New Zealand’s oldest practitioner Laurie Schnauer died in Auckland on 6 October 2001 aged 93. His last morning at work was on the Wednesday, just three days before his death.

Educated at Auckland Grammar and Auckland University, Laurie Schnauer was admitted in 1931 and began practice at Brookfield Prendergast & Schnauer (now Brookfields after several name changes). He became a partner in 1933 when his father, Charles Schnauer, died suddenly and was with the firm for over 60 years, specialising in property, estate and probate administration and trust law. Although he retired as a partner in 1985, Laurie Schnauer continued working (part-time in later years) at Brookfields until he was 90.

In the last three years he worked two mornings a week at Schnauer & Co in Milford, the firm at which his son David and grandson Andrew practise as well as David’s wife Patricia. Another son Tim is a partner at the old family firm Brookfields and a great-grandson Ian is at law school continuing a long family tradition. Laurie is also survived by his wife Nancy whom he married in 1935 and his daughter Lorraine.

This obituary was first published in LawTalk 574 3 December 2001, page 2.