The Legal 500

Within Banking and finance, Kensington Swan is a second tier firm,

Perceived to be ‘somewhat on the rise’, Kensington Swan acted for BOS International in restructuring the financial covenants of a lending facility to Geneva Finance. The practice also advised Lloyds TSB in relation to restructuring a security package on a syndicated loan of $782m for Landis + Gyr. Other highlights include acting for Liberty Harbour on the arrangement of a NZ$30m convertible bond issued by Pike River Coal and acting for Dorchester Finance in the NZ$12.5m sale of the equipment rentals part of its loan book to Rent Plus.

Within Corporate and M&A, Kensington Swan is a second tier firm,

The strengths of Kensington Swan’s
14-partner corporate practice include ‘depth of expertise’ and ‘good client service’. The practice acted on a series of acquisitions in 2008 including acting for Unison Networks in its acquisition of Etel, Michael Hill’s acquisition of 17 stores in the US and the instruction by Downer EDI Works New Zealand to advise on its acquisition of Excell. Rob Noakes is highlighted by clients for his ‘experience’.

Within Dispute resolution, Kensington Swan is a third tier firm,

Kensington Swan splits its large team between Wellington and Auckland. A recent highlight was successfully defending a breach of contract claim on behalf of Waitakere City Council and Waitakere Properties on land worth NZ$7m.

Within Employment, Kensington Swan is a second tier firm,

Kensington Swan’s employment team was successful in acting for The Radio Network in an employee dismissal action. The practice was successful in obtaining the dismissal of a case brought by an employee of its client, Open Cloud. The team also gained an injunction against the NZ Ambulance Association’s threat to strike on behalf of its client, St John. Anthony Drake is ‘excellent’, Susan Hornsby is described by clients as ‘sublime’ and Carl Reaich ‘tailors advice really
well’.

Within Intellectual property, Kensington Swan is a second tier firm,

Kensington Swan’s practice covers litigation, patent opposition, and trade mark and copyright protection. The intellectual property practice obtained a favourable settlement on behalf of Acorn Group following Griffins Foods’ application for an injunction to stop the company using the word ‘strings’ on fruit snacks. The practice also advised the Japan Karate Association in its successful filing of applications to register trade marks and copyrights. The practice advised Auckland Regional Council on registering a logo promoting the Auckland region.

Within Legal market overview,

A handful of full-service firms, namely Bell Gully, Buddle Findlay, Chapman Tripp, Kensington Swan, Minter Ellison Rudd Watts, Russell McVeagh and Simpson Grierson, dominate much of the New Zealand legal market due to their diverse resources and coverage of the North and South Islands.

Within Projects and resource management, Kensington Swan is a second tier firm,

Kensington Swan’s projects practice advised Mighty River Power on several projects during 2008-09, including the purchase of Maui gas from Vector and the purchase of Kupe energy. The six-partner practice also acted as prime negotiator for the Ngati Toa Rangatira regarding deeds of a settlement leading the Ngati Toa to receive NZ$120.9m.

Within Restructuring and insolvency, Kensington Swan is a third tier firm,

A highlight for Kensington Swan’s nine-partner insolvency practice was acting for a company that had entered into an A$76m contract with liquidated company Bridgecorp Holdings. A highlight for the practice was its successful appeal on behalf of Holmes Construction in the Court of Appeal determining that Willis Trust was liable to pay the company NZ$1.3m and entitled to issue a bankruptcy
notice.