About
Ian’s diverse career experience includes employment with the Treasury, the Department of Inland Revenue, the Department of Labour and the Rural Banking & Finance Corporation.
In the early 1980s Ian was the Lending Manager of the Rural Bank in Rotorua and in 1985 he moved into private practice in Rotorua. He utilised his rural banking background to build a strong rural client base.
Ian specialises in commercial rural legal work. A significant aspect of Ian’s work now involves legal structures, estate planning and succession planning for farming families.
Ian speaks publicly to groups of farmers and professionals, including the BNZ Farmers Conference in Rotorua and the Large Herds Conference in Christchurch.
Ian is currently writing a book on trusts and succession planning for farming families.
Chris Spargo
Chris commenced legal practice in a large provincial law firm, and in 2003 with Ian Blackman formed BlackmanSpargo.
Chris specialises in rural and commercial legal work primarily in the rural sector and the majority of such work involves legal structures, family trusts, tax advice, property transactions, subdivisions and company legal work.
Chris was born and bred in Waihi and both of his parents were brought up on dairy farms.