I've spent more than 45 years being educated, living and working on the North Shore: Milford Primary, Takapuna Intermediate, Westlake Boys were my schooling. As a young adolescent/young man, I worked as a manager at McDonald's Shore City (where Les Mills is now), and then I walked the beat as a frontline police officer on the North Shore for six years.
I've been elected at local body elections and represented my local community here, and my first job as a lawyer was at Schnauer and Co when it was located on the corner of Kitchener Rd and Fenwick Ave in Milford.
That was in 2001
The more things change, the more they stay the same. I'm now back in MIlford and it feels great. I can almost see the house I was raised in just off East Coast Rd. I have many happy memories from growing up in Milford - the swing into the marina; jumping off the Inga Rd bridge into the estuary; investigating the rock pools while walking between Milford and Takapuna beaches. There are many more. It feels right to be back doing what I love: practicing law and helping people through life's inevitable problems and challenges using legal methods and solutions.
It also feels right buying Jim Thompson's business. We have similar philosophies and outlook in life. It has been an exceptionally smooth transition. Both Jim and his staff have been welcoming, friendly and, well, quite brilliant actually. For those wondering, Jim is still working here fulltime until August, and following that on a part time basis. In short, he's still around, and will be around. But once August comes and goes, there will be a slow transition into a name change of Shore Legal.
Why?
Well, firstly because I agree with Martin Cooper. And, so, incorporating the word Shore into the name of the firm just made sense. I want to be part of a growing name and brand that associates legal work and solutions with the wonderful place that is the North Shore. Hence, Shore Legal.
The website isn't far away, and clients and others with eagle eyes will gradually start to notice rebranding with nice bright colours. As I say to anyone who asks, “when you’re in business, there’s always plenty to do”.
But at the end of the day, brands, names and logos are only as strong as the people behind them and the service that is provided through them. I like to think I have a strong service ethos, with credit due here to the McDonald’s training I received as a youngster.
It has been a very busy nine months since I took over Jim Thompson’s practice, and I have enjoyed every day. Moving office from Taharoto Rd to Milford was a challenge, but with the right people assisting, all of whom went in the same direction, it was relatively seamless (special thanks Tolla and the team from Mi IT!).
Shore Legal is now settled in Milford. There are plenty of cafes (Beam is my favourite); the beach is five minutes away and there are a myriad of decent options for a drink after work on a Friday. I previously anointed Murray Blair of Prestige Realty as the Mayor of Milford, and am working hard to take that title off him.
To coin Martin Cooper’s phrase again, with an extra addition, “The North Shore, what a great place to live (and work)”!
Yours faithfully
Nick Kearney
Director
LLM, LLB, Dip. Pol.
Jim Thompson Law / Phone: (09) 486 0745 / Level 1, 121-123 Kitchener Road, Milford, Auckland / P O Box 33197, Takapuna, Auckland.
