Client-centric law firm takes 2014 Supreme Business Support Award
A radical shift designed to put clients at the centre of its business has earned law firm Minter Ellison Rudd Watts the
Supreme Award at the 2014 AUT University Business School Excellence in Business Support Awards. Winners were announced
at a gala dinner held at the Langham Hotel, Auckland last night
In response to the global financial crisis, Minter Ellison made big changes aimed at growth, finding ways to better
serve its client base and identifying new business opportunities.
“Minter Ellison Rudd Watts has a clear long-term vision that defines its strategy well. The entire business revolves
around a philosophy to “Listen, Care, Deliver”, which is essential to excellence in business support. Although an
established firm in New Zealand, in recent years it has embarked on growth and change strategies and the results clearly
reflect a dynamic, successful firm,” says awards evaluator AUT Accounting Lecturer Gillian Craig.
Minter Ellison also won the ‘Auckland Centre for Financial Research Business $20M-$100M T/O’ category award. Winners of
all the category awards are listed below.
“Business cares about business support, because excellent support behind the scenes from firms like Minter Ellison makes
for successful business outcomes at the front end,” says AUT University Dean of Business and Law, Professor Geoff Perry.
“This year the standard of entries across the 11 categories was impressive, which confirms that the business support
sector continues to make a significant and valuable contribution.”
The Awards, founded by AUT Business School’s Director of Business Relations and Executive Education Sarah Trotman, are
now into their ninth year and are the only national performance measure for New Zealand organisations that provide
business support. Applications are judged by evaluators from the AUT Business School and the New Zealand Business
Excellence Foundation.
The 2014 Awards were sponsored by New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, Fuji Xerox, Drake New Zealand, Idealog, CPA, Image
Centre Group, IBM and the New Zealand Business Excellence Foundation.
Twitter: #AUTBizAwards
2014 AUT University Business School Excellence in Business Support Awards
Category Winners
Image Centre Group < $5M T/O Management Services Catapult
Idealog Business < $5M T/O Sales & Marketing The Research Agency
Idealog Business < $5M T/O Technology The Web Company
New Zealand Work Research Institute Business $5M-$20M T/O
Potentia Limited
Auckland Centre for Financial Research Business $20M -$100M T/O
Minter Ellison Rudd Watts (also winner of Supreme Award)
Fuji Xerox Large Business $100M + T/O
Converga
New Zealand Business Excellence Foundation Not for Profit
Sustainable Business Network
Drake New Zealand Government
Winner: Audit New Zealand
Highly Commended: The New Zealand Companies Office
Drake New Zealand Government Partnerships
Ministry of Education - Vocational Pathways Programme
New Zealand Trade and Enterprise Export Support
Joint Winner: DHL Express (New Zealand) Ltd
Joint Winner: AJ Park
Fuji Xerox Leadership
Franceska Banga (CEO New Zealand Venture Investment Fund)