APAC Insider- Legal Awards 2025 | 7 AIM-Jun25155 Clendon Webb is a specialised litigation boutique that was established to fill a clear gap within the New Zealand legal market, bringing the expertise of larger firms combined with the personal service that only a focused practice can provide. The firm deliberately concentrates on only a few key areas, which allows it to deliver exceptional results. These are in complex commercial litigation, trust disputes, relationship property matters, and employment litigation, with the team demonstrating the deep technical expertise and strategic thinking required to excel in each. We sit down to speak to the firm’s Founder and Director, Dylan Pine, following its success within the APAC Legal Awards 2025. Those who choose to work with Clendon Webb quickly discover how it is all about quality over quantity – with this having been the key to its rapid growth since being established only 12 months ago. The firm isn’t trying to be everything for everyone; it has positioned itself as the go-to for complex, high-stakes litigation that requires expert knowledge and a strategic approach. It works with an array of different clients, from high-net-worth individuals and family offices to SMEs, larger corporates, and professional service firms throughout New Zealand and the Pacific region. It goes above and beyond to help them with their sophisticated legal challenges, providing them with more than just standard legal advice – They need advocates who understand both the technical complexities and the commercial realities of their unique situations. “The Pacific focus has been particularly rewarding, as we’re seeing increasing demand from clients who need New Zealand legal expertise underpinned by knowledge of the broader regional context of their business operations,” Dylan tells us. Clendon Webb’s service offering comes with a strong focus on innovation including leveraging AI tools. Dylan states, “We have had to carefully balance embracing these tools while maintaining strategic judgement, which ultimately defines our value proposition. We do use AI-assisted tools, but at the end of the day complex litigation requires experienced legal judgement.” Clendon Webb focuses on the human element above all else. “We never lose sight of the fact that behind every case is someone counting on us to protect what matters most to them,” Dylan says. The firm’s success is built on the fundamental foundation of litigation being intensely personal for each client, no matter whether it is a commercial dispute or a family matter. “Every case represents something crucial to our client and we never lose sight of that.” “Our success represents more than our growth story; we are proving that in today’s legal market, clients increasingly value specialisation and personal attention over brand recognition and overhead. The boutique model is often superior for complex, highstakes litigation.” As such, the firm weaves the following throughout its service offering: Partner-level attention, a collaborative approach between its team and clients, with senior lawyers always involved to ensure partner-level strategic thinking and advocacy; Proactive communication, with its team answering every call and ensuring that clients are kept in-the-know throughout the process, removing any unnecessary uncertainty and anxiety; Commercial awareness, regularly assessing with clients to explore resolution strategies, and structuring its fee arrangements to align with their business objectives; Regional expertise, where for its Pacific clients, it has developed strong networks with local counsel, and it understands the cultural sensitivities that can make or break a case in different jurisdictions; and lastly, Resultsdriven approach, dedicating its resources to each case it takes on and paying close attention to what truly matters to each client. “The [APAC Insider] award recognition has validated that this approach works,” Dylan comments. “But, more importantly, our client feedback and retention rate and our referral patterns show that clients value our attention and strategic thinking.” As we come to conclude our conversation with Dylan, he tells us that ultimately the most rewarding aspect of the job is the relationships that he and the Clendon Webb team get to build with their clients. “We are proud of building something meaningful. In just 12 months, we started a vision of creating a different kind of law firm and to feel recognised by the APAC Insider Awards feels quite surreal. “Each of our team members brings their own unique perspective, but we all share a commitment to delivering exceptional results for clients facing complex challenges, and we have together proven that a boutique model can compete with and often out-perform larger firms on complex matters.” Looking ahead, Dylan shares that for the firm, 2025 is all about growth, not just expansion, saying, “We want to consolidate our success and build sustainable foundations for the next phase of Clendon Webb. We do not want to grow for growth’s sake; we want to grow strategically while maintaining the quality and client attention that got us here.” He adds, “We are also looking for another great member to join our team and we are investing in professional development, which includes conferences, and Clendon Webb has a mentoring programme to ensure our staff develop strategic thinking skills that define our practice.” Company name: Clendon Webb Contact name: Dylan Pine Website: www.clendonwebb.co.nz Best Emerging Civil Litigation Firm 2025 - New Zealand
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