Who We Are

Our story begins in 1861. Newly founded Dunedin is in a state of gold-rush era flux, and the town is experiencing rapid expansion and prosperity. One lawyer, dedicated to delivering expert legal advice and a tendency to get straight to the point, soon becomes an institution in Dunedin legal services.

In the decades that follow, some of the region’s finest legal minds have proudly served the firm, their dedication to high standards and client-led values, allowing the expansion of services, capability and reach throughout the region and beyond.

The name Gallaway Cook Allan, comes from the 2002 merger between Cook Allan Gibson and Gallaway Haggitt Sinclair, with the current name honouring the law firm’s founders as we continue to pioneer into the future.

“Our founding partner, George Cook, was known for his pragmatism and getting straight to the point. A century later, that is still one of the firm’s guiding principles.” - CEO Jason Tibble. 

• 1861: A year after English solicitor George Cook arrived in Dunedin he began practicing law. Cook was involved in notable gold-rush era property and commercial law cases.
• 1898: Founding partner George Cook dies aged 82, at the time he was Dunedin’s longest serving lawyer.
• 1924: Norman Allan started as a law clerk with the practice, and worked alongside George Cook’s sons, Henry and John.
• Mid-1940s: Norman Allan is co-leader of the firm, the first non-Cook family member to take on a leadership role. He served as a lawyer for 63 years, retiring at 80 years old.
• 1950: World War Two veteran Iain Gallaway, joins his father under the firm ‘Gallaway and Son’. The prominent lawyer, Otago District Law Society member and celebrated sports broadcaster was honoured with both an MBE and QSO.
• 1971: Mr A J Anderson, a partner at the firm, becomes a trustee of the Alexander McMillan Trust which has gone on to fund community-focused projects across Otago.
• 1980: Judith Medlicott became the firm’s first female partner, a groundbreaking achievement when partnerships were almost exclusively male. Medlicott went on to establish the Otago Women Lawyers society.
• 1988: Following a succession of “Gallaway” firms, the practice takes on the moniker ‘Gallaway Haggitt Sinclair.’
• 1992: Distinguished Maori academic and lawyer Warren Alcock joins the firm, initially working in litigation before becoming a trailblazer in sports law representing professional athletes and coaches including All Blacks coaches Ian Foster and Scott Robertson, and players Ritchie McCaw and Dan Carter.
• XXXX: Gallaway Cook Allan opens a practice in Wanaka
• 2002: The Cook Allan Gibson and Gallaway Haggitt Sinclair law practices merge, officially forming the Gallaway Cook Allan of today.
• 2015: The Dunedin-based firm moves into large-scale premises in Dunedin’s historical precinct.
• 2017: Partner David Robinson appointed a coroner, having previously acted as a Crown prosecutor.