About Us

About Rob Ellis

Property is the lynch pin of most New Zealand families. It is their future security and in many cases the source of their hard-earned retirement. Rob is well experienced in advising on property purchases, what to look for and what to consider when buying a property.

Rob is an advocate of the strategic use of Trusts for asset protection especially for those of us who are either in business or who have been through a relationship restructure.

Trust management and control is one thing Rob is firm about. Care needs to be taken with the running of a Trust and short cuts are not only risky but put the whole trust at risk. In working with client’s on their trust’s Rob takes pains to ensure all necessary steps are taken to ensure a trust is properly managed and every transaction is appropriately documented

Likewise, with any sort of business it is important to ensure that the appropriate structure is put in place often in conjunction with a family trust to minimize risks to anyone starting their own business especially with trading banks normally requiring the business owner's house to be used as security for that all important business borrowing. Rob has many years of practical experience for anyone starting out in business.

Amongst the articles Rob has written over the years are extensive articles on buying property in New Zealand, the intricacies of family trusts and what is involved in running a company.

Case Study

Case 1 :

Client is in the construction business. It is going through hard times.

Prior to issues arising, family trust was established. Director of the construction company is not a trustee of the family trust.

Family house sold into family trust and equity gifted to trust. As a company director not a trustee of his family trust, his name did not appear on the certificate of title of his property after it was transferred to family trust.

At same time, money he put into the company advanced by way of loan to his family trust and on lent to the company. The Family Trust takes security over the company. The net result is that when the company failed, the family trust got its money back first. Client was able to keep his family house.

Case 2 :

Client is in the export business. He travels frequently and has had relationship issues. A family trust is established and his house is sold into his family trust. He has 2 boys from an earlier relationship. His will leaves all his assets to his family trust. Client develops pancreatic cancer and dies at age 49.

After his death, the assets owned by the client are left to the family trust. All the assets are liquidated and held in cash deposits.

Client is concerned about long term relationships of his 2 boys and does not want history repeating itself. 1 boys is not married and 1 is married to a person who is significantly older than him. Rather than the assets now held in the family trust being gifted to the 2 boys, 1⁄2 the cash assets are lent to each son as opposed being given outright to each son. The net result is that each boy gets his share of his Dad’s assets but if the relationship falls apart the boy’s shares are not lost to a partner or spouse.

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Mission and Values

Rob is passionate about protecting his clients assets – Rob prides himself on thinking laterally and not just ticking the boxes. He continuously strives to serve his clients and to preempt any situation that may occur. Rob always tries to put himself in his clients shoes when assessing what is the best way to go.
He understands the delicate nature of consulting on business structuring, asset protection and estate planning. He knows that to do this a level of trust is paramount between client and lawyer. Great service, consideration and sincerity are all important values that Rob holds himself to.

Cases Resolved

83 K

Satisfied Clients

9565

Years of experience

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Our Values

I believe that assets should be protected for your family on an intergenerational basis. Protect your children's future

Integrity

Boldness

Commitment

Teamwork