Owen Culliney Law - Waihi

Owen Culliney Law - Waihi We’re a team of lawyers and legal experts who cut through the complexity, bringing clarity to both the human and legal sides of every case.

✨ TEAM SPOTLIGHT ✨Introducing our newest staff member - Tallulah Barham! Could you tell us a bit about your background?...
15/06/2026

✨ TEAM SPOTLIGHT ✨

Introducing our newest staff member - Tallulah Barham!


Could you tell us a bit about your background?
I was born in Napier before moving to Christchurch, where I spent most of my childhood. Nearly two years ago, I moved to Mount Maunganui. I come from a big family. I left school to pursue a career as wanting to become a Legal Executive and began studying towards my qualification at the start of this year.

Tell us about your role…
My role at OC Law is to support and assist the team wherever needed, helping to take workload off others and ensuring things run smoothly day to day.

How long have you been in this role?
I have been with OC Law since the beginning of June 2026.

How and why did you get into this career?
I was introduced to the opportunity through Owen, as I nanny for his sister’s family. Working at OC Law has given me valuable experience while studying towards becoming a Legal Executive.

What do you love about your job?
My favourite part of working at OC Law is my colleagues. Everyone is incredibly welcoming, supportive and kind, which makes coming to work each day truly special.

What's the best piece of advice you've given and by whom?
The best advice I have received is from my mum: don’t worry about what everyone else is thinking and stay true to yourself.

Favourite holiday destination?
The Gold Coast.

What do you do for fun?
Outside of work, I enjoy long walks along the beach, nannying, shopping, and spending time with friends and family.

What's one thing people would be surprised or interested to know about you?
I am one of 5 children!

Tracey attended The Law Association’s Cradle to Grave Conference recently. Billed as a must-attend conference for legal ...
03/06/2026

Tracey attended The Law Association’s Cradle to Grave Conference recently.

Billed as a must-attend conference for legal practitioners in property, family, trusts, wills, and estate planning, this year’s theme was ‘Certainty at Every Step: Advising Clients in an Evolving World’. The conference explored how change is reshaping private client practice and client advice.

Did you know that we’re available to present to your community group or workplace?Our team regularly presents to groups ...
28/05/2026

Did you know that we’re available to present to your community group or workplace?

Our team regularly presents to groups around Waihi and surrounds. Just recently, Tracy spoke at the Grey Power Waihi meeting. In the past we’ve also presented at the Waihi RSA about wills, powers of attorney and other life admin aspects that we should all have in place!

If you’re interested in having one of our team present to your organisation or group, give us a call or send us a message. We’d be happy to have a chat!

Did you know the Waikato property market is having one of its strongest years in recent memory? 📈Owen has written a new ...
26/05/2026

Did you know the Waikato property market is having one of its strongest years in recent memory? 📈

Owen has written a new blog post based around the latest Infometrics Ltd data for Q1, 2026.

You can read it here 👉 https://oclaw.co.nz/blog/the-waikato-property-market-is-moving-1lvax0

Some high level stats straight off though....
🏠 8,274 homes sold in the Waikato in the past year — above the long-run average
🏠 Sales are up nearly 12% on last year
🏠 First home buyer activity has more than doubled compared to the 10-year average
🏠 Housing is at its most affordable in 10 years
🏠 The average Waikato home is $142,000 less than the national average

Whether you’re buying your first home, selling up, or making your next investment move, now is a great time to understand what’s happening in our local market.

And when you’re ready to take that next step, our team are here to make the legal side simple.

Congratulations to Owen who is celebrating 20 years in law! He's put a few thoughts together about his journey..."When I...
13/05/2026

Congratulations to Owen who is celebrating 20 years in law! He's put a few thoughts together about his journey...

"When I started out as a clerk at LIC in 2005 helping farmers navigate the paperwork of a new corporate model, I couldn't have known it was the first page of a 20-year story that would take me from small-town family matters to global cross-border transactions, and eventually to building something entirely my own.

My first proper legal role was in the commercial team at Harkness Henry, where I worked alongside partners and senior associates advising syndicate clients acquiring office and commercial assets in the years before the GFC. When the market changed, so did my focus, shifting to families, small businesses, and the everyday legal needs of people simply getting on with their lives. It was here, in the quieter work, that I found something lasting: a genuine appreciation for the difference good legal advice makes at a human level.

That breadth of experience only deepened from there. A secondment as in-house counsel at a hospital, overseeing the legal side of clinical trials, added a layer few commercial lawyers can claim. Three years at James & Wells sharpened my expertise in intellectual property and opened my eyes to what New Zealand businesses could achieve on the world stage. Cross-border transactions – supporting Kiwi exporters, inbound investors, and everything in between – became a natural extension of that global mindset.

When I founded iCLAW, the vision was clear: bring that international perspective home, but do it differently. I didn't just want to apply the law, I wanted my team to understand clients well enough to help them move forward safely and ambitiously. As I've always believed: "A ship was not built to sit in port, and a lawyer's job is not to stop the ship from departure, but to prepare it for the high seas."

iCLAW was built on that philosophy – technologically advanced, client-focused, and always a step ahead of how legal advice was being delivered and absorbed. I understood that society had changed, and that the practice of law had to change with it.

Now, 12 months into the next chapter with OCLaw, I've taken that thinking further. A smaller, more nimble team. More time with clients. More hands-on involvement. And a clear-eyed view of what the next five years mean for the legal profession – a period I believe will determine which lawyers remain genuinely relevant and which become mere commodity providers.

My answer? Double down on the human element. Use technology to unlock capacity and speed, yes. But protect and invest in the kind of advice that cannot be automated: the kind that comes from sitting with a client, understanding their world, and helping them navigate it wisely.

After 20 years (and with most of my hair intact, I'm pleased to report) I'm clear-eyed about what lies ahead. The legal landscape is shifting faster than ever. AI is changing how work gets done, sometimes at the expense of compliance and sound practice. The lawyers who will matter are those who can hold both worlds together: the efficiency of modern tools and the irreplaceable value of experienced, considered advice."

Our team member Sheridan recently attended the Property Law Conference in Christchurch — two great days filled with insi...
13/05/2026

Our team member Sheridan recently attended the Property Law Conference in Christchurch — two great days filled with insightful discussions and a wide range of topics, from creating a healthy work-life balance through to commercial leasing and regulatory changes.
It was a fantastic opportunity to connect with others in the industry, hear from knowledgeable speakers, and bring back valuable insights for our team and clients.
And yes… she can confirm Christchurch was definitely cold! ❄️

Owen recently gave a talk to a business group about protecting your intellectual property. We had some great feedback ab...
12/05/2026

Owen recently gave a talk to a business group about protecting your intellectual property. We had some great feedback about the content so we thought we'd share that here.

So if your IP is something you care about protecting, click here 👇

https://cdn.blutui.com/uploads/oclaw/ip-presentation.pdf

Our latest blog post is out...Owen writes: "We Kiwis like to think of ourselves as a hardy bunch. We rebuild after quake...
12/05/2026

Our latest blog post is out...

Owen writes: "We Kiwis like to think of ourselves as a hardy bunch. We rebuild after quakes, improvise when the supply chain falls over, and some us can even turn a shed, a spanner, and a YouTube tutorial into a functioning business operation. But even the most resilient Kiwi business can’t run on fumes forever. And right now, across the country, the fuel gauges are telling us something important."

Click the link to read more.

https://oclaw.co.nz/blog/running-on-empty-the-warning-signs-kiwi-businesses-can-t-afford-to-ignore-sxykn5

In today's Staff Spotlight, we introduce you to our new law clerk, Sheridan Harley, who recently graduated with a Bachel...
30/04/2026

In today's Staff Spotlight, we introduce you to our new law clerk, Sheridan Harley, who recently graduated with a Bachelor of Laws, majoring in Law and History from the University of Waikato.

Can you tell us a bit about your background?
I was born and raised in Tauranga and moved to Hamilton to study at the University of Waikato. I have recently moved to Waihi to begin my role at OCLaw and to be closer to family. I have always been interested in pursing a career in law from a young age, motivated by a strong desire to help others. During my studies, I developed a particular interest in property law, which I found especially engaging. I am now looking forward to continuing to build my knowledge in this area.

Tell us about your role with OC Law?
As a law clerk, I assist Owen and the team across a range of matters, however I primarily assist in conveyancing work.

How long have you been in this role?
Coming up three months and loving it!

How and why did you get into this career?
I set my sights on law as an aspirational career path from a young age. I was drawn to the profession because I think it develops strong leaders and problem solvers, and I wanted to pursue a career that would challenge me in that way and allow me to grow professionally.

What do you love about your job?
I enjoy meeting clients and assisting them through property transactions. The process of buying or selling property can be a very exciting and sometimes daunting experience to some, so I really strive to make it a great experience, especially first home buyers!

What's Your favourite place to visit in the local area?
Bowentown! I love getting out on the harbour in the boat or jet ski and enjoying the beach.

Favourite café or restaurant?
I love Ti Tree, and it’s handy to work!

What do you do for fun?
I like to keep active, whether that’s going for a run or spending time outdoors. I also enjoy winding down with a good book.

What's one thing people would be surprised or interested to know about you?
I’m an avid chess player and enjoy a good game and challenge!

Address

71 Seddon Street
Waihi
3610

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 9am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 9am - 4:30pm
Thursday 9am - 4:30pm
Friday 9am - 4:30pm

Telephone

+6478637530

Website

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