Kiwilaw – like its lawyer-founder, Cheryl Simes – has always been different.
And difficult.
And always with reasons, as noted by Cheryl’s own lawyer – the late Peter Gorringe.
She asked him more than a decade ago, ‘Am I unreasonably difficult?’
He replied, without hesitation, ‘No! You are difficult – but you always have reasons.’
She took it as a compliment.
The Evolution of Kiwilaw: How It All Came Together
Kiwilaw didn’t just happen—it evolved from a lifetime of experiences, challenges, and a drive to do better.
It came from a fascination with computers, systems, the law, and communication. It came from helping ordinary people navigate paperwork. Early studies in history, politics, and archives management set the stage. This included designing a manual system at National Archives that was later computerised and lived on (until February 2022) in Archives New Zealand’s Archway portal.
It came from two years at Telecom in Hamilton, where Cheryl encountered the best of management theory—and the worst of management practices. It also came from exposure to thinkers like David Maister and Tom Peters. Their writings on professional excellence and innovation highlighted just how archaic some legal practices could be.
It came from a top-ranked law school education and a commitment to legal excellence, proven when Cheryl was recognized as the top student in her year. But it also came from disillusionment: idealised notions shattered when Cheryl realised that entering the legal profession wouldn’t shield her from the injustices she’d hoped to escape. Those lessons were reinforced in later years through challenges in the legal system itself. Cheryl had to defend herself against the Legal Services Agency and the NZLS, when supposed experts failed a simple test of statutory interpretation. Cheryl’s interpretation of the law was vindicated—a reminder that excellence and principle sometimes come at high personal cost.
It came from helping Māori clients resolve long-neglected estates, where files had vanished, but estate assets remained.
It came from studying mediation and learning its true potential from international experts.
It came from a change in location—a move to North Canterbury for family reasons—and a need to decide what to do next. It came from hearing about ‘unbundled legal services’ at AFCC conferences, reading Forrest (Woody) Mosten’s work, and learning of his early struggles with legal regulators who resisted change.
It came from helping a bewildered client who was seeking letters of administration, and realising the process hadn’t changed much in 20 years. That moment in 2018 sparked the idea of offering unbundled legal services for probate and letters of administration.
It came from discovering an untapped opportunity: over 15,000 applications for probate and 1,500 for letters of administration are filed annually in New Zealand. Why was no one providing an automated, accessible solution? Conversations with IT experts, experiments with converting online form data into mail-merge documents, and advancements in document automation platforms made the notion a reality.
It came from a belief that legal services could be better—more flexible, more transparent, and more affordable. And it came from a deep commitment to independence, excellence, and helping ordinary people navigate the legal system with clarity and confidence.
Kiwilaw is all this and more. Its evolution reflects Cheryl’s journey and a commitment to doing things differently—and better.
Principles
These non-negotiable principles underpin Kiwilaw today:
- excellence in performance – academic performance, client service, legal accuracy
- ethical decisions and priorities
- consistent systems and procedures, whether manual or computerised
- helping people make peace with each other
- freedom of lawful expression
- constant small improvements in procedures, services, and methods
- accessibility to Māori clients – as also to non-Māori – without pretending we are all the same
- the best of the rule of law – the principle that everyone is subject to the law, no one is above the law, government cannot go beyond what the law permits, the law should be consistent and predictable and accessible, and should not play favourites
