The Legal 500

Within Banking and finance, Bell Gully is a first tier firm,

Bell Gully’s ‘outstanding’ banking and finance practice was augmented by Rachel Paris' appointment to the partnership in January 2009. The practice acted on several high-value loan facilities in 2008, including a NZ$800m facility for Telecom New Zealand and a NZ$550m facility for Ravensdown Fertiliser. Other high-value instructions for the practice included Contact Energy’s NZ$550m bond offer and the NZ$265m restructuring of New Zealand Guardian Trust (NZGT) mortgage funds. The practice also had a successful year with regard to capital raising, acting for Fletcher Building Finance on the public capital notes offer raising NZ$131.3m. Brynn Gilbertson is ‘extremely effective’, while Murray King is described as ‘capable’.

Within Corporate and M&A, Bell Gully is a first tier firm,

Bell Gully’s expanding commercial and M&A team ‘provide a good service’ according to clients. The practice has 21 partners dedicated to corporate and commercial law. Of these, Torrin Crowther and David Coull were appointed partners in January 2009. The most significant transaction for the practice in 2008 was acting for Danone in its sale of Frucor to Suntory for over NZ$1.4bn via tender. Another large instruction for the practice was on behalf of Babcock & Brown in its sale of part of its interest in Powerco for NZ$423m. James Gibson is the key contact in the Auckland office.

Within Corporate and M&A, Bell Gully is a first tier firm,

Clients commend Chapman Tripp for providing an ‘outstanding level of service’. Acting on the opposing side to Bell Gully, the practice acted for Queensland Investment on its acquisition of Powerco from Babock & Brown in February 2009. In March 2009, the practice acted on behalf of Quadrant Private Equity on its acquisition of a 49.9% stake in retirement home operator Summerset. Another highlight was acting for ProvencoCadmus in the sale of its Vantex division to Ingram Micro in April 2009. Bruce McClintock heads up the Auckland team, while Brigid McArthur leads the team in Wellington. Pip England is 'extremely good', 'thorough' and 'professional'. Clients also pick out Lindsey Jones and John Strowger for their experience.

Within Dispute resolution, Bell Gully is a first tier firm,

Bell Gully’s litigation department provides a ‘high level of service’ according to clients. In 2008 and 2009, the practice acted in a number of commercial disputes. For example, acting for ANZ National Bank against claims of credit card price-fixing of interchange fees brought by the Commerce Commission. Ten of the practice’s partners are located in the Auckland office, with two in Wellington. Jenny Cooper and Simon Ladd were made partner in January
2009.

Within Employment, Bell Gully is a first tier firm,

The ‘very experienced and knowledgeable’ Rob Towner leads Bell Gully’s ‘excellent’ employment team. The practice acted on behalf of McCain Foods in a dispute with the Service and Food Workers Union regarding the union’s attempt to recruit members at the company’s sites. In 2009, it also advised clients such as Carter Holt Harvey and Sealord Group on procedure and employment issues. The practice continues to provide a range of employment advice to Auckland Regional Transport Authority and Auckland Regional Council. According to clients, Rob Towner offers ‘good, well-researched and practical’ advice and has good ‘impact in a courtroom
setting’.

Within Intellectual property, Bell Gully is a first tier firm,

Bell Gully’s three-partner intellectual
property practice provides an ‘excellent’ level of service. The intellectual property aspects of corporate sales form the majority of the practice’s work. A highlight was advising Danone in relation to the intellectual property aspects of its sale of Frucor to Suntory. The practice has also acted for InterCity Group regarding intellectual property disputes with Nakedbus, and advised Intellectual Property Development Corporation on trade mark infringement litigation regarding the HEFTY trademark. Colleen Cavanagh is ‘particularly good’.

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, Bell Gully is a first tier firm,

Bell Gully’s projects team advised the government of Aceh in Indonesia on the world’s first carbon deal for avoided deforestation, a $755m project. It advised Auckland Regional Holdings on a multimillion-dollar Sea+City waterfront development project in 2008; and Meridian Energy on a large wind farm electricity generation project worth $2bn. Clients commend Andrew Beatson’s exceptional track record and ‘clear, accurate and appropriate’ advice. Garry Downs provides ‘timely, high-quality’ advice.

Within Restructuring and insolvency, Bell Gully is a first tier firm,

Bell Gully’s ten-partner restructuring practice acted on a variety of receivership, liquidation and moratoria in 2008 and 2009. Notably, the practice acted for the receivers of Bridgecorp, PricewaterhouseCoopers’ Colin McCloy and Maurice Noone, concerning NZ$600m creditor claims against former directors. In 2008 the practice advised the Bank of New Zealand and KordaMentha on the liquidation of Access Brokerage, and also advised Strategic Finance on a creditor moratorium and restructuring transaction. The practice also welcomed the return of Graham McKenzie as a consultant in May 2008.

Within Tax, Bell Gully is a first tier firm,

Led by Niels Campbell, Bell Gully’s three-partner, Auckland-based taxation department acted on the NZ$868m amalgamation of a number of property funds into the DNZ Property Fund. The practice also provided tax advice to Danone on its sale of Frucor, and provided advice in relation to Origin Energy Resource’s Kupe oil and gas development.