Our story

Our Story

Arthur Loo and Ken Koo co-founded Loo & Koo in 1995 to cater to a growing New Zealand Chinese community, to be a law firm that would uphold the highest standards.

We decided to have a true focus on Asians, understand them, talk to them in their own language and provide some cultural understanding as well.

—   Arthur Loo
How it began

How it began

The idea for the firm was seeded in 1995.

Chinese immigration was booming and there was no law firm completely focusing on the needs of these new migrants and the Chinese community in general.

Communication copy

Our History

Arthur knew first–hand how important it was to provide this service and why communication is the key to assisting this community. He was working then as a partner with a firm of Queen St lawyers and had built up a large Chinese client base.

Arthur and Ken took the entrepreneurial plunge and set out to find suitable premises that would grow with the firm’s long-term strategy.

They found a floor in an office building in Newmarket providing a central location and good client parking.  The space was too large to begin with when the firm opened with nine staff, but their instincts proved to be sound.

Today Loo & Koo operates from its original premises and has expanded to fill the entire floor, tripling the number of staff and turnover.

For personal reasons, Ken retired from the partnership in 2001. Fui Loong Chan joined the Partnership, bringing with him a different discipline and skill set to the Partnership. He received his early legal training in top national law firms in New Zealand. With his sound experience and broad legal skill set, he is well regarded by other professionals as the lawyer who can handle high level and complex transactions and deliver the result.

The Partnership welcomed their first female partner in 2019.  Bibiana Lee joined the firm in 2006 moving from Dunedin.  She has expanded the firm’s expertise in property and commercial law.  Bibiana acts for range of clients including large scale property developers, ensuring growth of the firm.

In 2023, Nelly Ho joined the Loo & Koo partnership, bringing with her a profound understanding of property and commercial law acquired through 16 years of practice with assistance of her conjoint degree in Law and Commerce.  Nelly is highly regarded for her meticulous attention to detail and precision in her work.  We firmly believe that her extensive experience will significantly enhance the team's collective wealth of knowledge and expertise.

International Client Base

International client base

Since its establishment, the firm has experienced significant growth as news of the firm’s services has spread, mainly through word–of–mouth. Now, Loo & Koo boasts both a local and international client base. Many of its clients are from other countries including China, Malaysia, Singapore, Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, Australia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Korea, French Polynesia and other Pacific Islands.