Peter is a partner in the firm's commercial group. He heads the firm's sales and marketing group.
Peter's team is responsible for helping mid-sized (often family-owned) companies grow. His team helps companies navigate the maze of intricate laws that govern the selling, marketing, and delivery of products and services. Peter assists foreign investors set up in New Zealand. He has significant experience with forestry and wood products industries.
Peter is New Zealand's leader in sales and marketing law which includes all areas of advertising and promotions, events and sponsorship, direct selling, compliance, distribution, supply and licensing.
Peter has spent over 20 years advising on the legal aspects of events and venues. He was a founding member of the New Zealand Events & Sponsorship Association. His role on the board of Tourism New Zealand and involvement with various local authorities has given him additional insights into event management and destination marketing. He acts for event organisers such as Netball New Zealand, New Zealand Rugby League, TTNL (organiser of the ANZ Netball Championship), Triathlon New Zealand and Yachting New Zealand.
Peter is legal counsel for The Marketing Association of New Zealand and the Direct Selling Association of New Zealand. He specialises in all aspects of direct marketing and direct selling law, including the law relating to network marketing. He was a bi-monthly columnist for New Zealand's Marketing Magazine from 1995 to 2009 and regularly speaks on marketing law matters. Peter's team has recently been appointed as legal adviser to the New Zealand Food & Grocery Council.
Peter also advises forestry and wood products companies (particularly overseas-based companies) on acquisitions and joint ventures through to operational contracts. Since 1987 he has led the legal team in more than 70 acquisitions and joint ventures.
Examples of Work
- Auckland Transition Agency - advising on development of trading entities for Auckland Council including governance and monitoring arrangements
- Matariki Forests Group (New Zealand's third largest forestry company) - team leader on $167 million investment in it by London-listed Phaunos Timber Fund
- Greenlea Premier Meats - advice on business expansion
- Hamilton City Council - lead independent review on the Hamilton 400 2008 V8 Supercars
- Netball Australia and Netball New Zealand - ANZ Netball Championship
- New Zealand Rugby League - whole of game reform and Four Nations 2009 Campaign including broadcasting rights, sponsorships and participation agreement
- Heart Foundation, RNZSPCA, Child Cancer Foundation and local authorities - sponsorship advice and reviews
Other Credentials
- Independent Chairman of the New Zealand Rugby Union Constitution Review working party
- Auckland City Council - Events Reference Group - Member (2007-present)
- Columbia Business School - Certificate in the Fundamentals of Management
- Dunedin Venues Management - Deputy Chairman (2009-present)
- Events and Sponsorship Association - Founding member and president (1998-2001)
- Greenlea Group - Board member (2009-2011)
- Hamilton City Council - Events & Sponsorship Sub-Committee - Chairman (2001-2006) and member (1994-2001)
- Institute of Directors - Member and Certificate in Company Direction
- Regional Facilities Auckland - Director (2010 - present)
- Simpson Grierson - Commercial department head of department and board member (2001-2005) and Marketing Committee chairman (1993-1995)
- The Edge - Aotea Centre Board of Management - Chairman (2009-2010), Deputy chairman (2007-2009) and Member (2004-2007)
- The Westervelt Company - Advisory board member (2008-present)
- Tourism New Zealand - Board member and audit committee member (1999-2003) and Deputy chairman (2003-2007)
- Variety - The Children's Charity - Board member (2000-2004)
- Volvo Ocean Race Auckland Stopover Steering Committee - Member (2002)
