Best Property Lawyers in Wellington
We assessed 58 property lawyers in Wellington and ranked the top 5 on public rating quality, review volume and how recent the reviews are. The businesses listed below hold 604 Google reviews between them. No business can pay for a place in these rankings. Last updated 1 October 2026. How we rank →
Before you hire
Property lawyers and conveyancing solicitors handle the purchase or sale of a house, due diligence, title searches and LIM reports as part of a standard property transaction. Confirm the quoted fee covers all standard disbursements, ask about their availability around your settlement date, and check who handles the matter if your usual lawyer is unavailable.
Top 5 Property Lawyers in Wellington
The top 5 property lawyers in Wellington are #1 LIU Legal, #2 Gault Mitchell Law, #3 Convex Legal, #4 Livingston & Livingston, and #5 Gibson Sheat, ranked by Top5 score. Scroll for our take on each, plus what to ask before you instruct.
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1
L I U Legal
★ 5.0 98 reviews +2 Top5 Score 167 +25★ 97 4★ 1LIU Legal gets first-home buyers through purchase and sale conveyancing with step-by-step guidance that removes guesswork at every stage. Lead lawyer Penny goes further than the paperwork, connecting clients with tradespeople and specialists they need during settlement, which reviewers flag as a practical difference from other firms.
location_on 3/44 Victoria Street, Wellington Central, Wellington
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2
Gault Mitchell Law
★ 5.0 83 reviews +1 Top5 Score 161 -15★ 81 4★ 2Gault Mitchell Law handles first home purchases, property sales, refinancing, and apartment acquisitions, with solicitors like Simon and Georgia noted for proactively suggesting contract changes and flagging issues buyers would not have spotted themselves. Upfront fee quotes are given before engagement, and the firm adapts quickly when settlement timelines shift unexpectedly.
location_on Level 4/22 The Terrace, Wellington
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3
Convex Legal
★ 4.9 79 reviews +1 Top5 Score 156 +15★ 76 4★ 1 2★ 1 1★ 1Convex Legal coordinates first home purchases, property sales, and loan refinancing, with named solicitors like Jordan, Sam, and Natalie guiding clients through LIM reports, sale and purchase agreements, and settlement day logistics. They provide upfront fee quotes before engagement, and multiple reviewers note that emails are answered outside standard working hours when deadlines are close.
location_on level 4/82 Willis Street, Wellington Central, Wellington
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4
Livingston & Livingston
★ 5.0 48 reviews +6 Top5 Score 156 +45★ 48Digby at Livingston & Livingston walks first-home buyers through purchase conveyancing, KiwiSaver withdrawals, and mortgage refinancing, taking the time to answer every question including concerns raised by family members during the process. Fees are repeatedly flagged as reasonable compared to other firms, and Digby responds to emails and queries outside standard business hours when clients need him.
location_on 32 Mulgrave Street, Pipitea, Wellington
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5
Gibson Sheat Lawyers - Wellington City
★ 4.8 57 reviews +6 Top5 Score 153 +65★ 53 4★ 1 1★ 3Gibson Sheat brings together property conveyancing and portfolio restructuring under one roof, with lawyer Jana noted for steering clients through company establishment, multiple property purchases, and portfolio reorganisation as a cohesive process rather than separate engagements. Patrick's approach to home purchase conveyancing draws specific praise for keeping transactions straightforward and steering clients away from unnecessary costs.
location_on Centre Level 2/50 Customhouse Quay, Wellington Central, Wellington
Before you instruct a property lawyer in Wellington
Drawn from 179 customer reviews collected for this page. The first answer is what it costs.
What does a property lawyer typically cost in New Zealand? expand_more
Fixed fee conveyancing for a standard residential purchase or sale runs from around $1,500 to $2,500 plus GST in 2024 and 2025. Disbursements, covering title searches, Land Information New Zealand registration fees, and Landonline transaction costs, add another $300 to $600 on top.
Leasehold titles, unit titles, cross-lease properties, and off-the-plan purchases fall outside standard fixed fee packages and attract higher or hourly-rate charges. Review evidence suggests that fixed fee pricing, where offered upfront, significantly reduces stress and helps buyers budget with confidence.
What does a property lawyer do that a conveyancer can't? expand_more
Both property lawyers and licensed conveyancers can handle residential conveyancing, including title searches, settlement management, and drafting, and both are regulated under the Lawyers and Conveyancers Act 2006 by the New Zealand Law Society and New Zealand Society of Conveyancers respectively. A property lawyer holds a full law degree and practising certificate, which means they can also advise on trust structures, relationship property questions, and disputes that arise mid-transaction.
For a straightforward purchase or sale, a licensed conveyancer is competent and often slightly cheaper, with fees from around $1,000 to $1,800 plus disbursements. Where your transaction involves a company, a trust, a complex title, or any legal dispute, a property lawyer is the safer choice because they can handle those issues within the same engagement without referring you elsewhere.
What should I check before signing a sale and purchase agreement? expand_more
Confirm that the agreement includes conditions for finance approval, a builder's report, and a LIM report from the local council, because signing unconditionally removes your ability to exit if problems emerge. Check the chattels list carefully, since disputes over what stays with the property, such as appliances, light fittings, and curtains, are common and the agreement is binding on whatever is listed.
Review evidence shows that a good lawyer will flag issues in LIM reports and title documents that buyers would not identify on their own, including cross-lease complications and disclosure gaps. Engage a lawyer before you sign, not after, because once a sale and purchase agreement is executed it is a legally binding contract.
What are the warning signs of a property lawyer you shouldn't use? expand_more
- –Billing surprises at settlement, where the final invoice is significantly higher than the original estimate with no prior warning, is a clear red flag raised in multiple reviews.
- –Failing to flag title or LIM issues in plain language, so you only understand the risk after the fact, suggests the lawyer is not working in your interest.
- –Slow or absent communication in the days leading up to settlement, when deadlines are tightest, is a serious operational failure that can expose you to financial penalty.
- –Handing your matter to an inexperienced staff member without telling you, particularly on a complex transaction, is a disclosure problem you should watch for.
- –Billing for time on errors the lawyer made, without proactively reversing those charges, indicates a firm that does not take accountability seriously.
- –Using an inappropriate contract template for your transaction type, such as an off-plan agreement for a completed property sale, creates unnecessary cost and legal risk for you.
What should you ask before hiring a property lawyer? expand_more
- –Ask whether the fee is fixed or time-based, and get confirmation in writing of exactly what is included, since disbursements, LIM reviews, and additional negotiations are sometimes excluded from quoted prices.
- –Ask how quickly they can turn around a contract review if you find a property urgently, because settlement timelines in Wellington can move fast and some firms cannot respond same-day.
- –Ask who will actually handle your file, since reviews highlight that the person you meet initially is not always the person who does the work.
- –Ask what their process is when an issue is found during due diligence, including how they communicate options to you and who makes the call on how to proceed.
- –Ask whether they offer a fixed fee package for home loan or refinancing work separately, as some Wellington lawyers bundle these services at a set price that removes billing uncertainty.
Also recommended property lawyers in Wellington
Ranked 6 to 9 on the same public review record.
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6
The Law Lady Limited
★ 4.9 64 reviews Top5 Score 1525★ 62 4★ 1 2★ 1The Law Lady steers first-home buyers, repeat purchasers, and sellers through conveyancing, KiwiSaver withdrawals, and mortgage discharges, with named solicitors Joella, Arnaka, and Danielle each drawing repeat clients back for subsequent transactions. When last-minute KiwiSaver complications threatened settlement timing, the team pursued providers directly until funds cleared, a pattern multiple buyers have highlighted as decisive.
location_on Level 1/124 Main Street, Upper Hutt Central, Upper Hutt
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7
Gibson Sheat Lawyers - Lower Hutt
★ 4.5 78 reviews Top5 Score 1485★ 63 4★ 6 3★ 1 2★ 1 1★ 7Gibson Sheat carries clients through residential property purchases, sales, and refinancing, with named solicitors Amanda and James drawing repeat business from clients who return transaction after transaction. Amanda is specifically praised for keeping a calm, methodical approach through the nerve-wracking stages of simultaneous buying and selling, turning a typically stressful process into a smooth one.
location_on Level 3/1 Margaret Street, Hutt Central, Lower Hutt
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8
JB Morrison Lawyers Wellington
↓ 2★ 4.4 63 reviews +5 Top5 Score 147 +15★ 51 4★ 1 3★ 3 1★ 8JB Morrison takes clients through residential purchases, commercial lease reviews, and business-related property transactions, with named lawyers like Erica, Sarah, Jamie, and Lindsey each drawing repeat business from satisfied clients. When deals run across multiple purchases and sales over time, the team's communication keeps the process straightforward without clients needing to chase progress.
location_on Level 7, 126 Lambton Quay, Level 7/49 The Terrace, Wellington
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9
Langford Law
↓ 1★ 4.8 34 reviews +4 Top5 Score 145 +55★ 31 4★ 2 1★ 1Langford Law takes clients through first home purchases, property sales, and refinancing, with George noted for turning complex legal documentation into plain language and responding quickly throughout. John and Yvonne have built long-term relationships with repeat clients across multiple settlements, and reviewers consistently return to the firm for subsequent transactions.
location_on Level 7/90 The Terrace, Wellington Central, Wellington
About this ranking
What the 9 property lawyers listed above hold, at the 1 October 2026 check.
We first assessed property lawyers in Wellington in March 2026 and have rechecked the ranking four times since. Three different businesses have held first place; L I U Legal has held it since July 2026. L I U Legal, Gault Mitchell Law, Convex Legal and Livingston & Livingston have been in the top 5 at every check. Across the 14 locations we assess property lawyers in, the 125 businesses listed have a median rating of 4.9, and one-star reviews are 2.5% of their total.
What has changed since March 2026? expand_more
- Oct 2026
Scoring method updated. The Law Lady Limited entered the list at #6. Gibson Sheat Lawyers - Lower Hutt returned to the list at #7.
- Aug 2026
Gibson Sheat Lawyers - Wellington City entered the top 5, up from #6. Langford Law returned to the list at #8.
- Jul 2026
Scoring method updated. New first place: L I U Legal. Gibson Sheat Lawyers - Lower Hutt entered the top 5, up from #8. JB Morrison Lawyers Wellington entered the list at #7.
- May 2026
- Mar 2026
First check.
How are the top property lawyers in Wellington chosen? expand_more
We build this page from Google Maps results for property lawyers in Wellington. Each one is scored on its public rating and review record. Businesses outside the area, or whose reviews describe a different line of work, are left out, and a business whose main Google category is a different trade is held back until a person has checked what it does. A business whose website no longer resolves and that has had no Google review for six months is treated as dormant and left off the page until either changes. Every category and city is rechecked on a rolling cycle, about every two to three months. A location with a subscribing business is rechecked every month, and the whole page updates with it. See how we rank for the full method.
What does a business subscription offer? expand_more
No business can pay for a place in these rankings. Claiming and verifying a listing is free. It adds a phone number to the card and a small trust bonus (+3 points) to its score, for confirming a real operator stands behind the listing. The owner also gets a dashboard showing how their score is made up. A paid subscription provides an enhanced card with more ways to reach the business, including a website link and a detailed profile page. It also refreshes this page monthly and adds ranking history and competitor analysis to the owner's dashboard. The subscription adds nothing to the score. Claim your listing or see what a subscription includes.
Why isn't my business listed? expand_more
We build this page from Google Maps results for property lawyers in Wellington. The usual reasons for missing out are a Google Business category that does not match, too few reviews to score near the top, or an address outside the area we cover. Sometimes we miss a business that should be here. Check where you rank first. If you are not there and think you should be, get in touch.