Brand pirates - Simpson Grierson partner Alan Potter and his team are at war.  Every day they do battle against a flood of cheap couterfeit goods entering the New Zealand market.

The New Zealand Capital Markets have experienced a flurry of IPO activity in recent months and Simpson Grierson Corporate Advisory has assisted several well-known entities with their NZX listings.

Toll Group's takeover of Tranz Rail (now Toll NZ) was both competitive and complex, but perhaps the most remarkable aspect was the highly charged political climate in which it occurred.  The combination of an Australian-based bidder, substantial Crown involvement and national interest issues made for a highly newsworthy mix.

Blend together one of New Zealand's most promising and inherently appealing industries - wine, the setting of Marlborough's Awatere Valley, and the vision of some of the sharpest minds in New Zealand business, and you will discover a deft and potentially very lucrative business plan.

As the film industry bathes in the afterglow of The Lord of the Rings, Simpson Grierson continues to play a starring role, as legal adviser to the next wave of Hollywood movies filmed in New Zealand.

When Mike Sage, partner at Simpson Grierson, decided to re-enter the world of Ironman nearly 11 years after his last competition, he knew exactly what was in front of him - stretching his mental and physical limits to the extreme.

The Britomart transport hub and precinct is to be the new heart of Auckland's CBD.  It is the single largest transportation and urban redevelopment project undertaken by a local authority in New Zealand's history.

Fresh memories of the power shortages affecting two of the past three winters and recent publicity about possible shortages this year have put the spotlight on New Zealand's dwindling energy options and the Resource Management Act ("The RMA").

Oil company BP is the New Zealand leader in providing safe, attractive, international standard service areas on the nation's busiest sections of motorway.  In line with Transit New Zealand's philosophy of 'rest, revive and survive', BP has just opened its third specialist motorway service area (MSA) in the greater Auckland region.

Commerce Commission investigations can be intimidating, and with dozens of cases open in any one year, they are not an uncommon feature in New Zealand's business landscape.

When clients require assistance in international legal jurisdictions, Simpson Grierson has access to literally tens of thousands of the world's top lawyers for expert advice.

Holiday-makers soaking up the sun on Denarau Island would give little thought to the complex legal structures that underpin this Pacific paradise and make it one of Fiji's premier holiday destinations.

Lamb rack with pea and basil puree, recipe from New Home Cooking by Laurie Black.

Bob Campbell reviews Pinot Noir, wine to make the earth move a little.

Simpson Grierson's new Auckland premises, being developed by Manson Developments Limited, will stand out on the cityscape and set a precedent for the interior design of commercial buildings in New Zealand.