Brandwave

MinterEllisonRuddWatts vs Russell McVeagh:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Russell McVeagh had more branded searches than MinterEllisonRuddWatts among large commercial law firms in New Zealand. Russell McVeagh had about 3,000 branded searches, while MinterEllisonRuddWatts had 2,620. Russell McVeagh made up 16.4% of all large commercial law firm searches we track, and MinterEllisonRuddWatts accounted for 14.4%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about large commercial law firms, Russell McVeagh appeared in all five answers and MinterEllisonRuddWatts in four. Russell McVeagh was mentioned before MinterEllisonRuddWatts in every answer.

Among large commercial law firms in New Zealand in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Russell McVeagh, about 15% more searches than MinterEllisonRuddWatts

Russell McVeagh 3K searchesMinterEllisonRuddWatts 2.6K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Russell McVeagh, mentioned in every answer we collected

Russell McVeagh in 5 of 5MinterEllisonRuddWatts in 4 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Russell McVeagh, named ahead of MinterEllisonRuddWatts in every answer

Russell McVeagh first in 5MinterEllisonRuddWatts never first

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Top large commercial law firms in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Russell McVeagh appeared in all five answers. MinterEllisonRuddWatts was mentioned in four out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Russell McVeagh was listed before MinterEllisonRuddWatts in every answer.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Bell Gully1st
  2. Chapman Tripp2nd
  3. Russell McVeagh3rd
  4. MinterEllisonRuddWatts4th
  5. Simpson Grierson5th
  6. Buddle Findlay6th
  7. DLA Piper7th
  8. Dentons8th

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Russell McVeagh5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Chapman Tripp5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Bell Gully5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Simpson Grierson4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • MinterEllisonRuddWatts4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • DLA Piper3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Buddle Findlay2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Dentons2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about large commercial law firms

5 answers

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in New Zealand on October 21, 2026.

Is MinterEllisonRuddWatts or Russell McVeagh more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for MinterEllisonRuddWatts and Russell McVeagh by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all eight large commercial law firms we track, month by month, from searches in New Zealand.

MinterEllisonRuddWatts and Russell McVeagh among large commercial law firms in New Zealand, by month

Share of searches by month for Russell McVeagh, MinterEllisonRuddWatts. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthRussell McVeaghSimpson GriersonChapman TrippMinterEllisonRuddWattsBell GullyBuddle FindlayDentonsDLA Piper
Oct 202516.8%16.4%13.4%13.9%13.5%13.4%9.3%3.3%
Nov 202519.6%15.5%15.3%12.5%12.8%12.7%8.6%3.1%
Dec 202517%16.4%16.2%13.4%12.9%12.8%8.7%2.6%
Jan 202617.3%16.9%13.1%11.6%16.8%13.1%7.8%3.3%
Feb 202617.7%14%13.8%14.2%13.9%13.8%8.6%4.2%
Mar 202614.5%14.4%14.1%12%14.2%14.1%9.1%7.6%
Apr 202615.9%15.3%15.1%13%15.3%12.5%8.3%4.6%
May 202614.9%14.7%14.4%13%18%12%9.4%3.6%
Jun 202616.8%16.5%13.5%13.3%13.6%13.5%8.8%4%
Jul 202617.6%17.3%14.1%12.1%14.1%14.1%6.5%4.2%
Aug 202616.1%15.7%15.5%13.2%12.9%15.5%7.4%3.8%
Sep 202616.4%16.2%15.9%14.4%13.3%13.3%7.3%3.2%

How has the MinterEllisonRuddWatts and Russell McVeagh comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings

How did search popularity change for New Zealand large commercial law firms in September 2026?

1 change

  1. In September 2026, MinterEllisonRuddWatts overtook Buddle Findlay to rank 4th among large commercial law firms in New Zealand, with 14.4% of the searches.

How are branded searches counted?

9 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using MinterEllisonRuddWatts’ and Russell McVeagh’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.

MinterEllisonRuddWatts

6 branded search terms

  • Minter Ellison
  • minter ellison lawyers
  • minter ellison rudd watts
  • minterellison
  • minterellison rudd watts
  • MinterEllisonRuddWatts

Russell McVeagh

3 branded search terms

  • Russell McVeagh
  • russell mcveagh lawyers
  • russell mcveagh queenstown

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among large commercial law firms

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