Munro Leys

Firm Overview:

Munro Leys is the largest law firm in Fiji (by any conventional measure) and in Oceania. Its total staff is 55, including 20 lawyers and 10 paralegals backed by management, administrative and support staff. We work for a wide range of institutional clients, both in Fiji and offshore, including some of Fiji’s largest foreign investors. Because of our international focus, we are increasingly asked to advise and assist in other jurisdictions in the South Pacific. We have a strong regional and international intellectual property practice and manage Oceania region trade-mark portfolios for some of the world’s largest corporations. We have a strong commitment to developing and preserving the rule of law, including a preparedness to take on and support challenging legal cases. This work has encompassed subject matter such as political and constitutional rights, support to displaced individuals and refugees, representation in criminal investigations where constitutional rights are at risk, criminal appeals and family law, domestic violence and access to justice issues.

Managing Partner: Glenis Yee

Partners: Jon Apted, Richard Naidu, Glenis Yee, Ronal Singh and Rajnil Krishna

Number of partners: 5

Number of other fee-earners: 20

Munro Leys is a leading Fiji law firm in the following respects:

(a)in its depth and organisation of specialist groups (for example, employment, insurance, intellectual property, banking and finance, tourism, competition and taxation)

(b) in developing its practice in accordance with a strategic plan (modelled on similar firms in Australia and New Zealand) and actively promoting a strong culture of client service based on quick, correct and practical legal advice

(c)in its in-house resources (e.g. commercial precedents, library resources, structured in-house training and its own online database of updated and annoted Fiji laws)

(d)in its use of technology (e.g. standard form documentation, accessibility to resources on a firm-wide intranet and its intended introduction of client extranets)

(e)as a diverse workplace, balanced by gender and where all Fiji’s major communities are represented across the staff levels of the firm.

(f)in its promotion and support of non-government organisations and civil society groups (e.g. research, litigation and advocacy in areas of public policy, human rights, good governance, rule of law, violence against women and children; environmental law, constitutional law and international law)

(g)with a structured pro bono policy allowing the firm’s lawyers to work on pro bono matters for financially disadvantaged clients or on matters of important public interest