Hesketh Henry has retained its Band 1 ranking for Private Wealth Law in the Chambers High Net Worth (HNW) Guide 2026, released today.
The HNW Guide is one of the most highly regarded international rankings for advisers in the private wealth space and is awarded based on independent research and client feedback.
Hesketh Henry has one of the largest dedicated Private Wealth teams in New Zealand, with extensive experience across contentious and non-contentious work – from trust structuring, succession and estate planning through to trust disputes and relationship property.
Emma Tonkin, who heads Hesketh Henry’s Private Wealth practice, said the recognition “reflects the team’s focus on client outcomes – long-term relationships, often across generations of the same family, and the trust that comes with handling matters that are personal and often complex. Our clients value having access to a team that can move confidently across both the planning and disputes sides of private wealth.”
Alongside the firm ranking, three partners were recognised in the 2026 Guide:
- Mary Joy Simpson – Band 1, who leads many of the team’s most complex and highest-value mandates and is regularly appointed as a professional trustee for HNW and UHNW families.
- Emma Tonkin – Band 2, head of the firm’s Private Wealth practice, with a practice spanning succession planning, contentious estates, relationship property and the overseas investment regime.
- John Kirkwood – Band 3, who brings a distinctive mix of private wealth and business advisory expertise across intergenerational succession and trust restructuring.
Thank you to our clients and contacts who took the time to provide feedback, and congratulations to the Private Wealth team on this well-deserved recognition.
