We make buying, selling and transferring property simple.
Quay Law is a boutique property and conveyancing law firm based in Remuera, Auckland, led by solicitor Ian Mellett.
Structured Legal Support for Auckland Property & Personal Affairs
Quay Law brings together the everyday legal services Auckland individuals, families and business owners rely on, delivered by a single point of contact who knows your matter from start to finish. Whether the issue is a house purchase, a family trust or a commercial lease, you deal with a solicitor rather than being passed between departments.
Residential & Commercial Conveyancing
Conveyancing is our core work. We act for buyers, sellers and those refinancing on residential and commercial property, reviewing sale and purchase agreements, handling due diligence, and managing settlement so nothing slips.
Explore ConveyancingWills & Estate Administration
A clear, valid will protects the people you care about and makes life simpler for them later. We prepare wills, advise on estate planning, and guide executors and families through estate administration when someone passes away.
Manage Estate PlanningFamily Trusts & Asset Protection
Family trusts remain a practical tool for asset protection and succession planning when they are set up and run correctly. We advise on whether a trust genuinely suits your situation, establish it properly, and help trustees.
Protect Family AssetsRelationship Property Agreements
Contracting-out agreements (often called prenups) and relationship property agreements give couples clarity about how property is treated if circumstances change. We provide independent legal advice on these agreements.
Protect PropertyNZ Immigration Law
We assist with New Zealand residence and visa matters, providing practical legal assistance for individuals and families navigating the immigration system. We help you understand where your situation fits.
Explore Visa ServicesCommercial & Business Law
For business owners we handle commercial and business law: company matters, commercial leasing, sale and purchase of businesses, and the due diligence that sits behind those deals. Keep the legal work proportionate.
Access Business ServicesDirect Solicitor Access. No Layers. No Delays.
At many firms you rarely speak to the solicitor doing your work. Quay Law is built the other way around. When you engage us you deal directly with your solicitor, not a rotating cast of assistants, so nothing is lost in translation and decisions are made quickly. That direct access is the whole point of a boutique practice: fewer layers, faster answers, and a specialist who actually knows the detail of your matter.
Ian holds degrees in commerce and law (B Comm, LLB) along with a Higher Diploma in Tax Law (H Dip Tax), and is admitted to practice both in New Zealand and overseas. This combination of commercial and tax expertise allows Quay Law to advise on complex transaction structures, family trust distributions, and property tax compliance from a position of authority.
| Attribute | Quay Law Boutique Model | Large Regional Firm Model | Digital Conveyancing Mills |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Advisor | Qualified Principal Solicitor (Ian Mellett) | Junior Staff, Clerks, or Legal Executives | Automated Software & Call-Centre Clerks |
| Communication | Direct email, direct dial, mobile access | Gated through secretaries & reception lines | Web-portal chat widgets and email queues |
| Cross-Silo Capability | Integrates conveyancing with tax, trusts, and estate planning | Split across disconnected department heads | Strict transaction-only focus (no wills or trust advice) |
| Physical Office | 165 Orakei Road, Remuera (Auckland HQ) | Multi-story corporate offices with high overheads | Online-only / No physical office presence |
A Straightforward Approach to Your Legal Transaction
Legal transactions do not need to be confusing. We take a straightforward approach: we explain each step in plain language, tell you what we need from you and when, and keep the process moving through due diligence to settlement.
Upfront Inquiry & Scope
Submit a free quote request using our specialized branching intake form, or call our Remuera office directly.
Direct Consultation
You consult directly with Ian Mellett to review critical clauses, identify potential risks, and confirm compliance details.
Document Execution
We execute the required legal searches, draft contract clauses, coordinate with lenders, and register titles electronically.
Secure Settlement
Our office manages the transfer of funds through our secure trust account and completes the registration of your title.
Get an Indicative Legal Fee Quote Upfront
Nobody likes a legal bill that arrives as a surprise. Before we start, we give you an indicative, upfront fee quote so you know what to expect, and for most conveyancing matters we can offer clear fixed fees. If your matter changes in a way that affects the cost, we tell you before the work is done, not after.
Hyper-Local Expertise from Our Remuera Office
Quay Law is a Remuera firm, and being local matters. We act for clients across Remuera, Orakei, Mission Bay and along Tamaki Drive, as well as the wider Auckland isthmus and greater Auckland. That local knowledge helps with everything from understanding a neighbourhood's property market to sorting a LIM report with Auckland Council. If you are searching for property lawyers serving Remuera & Orakei, you are in the right place.
Headquarters: 165 Orakei Road, Remuera, Auckland
Why Choose Quay Law
Choosing Quay Law means choosing a specialist who takes genuine care of your transaction. As a boutique Remuera firm, we combine specialist property and conveyancing knowledge with the kind of direct, personal service larger firms struggle to offer.
Ian Mellett & Our Remuera Practice
Quay Law is led by solicitor Ian Mellett, who heads the firm's Remuera practice. Ian is an admitted New Zealand solicitor and a member of the New Zealand Law Society, the profession's regulatory body, and he takes personal responsibility for the firm's work. The boutique model is deliberate: the person advising you is the person handling your matter.
Personal Transaction Commitment
Clients come to us because they want a solicitor who explains things clearly, quotes fees upfront, and treats their matter with care from the first phone call to settlement. We would rather do fewer matters well than many at a distance, and that focus is what protects your outcome.
Answers to Common Client Questions
Conveyancing fees in Auckland typically range from around NZD $1,000 to $2,500 plus disbursements for a standard residential purchase or sale, with more complex matters costing more. Rather than leave you guessing, we give you an indicative, upfront fee quote before we start, and for most conveyancing we can offer a clear fixed fee. Ask us for a no-obligation quote and you will know the cost before you commit.
Both handle the mechanics of transferring property, but a property lawyer is a qualified solicitor who can also advise you on the legal issues a purely conveyancing service may not, such as trust ownership, relationship property, unusual title issues or contract terms. At Quay Law you get both in one place: a solicitor overseeing the file and the conveyancing handled properly. If your purchase is straightforward, that legal oversight simply gives you extra protection at no real inconvenience.
Yes. In practice, transferring property in New Zealand, including buying a house, requires a lawyer or conveyancer to handle the transfer of title, certify identity, and manage settlement through the LINZ system. It is not something you can complete yourself. Engaging a solicitor early means the agreement is reviewed before you are bound by it, not after.
As early as possible, ideally before you sign a sale and purchase agreement or before your conditions are confirmed. Getting legal advice at the agreement stage lets us check the terms, flag any risks, and add conditions that protect you while you can still negotiate. Leaving it until after you have signed limits what we can do.
It depends on the settlement date agreed in your contract, but a typical residential conveyance runs from a couple of weeks to a couple of months from signed agreement to settlement. Cash purchases can be quicker; matters involving finance, KiwiSaver, trusts or a chain of transactions take longer. We work backwards from your settlement date to keep everything on track.
Yes. Much of our work is handled by phone, email and secure document exchange, so we regularly act for clients elsewhere in New Zealand and overseas, including expats buying or selling Auckland property. Being based in Remuera does not mean you need to be. We will tell you upfront if any part of your matter requires you to be present.
Yes. Refinancing or moving your mortgage to a new lender involves discharging the existing security and registering the new one, which is legal work a property lawyer completes. We coordinate with both banks and handle the registration through LINZ so the switch goes through cleanly. We can quote this upfront like any other conveyancing matter.
A family trust is a legal structure that holds assets separately from you personally, often used for asset protection and succession planning. Whether you need one genuinely depends on your circumstances, and a trust is not right for everyone. We will give you an honest assessment of whether a trust suits your situation before recommending one, and set it up properly if it does.
Note on property tax: Rules such as the bright-line test can affect the tax you pay when selling property. We flag these where relevant and refer you to Inland Revenue (IRD) for current thresholds. Tax and its implications should always be discussed with your accountant or qualified tax adviser. Information on this page is general only and does not constitute tax or legal advice.
Speak Directly with a Solicitor Today
If you have an urgent contract review, an upcoming auction, or require advice on wills and trusts, contact our Remuera office. You will speak with a solicitor, not a call centre, and we will tell you honestly how we can help.