Clare North
Partner | Property / Commercial / Rural
Experienced commercial, rural and residential property lawyer, having worked on successful transactions for owners and purchasers across the top of the South Island and throughout New Zealand.
Leads the firm’s rural property team, with particular experience in respect of farm and forestry transactions, including ETS registered forestry.
Advises on trust structures and asset planning for existing and new clients.
DDI: +64 3 545 6708
Clare is a property lawyer with extensive experience and has worked with vendors, purchasers and developers across New Zealand.
Clare is well-regarded for her property practice, including nationally significant and often complex property transactions.
Much of Clare’s local and national work comes from referrals. This reflects the quality of Clare’s advice and her approach to her work, with client’s valuing how Clare delivers her advice.
Clare remains closely involved throughout each matter, maintaining oversight from beginning to end. This means clients deal directly with Clare; a lawyer who understands the detail, is responsive and provides clear, commercially grounded advice when decisions need to be made.
Client Reviews
“Clare has for many years undertaken work of a significant and complicated nature for our various Trust entities and our personal legal requirements. She is an outstanding lawyer who always goes above and beyond what’s required and, most importantly, she cares deeply about the client and the work she undertakes for them.”
— Granville Dunstan, Dunstan Trust Holdings
“Clare is an exceptional legal advisor and an absolute pleasure to work with. She has a remarkable ability to break down complex legal matters into clear, easily understood components while maintaining oversight of the bigger picture. Clare is consistently available to provide thoughtful, well-reasoned advice and, importantly, clear guidance on the next steps. Her knowledge spans a wide range of legal areas, and her responsiveness, professionalism, and ability to deliver timely outcomes make her a highly valued and trusted advisor.”
— Andy Stevens, CEO of Freeman Roofing
Commercial Property Sales and Purchases
A key strength Clare brings to her commercial property practice is her collaborative approach. She works closely with specialist advisors, including real estate agents, property and farm managers and consultants. This allows Clare’s clients to get the most of their advisors and their expertise.
That team-based approach, combined with a willingness to “get stuck in”, challenge assumptions, and respond quickly, is central to how she works.
Clare has significant experience in rural and agribusiness work, including farm sales, vineyard transactions and forestry-related matters. She has advised on vineyard leases and acquisitions where issues such as water rights, land use and long-term operational considerations are critical.
Clare has acted on forestry transactions in excess of $150 million and her forestry work is a significant area of her practice. Clare has acted for private individuals and Trusts, closely held corporates and investment funds and builds, strong, lasting relationships with her clients through these transactions. Her experience places her among a relatively small group of lawyers nationally working in this specialised space.
Commercial Leasing
Clare’s commercial property practice includes extensive leasing experience for landlords and tenants across industrial, retail and bespoke developments.
Clare works hard for her clients to ensure their long-term interests are protected.
Residential Property and
Land, Sales and Purchases
Clare has a substantial private client practice, helping clients with purchases, sales and subdivisions.
She has assisted thousands of clients with residential property transactions in Nelson and elsewhere in New Zealand, often becoming a long-term adviser across multiple stages of her client’s lives.
Trusts & Inheritance
Planning
For existing and new clients, Clare advises on trust structures and asset planning, understanding that trusts are part of someone’s succession planning.
Having worked on hundreds of estate matters, she is often appointed as the independent executor in more complex estates, acting as the legal expert and mediator. In these roles, she helps families navigate sensitive situations and resolve issues without the need for court involvement, bringing sound judgment, independence and a steady hand to what can be challenging circumstances.
