Geoff Thomas - Anderson Lloyd
How has Lawlink helped you to build relationships with colleagues in other Lawlink firms?
Attending the Lawlink conferences has enabled me to meet and get to know many lawyers from across the Lawlink network and from there, professional relationships have developed. I now often ring peers at other firms and they ring me. We can share expertise and information, without worrying about professional rivalry or a lack of trust - this is something quite special. I now regard many of these people as personal friends and business associates as well as Lawlink colleagues.
How have you worked together with colleagues in other Lawlink firms for mutual benefit?
A number of few years ago, we decided to turn our nominee company into a unit trust. At that stage the unit trust was worth seven million dollars. However, by working with some of our contacts throughout the Lawlink network, we managed to transform this into a nationwide fund worth in excess of $1 billion. We set up the working model here in Dunedin and invited Lawlink firms to participate. Trusts were set up throughout the country. Lawlink firms benefited from our know-how and we benefited from access to their local network of contacts. It is a successful, profitable fund still growing and prospering today.
What advice would you give to young lawyers about using Lawlink to develop their networks?
I recommend making every effort to attend the annual Lawlink conference, and to join a relevant special interest group. It is also worth taking the opportunity to write in the Lawlink magazine - this is a good way of marketing your expertise beyond your own patch.