Michael is a partner and heads the commercial property group. His work experience covers all aspects of commercial property and development work. He is a specialist in commercial leasing. He has advised on numerous leasing and development agreement projects around New Zealand.
Recent examples include Inland Revenue's leasing of the major new commercial property construction at 1 Featherston Street Wellington and the Inland Revenue premises at Cashel Street Christchurch.
- The International Who's Who Legal Real Estate 2010 - Leading Lawyer
Examples of Work
- Lord of the Rings and other New Zealand films - advising on location and procurement contracts for various New Zealand films, including five years working on the Lord of the Rings, and the production of The Last Samurai
- BP Oil New Zealand - property and commercial issues affecting its New Zealand network of service stations, including development of supply agreements, construction of motorway service centres, property management, refinery terminal, and infrastructure projects
- Inland Revenue - national portfolio of property including the major leasing and building developments at Cashel Street Christchurch, Featherston Street Wellington, and Auckland regional offices, involving full development agreements, construction, and integrated fit out projects
- New Zealand Government - advice on property and leasing matters to numerous government ministries and agencies, such as Statistics, Ministry for the Environment, the Office of the Ombudsman, and the Securities Commission
- Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet - advice on various leasing issues and the Government House refurbishment project
- Development of major trusts, estate planning structures, and charitable trusts for private clients, including major purchases of commercial and investment assets
- Government embassies - advice on establishment, property and procurement, and diplomatic issues
- Westpac - lease back development and divestment of its New Zealand branch network
Other Credentials
- Notary Public and Honorary Secretary of the Wellington Society of Notaries
- Honorary Consul General of Finland
- Brookers Trusts, Practice and Procedure - Co-editor
- Brookers Wills and Estates, Practice and Procedure - Co-editor
- National presenter to Auckland District Law Society seminars, New Zealand Law Society Conferences, Lexis Nexis National Trusts Conferences, and Property Institute of New Zealand National Programme of Continuing Education
