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Richard James Strachan Harman arrived in New Zealand aboard one of the famous First Four Ships, the Sir George Seymour, on 17 December 1850 - bringing with him a name that was to become synonymous with law in Canterbury.
His son, Thomas DeRenzy Harman, who would become the catalyst for the family's success, was born 11 years later.
 DeRenzy was admitted as a barrister and solicitor in the Supreme Court at Christchurch on 31 October 1884, and set up his own practice four years later. He was joined in partnership by Heinrich Von Haast in the 1890's, but it dissolved when Mr Von Haast moved to Wellington. At some point around this time, DeRenzy Harman was also in partnership with Thomas Hanmer, after whom Hanmer Springs is named.
From 1900 to 1909, DeRenzy Harman partnered with Thomas Maude (brother of Nurse Maude), practising from premises at 194 Hereford Street and in Ashburton. When this partnership dissolved, DeRenzy ran the business on his own until July 1924, when his second son, Annesley DeRenzy Harman, joined him. The firm then became known as T.D. Harman & Son.
Between 1956 and 1962, three of Annesley Harman's sons joined the practice: Brian Harman in 1956 (retired 2007), Colin Harman in 1961 (retired 2008), and Peter Harman in 1962 (retired 1992). Annesley Harman retired as a partner on 31 March 1973, continuing as a consultant until his death on 10 June 1977.
The firm has enjoyed rapid expansion since the late 1960's. In 1980, they moved to premises in the Guardian Royal Exchange building at 79-83 Hereford Street. And in 1990, it moved again, this time to the current premises on levels 18 and 19 of the PricewaterhouseCoopers building in Armagh Street.
In 2003, the firm purchased Papanui Law, merging it with Harmans' existing Papanui branch and subsequently moving to the current premises at 485 Papanui Road.
With such a long and proud history, it is little wonder that Harmans have become one of Canterbury's leading and most successful law firms.
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