My firm has had a good year. Things have gone broadly well for most clients. We've achieved more for some than I dared hope.

The year ends on a high note, with a gratifying judgment yesterday largely knocking back challenges to the consumer (our client MEUG) and Commerce Commission positions on procedure in a price control methodology merit review.

The day before was the announcement of our qualification on the government’s  law firm supplier panel. Though small we are  approved legal advisers to the government in two areas, finance and banking law (one of 8 firms approved nationwide) and corporate and commercial law (one of 14 firms nationwide). We think we can allow ourselves a cautious grin.

We like the offices we took over recently for expansion. The sun shines in. I walk fast to work each morning eager to get into the day's excitements.

But it is not quite so exciting to be here still late in the evening.

So among the first tasks of the new year will be recruitment. It is not success to be here evening after evening, trying to regain the moral right to spend time on a pro bono project or to post on my blog.

If you know some brilliant lawyer:

• who knows at least some aspect of law backwards, and
• has done enough legal  heavy lifting to make accuracy and precision instinctive, and
• who could want to do what we do,

steer them in my direction after the Christmas break. They can see what Franks & Ogilvie do from the website  but here's a short RFP:

We need at least one more lawyer. With the right senior appointment to share the supervision we can also take another junior.

An ideal candidate might be returning from OE, but not want to go back into what they know best, or they could be in partnership or on track for it, but with a nagging sense that conventional practice will not be satisfying in ten years. They would have at least four years post admission experience in one or more of:  

• company, securities, property, competition or commercial law, especially transactions, regulatory compliance and disputes;
• general litigation with administrative or commercial or similar experience an advantage.

 They'll probably be interested in politics, usually objectively but in some matters with a passionate view of what should be happening. Their political persuasion does not matter, we are a broad church.

They will respect the service obligation of  lawyering and they'll be articulate with a well above average command of English. 

Health warning – We established our firm to enjoy great work, the company and flexibility.  They might not enjoy working with us if they:

• always like to know just what they'll be doing next month;
• find an open plan office too much;
• can't laugh at themselves publicly sometimes;
• wouldn’t  enjoy networking friendships that mix business with pleasure. 

Mention to your friend that if they do get in touch they can spare us the cliches (being focused, results oriented, a team player, ambitious and committed to excellence).  Having said that, if they are not all those they might find the firm a mite uncomfortable.