Our Structure

The firm is made up of five departments:

Banking & Finance

Our banking and finance department is very highly regarded. Our clients include the major banks, other key participants in the financial services sector, listed companies, central and local government bodies, and the large receivership practices.

Each of our banking and finance lawyers has particular areas of specialisation. This means that we offer expert legal advice that is directly matched to our clients' specific needs.

Our transactional banking and finance specialists have experience in all types of lending transactions, including business, trade, project, property, and asset financing (both domestically and across borders).

We have a particular strength in debt and hybrid securities. We have acted on some of New Zealand's most significant and complex financings in recent years.

In addition, we have a highly specialised team of banking and finance litigators who assist clients with collections, enforcement, and contentious matters.

Our recovery lawyers provide expert legal advice on all aspects of financial restructuring and insolvency. They have extensive experience, including in complex corporate collapses and cross-border financial distress.

Our structured finance group brings together banking and finance, tax, and capital markets experts, who co-operate to develop tax-efficient fundraising structures.

We also provide regulatory and compliance advice.

Commercial

Our 70-strong corporate and commercial group has immense experience.

We are consistently ranked as a leading New Zealand law firm in the mergermarket and Thomson league tables. We were the only New Zealand firm to be listed alongside other international firms in the Asia-Pacific region for announced deals in both 2008 and 2009.

Our track record is extensive, ranging from everyday transactions to the noteworthy deals of recent years. We have advised on many of the landmark transactions in New Zealand's corporate history.

We are well-connected in a small, but well-developed, commercial market. Our partners sit on key regulatory and industry bodies.

We are proud of our reputation for providing expert, yet practical, advice across all areas of commercial law.

Litigation

We have one of the country's leading legal practices in the field of dispute resolution.

Our strength comes from having true specialists working in specific areas of expertise. This allows us to call on a store of knowledge and experience, ensuring that expert knowledge is applied to every issue.

Our litigators work closely with our other specialist groups to provide strategic advice on risk management and to ensure cost-effective and timely resolution of disputes. We also advise on how to resolve disputes through alternative dispute resolution.

This collaborative approach extends internationally. As the exclusive New Zealand member of Lex Mundi and PRAC, we can call on the largest world-wide network of affiliated firms in other jurisdictions to help with foreign law issues.

Resources & Infrastructure

The resources and infrastructure department includes our commercial property, construction, local government, and resource management and environment groups. 

Our commercial property group has a significant presence in both the Auckland and Wellington commercial property markets. We concentrate on providing real estate solutions to the business sector. We also act in many cases for individuals and infrastructural organisations. We cover the full spectrum of legal advice for the property sector, and act for a significant number of the major commercial property investors both in New Zealand and offshore.

The resource management and environmental group provides specialist advice under the Resource Management Act to a range of clients from individuals to corporates and local government. We advise clients across a range of industries, including mining, energy, property development, forestry, water and waste, waste management, retail, manufacturing, and public sector utilities.

We have extensive day-to-day involvement in resource management issues such as resource consent applications, plan drafting, submissions and appeals, project management, defending enforcement action, and representation before local authorities, the Environment Court, High Court, Court of Appeal, and Supreme Court.

We have the largest infrastructure group in New Zealand. It is made up of true specialists, covering the full spectrum of property and infrastructure activities from planning, legislative compliance, property acquisition, financing, procurement, construction, and operating, through to acquiring, divesting, and dispute resolution.

Business Services

Our business services department provides essential support to the firm's offices in Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch. It is made up of commercial services, human resources, information services, and marketing.

Business services is responsible for recruitment, finance, information technology, branding, marketing support, professional development, administration, and events.