Mark Sherry

Mark has practised law at Harmans since 1995 and was appointed a Partner in 2002. He is currently the Managing Partner of the firm and jointly leads our large commercial and property law team, specialising in commercial property, business and commercial law, franchising, rural law and asset protection.

In May 2025 Mark was appointed as a Vice President of the New Zealand Law Society (NZLS). This appointment reflects the high regard in which he is held by the profession in New Zealand.  In this role Mark brings his professionalism, along with the pragmatic problem-solving skillset he possesses, to the NZLS board.

Prior to this appointment, for more than ten years Mark was an active and valued member of the NZLS’s Property Law Section (PLS) executive, including serving as Chair over the last four years. He was also a member of the NZLS Council during this period.

Mark is an Accredited Property Specialist of the PLS and has a special interest in commercial and business matters.  He has a particular focus on franchising and is convenor of the Canterbury committee of the Franchise Association of New Zealand (“FANZ”).  He has previously been a specialist scrutineer of franchise documents for FANZ to ensure that member documents comply with all compulsory rules and procedures.

Mark is a member of the Institute of Directors.

Some of Mark’s recent work/projects include:

• Acting for developer of a new commercial precinct in Rolleston, including associated construction, financing, leasing and sale matters.
• Acting for the developer of a large scale commercial development in Rakaia, including structuring of entities, financing, subdivisions and sale of lots.
• Acting on the negotiation of a large scale solar farm project in Mid-Canterbury.
• Acting for prominent Queenstown developers who create residential subdivisions along Frankton Hill and lifestyle subdivisions in the rural areas surrounding Queenstown.
• Acting for and advising in relation to the acquisition and leasing of a high profile shopping mall.
• Acting for a large commercial property owner in relation to the acquisition of a vacant “as is” commercial building, associated building and financing matters, remediation and construction matters, and then the leasing of that building as a five star hotel.
• Advising the trustees and associated companies of a prominent Christchurch investment family in relation to their commercial affairs, including a high profile project associated with the regeneration of Christchurch after the earthquakes.
• Acting for a franchisee of a well-known franchise system in disputes with the franchisor.
• Advising a multi-generational farming family on succession issues, chairing family meetings and being instrumental in assisting them reach a resolution from disparate positions so that the farm remained in the family while each person received a fair outcome.