LEGAL SURVEY NOW IN CENTRAL NORTH ISLAND AND CHRISTCHURCH

Following on from the successful Auckland survey that has run for the past six years, Markhams legal business development unit is now undertaking this valuable benchmarking survey in other regions.  Read more.

Team News - Winter 2011

We are delighted to welcome four new members to our team. On 1 April this year, members of chartered accountancy firm, Oak Park Ltd became part of Markhams Wellington, with Hugh Lopdell joining Peter Smith and Bruce Stormer as a partner.

Hugh, owner and director of Oak Park, and his team moved into Markhams Wellington office at the beginning of May, bringing with them a strong skill set, a broad range of expertise, and a keen enthusiasm for personal relationships.

"We are delighted to welcome them all to our team, it’s a great fit," says Bruce Stormer. "They add strength to our knowledge base, and importantly, they share the same values and ambitions to help our clients grow stronger businesses."

Hugh says the opportunity to join Markhams was unexpected yet easily made. "I was introduced to Bruce and Peter and we hit it off. We have a lot of compatibility and I am confident that we think along similar lines and will work together well to take the firm and our clients forward."

Pressure created from staff resignations due to pregnancy and the shortage of experienced replacements, had placed Oak Park under pressure to maintain its quality service to clients. At the beginning of 2011, with the staffing situation not coming right, it was clear to Hugh that proceeding into another tax season critically under-resourced was not an option. He met with Bruce early in the New Year and by April the two firms had merged.

"It was a pretty intense and bizarre six weeks," Hugh says. "And now we are enjoying Markhams robust systems, solid staff resource, the pooling of experience and knowledge, and all the other benefits of a larger firm."

The Markhams Wellington team now numbers 18, with the addition of Kate Norman, Mike Rhoades and Brian Haugh.

Kate is an accounts clerk and has been with the company for a year while Mike has been working with Hugh for over two years.

Brian joined Hugh’s Markhams team as a Senior Accountant in the middle of last month. He is a graduate with three years’ experience and is currently completing his professional CA exams.

We welcome former Oak Park clients to Markhams Wellington, and look forward to seeing you in our offices over the coming year.
From left, Kate Norman, Hugh Lopdell, Brian Haugh and Mike Rhoades.