About us
Origin, legacy and the values we work by.
An institution with an unrivalled legal legacy.
Warner Shand Lawyers was founded in 1954 at Rabaul, East New Britain Province, by the late Francis Nigel Warner Shand, MBE (1914–1991). It is more than just a law firm: it has contributed to the development of the legal jurisprudence of Papua New Guinea and has been at the forefront of many significant legal developments in business and public service.
It stands as the oldest and the largest national law firm operating in all the major cities and regions of PNG, offering a full range of legal services in litigation, administrative and constitutional, resource, property and commercial law.
The firm has acted for and against a wide range of clients: individuals, small to medium businesses, traditional land and resource owners, international companies and the Government of Papua New Guinea, contributing to the commercial development of the country and the administration of justice.
Our purpose
To pursue justice for our clients with rigour, capability, compassion, conviction and courage, through integration with the best in the legal business and with full regard for the legal and cultural framework of Papua New Guinea.
Our vision
To be recognised as the first-choice lawyers for individuals, private companies and organisations, semi-government and government departments and instrumentalities in Papua New Guinea who seek professional, competent and integrated legal services.
Our mission
To provide efficient and effective legal services in Papua New Guinea. Our reputation has been built since 1954, and we will continue to serve clients by being knowledgeable and innovative in securing the best outcomes, always putting their interests first and respecting the laws and cultures of PNG.
Core values
- Clients' interests are paramount
- We conduct our business professionally, ethically and uncompromisingly with integrity
- Innovation and speed are the cornerstones of our services
- We are motivated by our clients' success
- We build lawyers to become tomorrow's leaders
- We show respect for the laws and culture of Papua New Guinea
- We are a local firm but a global player
Goals
- Achieve sustained business growth through integration
- Exceed the expectations of our existing clients
- Apply the law dynamically and innovatively to achieve successful outcomes
- Minimise client anguish through timely response
- Defend our reputation as a stable and reliable provider of legal services
- Embrace technology to improve efficiency
- Sustain the practice as a commercially focused and viable business
A local firm, a global player
In keeping with its integration policy, Warner Shand Lawyers is associated with the global firm Baker McKenzie as a partner on agency arrangement. Together they offer leading expertise in areas including mining, climate change and commercial law. Recently, the two firms designed the legal framework for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation plus (REDD+) and Result Based Payments (RBP), resulting in amendment of the Climate Change Act to develop carbon rights in PNG.
Professional standing
- PNG Law Society authorisation: current
- IPA Certificate of Compliance: current
- Business insurances: current