Niamh McMahon
Niamh McMahon
Partner
BA (NUI), LLB (Hons),
MPhil (Comm Law) (First Class Hons)
Ph: 306 1881
What do I do?
I predominantly practice commercial law. I put deals and people together and I provide advice in a commercial context. This covers a lot of ground and if you want to know more details about the types of work I do, go to the “Services” tab on this website and look at the commercial section. I am also very involved in the insolvency and restructuring side of the firm and lend a hand with dispute resolution when needed. Our dispute resolution lawyers value my strategic input.
What do I enjoy about what I do?
I really enjoy the fact that when the phone rings I never know who’s going to be on the end of it or what new challenge or opportunity it will bring. There’s never a boring day in law – every client and matter is different.
I really like the people contact, the technical aspects of my work, my colleagues and running a business.
I love to see clients growing and doing well. I am one piece in a jigsaw of my clients’ decision making processes. It’s fun to be a part of a bigger picture and to see my advice working. It’s great when I can look back at the end and see how my judgment calls paid dividends for my clients. Of course, nobody is right 100% of the time but we all learn from experience and I have plenty of that – I have been practicing commercial law in Auckland for more than twenty years.
I have gained and learned a lot from practicing law, so I like to give something back to the profession. I am the convener of the Auckland District Law Society’s documents and precedents committee and I regularly present continuing legal education seminars, including for the New Zealand Law Society. Topics I have recently spoken on include the Property Law Act 2007 and business acquisitions (in the context of the current international economic climate). Other lawyers often seek my views.
What have I done in the past?
I had so many different part-time jobs growing up that I got a good idea about what I did and didn’t want to do. After working in factories I swore I’d never end up in a monotonous job. After working in London one summer during my university holidays, I promised myself that I would live close to my work and not face a long commute every day.
I started work as a lawyer in the commercial department of a large Auckland law firm in 1987, just in time for the sharemarket crash! While working, I completed my Masters degree in commercial law.
What am I like out of work?
Outside of work I’m a diver. I go off with my dive-buddies to somewhere new every year. We tend to select fairly remote destinations. My most thrilling dive was in French Polynesia – it was a drift dive where we moved with the current past feeding sharks – luckily we weren’t the most appetizing thing in the water that day!
The best scenic dive I’ve done was in Papua New Guinea. It’s just so un-spoilt. Although I first learnt to dive in Ireland, nowadays I only like diving in warm water.
What would I be if I wasn’t a lawyer?
I would be an accountant because I love numbers, economics and business and I know I wouldn’t be bored. Like lawyers, accountants are also business advisers and I think the job satisfaction would be very similar.
