Anthony Harper shapes NZ’s built environment with experience, innovation and diversity
Few legal teams are as embedded in the industry as Anthony Harper’s construction practice, explains Karen Kemp, partner and co-head of construction.“We are known for technical excellence and practical, client-focused advice, and our team has built a reputation for navigating complex projects with both strategic precision and a deep understanding of how construction really works,” says Kemp.
She says that as Anthony Harper celebrates 160 years of business in 2025, it continues to do what it has always done best: “stand beside New Zealand businesses as a trusted partner through change, challenge and growth”.
Founded in 1865, Anthony Harper’s long history is built on strong foundations of integrity, collaboration and commercial insight. “Today, that same ethos continues to underpin our work in one of the country’s most dynamic and demanding sectors, construction and infrastructure.”
The firm’s construction focus began in 2013 when Ed Dunphy joined to establish Anthony Harper’s front-end construction capability. With a background advising on large-scale commercial and infrastructure projects, Dunphy brought clarity to contract structures, procurement strategies and risk allocation. Eighteen months later, Kemp joined to build the contentious and disputes side of the practice. With more than two decades’ experience advising on project risks and disputes, Kemp complemented Dunphy’s front-end expertise, creating a practice that could support clients across the full project lifecycle, from negotiation and delivery to resolution.
“Over the past decade, that foundation has evolved into one of New Zealand’s most respected specialist teams,” says Kemp. Today, the group includes Jessica Hanning, Sarah Anderson, Samantha Moore, Emma Hughes, Remy Turi, Chelsea Pittam and Oliver Denny; a diverse, close-knit team whose collaborative spirit is as integral as their technical skill.
In an industry still largely male-dominated, Anthony Harper’s construction team is proudly different. Predominantly female, Kemp says the group represents a refreshing shift in perspective and leadership style, one that blends legal excellence with a strong sense of partnership.
“We’re a close-knit team. Construction moves fast so success depends on communication and trust. Everyone brings something different, and that makes us stronger.”
That spirit of teamwork is reflected in the breadth of projects the firm has helped deliver across New Zealand. Its long-standing partnership with Southbase Construction is a prime example. Anthony Harper has advised Southbase on several landmark developments, including Massey University’s Innovation Complex, Tūranga Christchurch Central Library, and Te Rangihīroa Residential College at the University of Otago. Each project highlights Southbase’s focus on creating spaces that encourage learning, connection and community – and Anthony Harper’s ability to provide pragmatic, strategic advice that brings those projects to life.
At a national scale, the team acts for the Fletcher-Acciona JV, the design and construct contractor for the Pūhoi to Warkworth motorway, a Waka Kotahi NZTA Public-Private Partnership (PPP) delivered through NX2 (Northern Express Group) as the main contractor and SPV. The $880 million project is a major milestone in New Zealand’s transport network, improving safety and connectivity across the upper North Island. “Projects of this scale are where collaboration matters most,” says Dunphy. “They bring together multiple parties, long timelines and complex risk structures. Our role is to help everyone stay aligned and focused on delivery.”
In the private development space, the team also advised Ninety Four Feet on the Hotel Indigo project, a high-profile addition to Auckland’s hospitality and tourism landscape. The development blends heritage architecture with modern design, symbolising the balance between progress and preservation that defines much of the team’s work.
Across every project and client relationship, one theme stands out, says Dunphy: “Partnership”. Staff see themselves as part of their clients’ project ecosystem, working alongside engineers, project managers and quantity surveyors to ensure success from the ground up.
“We don’t just provide legal advice,” Kemp says. “We become part of the project team. That’s where we add the most value; anticipating challenges early and helping our clients keep things moving.”
Technical strength also extends into insurance and earthquake-related advisory work, where complex building and structural issues often sit at the heart of coverage and liability questions. Anthony Harper’s lawyers regularly assist on claims and disputes involving foundation and structural repairs, applying the same deep understanding of construction principles that underpins its project work. For clients, adds Dunphy, it’s another example of how legal insight, engineering knowledge and practical experience combine to achieve the best outcomes.
“Anthony Harper is focused on the future of construction in Aotearoa New Zealand: embracing innovation, sustainable development and new delivery models that better balance risk and reward. With major infrastructure investment and urban regeneration continuing nationwide, Anthony Harper is poised to play a key role in shaping that future,” says Dunphy.
For a firm with 160 years of history, Dunphy assures it remains “firmly forward-looking as a trusted adviser to generations of builders, developers and visionaries” who keep New Zealand growing.
“Our construction team embodies that same enduring spirit: grounded in experience, driven by collaboration and united by a shared commitment to progress.”
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