealand law firm with strong presence in Christchurch and comparable practice areas to Chapman Tripp, particularly in corporate, environment, public law, and infrastructure work.
- Russell McVeagh: Russell McVeagh is one of New Zealand's largest commercial law firms and a direct competitor in M&A, capital markets, banking & finance, and dispute resolution work, serving similar NZ corporates and government clients.
- Bell Gully: Bell Gully is another of the 'big law' New Zealand commercial law firms and Chapman Tripp's principal domestic competitor across corporate, banking, energy, and government matters in New Zealand.
- MinterEllisonRuddWatts: MinterEllisonRuddWatts is a leading New Zealand commercial law firm affiliated with the global MinterEllison network, directly competing with Chapman Tripp in corporate, infrastructure, energy, and government mandates.
- Simpson Grierson: Simpson Grierson is a long-established New Zealand commercial law firm with comparable practice coverage in corporate, banking, government, and dispute resolution work, frequently pitching on the same NZ mandates as Chapman Tripp.
Regional players
- Allens: Allens is a top-tier Australian commercial law firm that frequently advises on trans-Tasman M&A and infrastructure matters involving NZ counterparties, making it a regional peer where it intersects with Chapman Tripp on cross-border deals.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Chapman Tripp social profiles
Digital presenceChapman Tripp compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance6 records
Chapman Tripp financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Chapman Tripp leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Chapman Tripp funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Chapman Tripp M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Chapman Tripp
What does Chapman Tripp do?
Chapman Tripp is a full-service commercial law firm providing legal advice to corporate clients, financial institutions, government agencies and not-for-profits across New Zealand. The firm delivers specialist legal services across corporate and commercial, banking and finance, litigation and dispute resolution, infrastructure and construction, energy, government, intellectual property, privacy, ESG, employment, tax, restructuring, property, international law, competition, investment funds, charities, Māori business, impact investing and digital infrastructure. Services are billed on a fee-for-service basis including hourly rates, fixed fees and transaction-based fees.
Is Chapman Tripp a public or private company?
Chapman Tripp is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was Chapman Tripp founded?
Chapman Tripp was founded in 1875. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Chapman Tripp based?
Chapman Tripp is headquartered in Auckland, New Zealand, in the Oceania region.
How does Chapman Tripp make money?
One revenue line is on record: legal Services Fees.
Who are Chapman Tripp's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are DLA Piper, King & Wood Mallesons and Dentons. Direct peers are Buddle Findlay, Anderson Lloyd, Russell McVeagh, Bell Gully, MinterEllisonRuddWatts and Simpson Grierson. Allens is listed as a regional player.
Does Chapman Tripp have an API?
No public API is recorded for Chapman Tripp.