The Legal 500

Within Banking and finance, Buddle Findlay is a second tier firm,

The banking and finance team at Buddle Findlay is ‘accessible’, ‘easy to deal with’ and, for some, ‘more responsive’ than other firms with similar expertise. Peter Owles advised Bank of India on becoming a registered bank in New Zealand. Other major deals included advising GE Capital on its acquisition of commercial loan assets from Face Finance, and handling one of New Zealand’s largest recent private equity transactions, the British-based Intermediate Capital Group’s mezzanine financing of the acquisition of Tegel by a bidder consortium led by Affinity Equity Partners.

Within Corporate and M&A, Buddle Findlay is a second tier firm,

Buddle Findlay’s ‘strong commercial advisory practice’ delivers ‘a big-firm experience at a reasonable cost’. Clients include listed issuers, private equity funds, corporates, banks, financial institutions and government agencies. The firm advised Olam International on its successful takeover of NZ Farming Systems Uruguay. Clients include GE Capital, British-based Intermediate Capital Group, NZ Generator Hire Limited, and Japanese food group Imanaka.

Within Dispute resolution, Buddle Findlay is a second tier firm,

National firm Buddle Findlay has experience before the higher courts, specialist tribunals and commissions, with particular strengths in public law and electricity regulatory matters. It is acting for the Zespri Group and the Electricity Authority in proceedings worth NZ$2m. Tony Dellow is recommended.

Within Employment, Buddle Findlay is a second tier firm,

Buddle Findlay’s team is ‘very responsive and practical’, and ‘provides value for money’; Peter Chemis is ‘particularly good’. Recent work highlights include acting for Onetrack Infrastructure Limited (KiwiRail) in the first New Zealand case to consider ‘triangular’ employment relationships; and advising Massey University in a landmark case concerning the nature and extent of employers’ consultation obligations during restructurings.

Within Intellectual property, Buddle Findlay is a second tier firm,

Buddle Findlay advises big-name clients including Colgate-Palmolive, Yahoo!, British American Tobacco and the World Wide Fund for Nature on brand protection strategy. It regularly handles contentious matters, recently acting for the Active Manuka Honey Association in a passing off action, and the Muir Electrical Company. It has an excellent record in domain name disputes.

Within Projects and resource management, Buddle Findlay is a first tier firm,

Buddle Findlay’s national projects and resource management practice ‘carries a wide range of skills’; its ‘business acumen and industry knowledge are excellent’. The firm was appointed as legal adviser on four sections of the government’s Roads of National Significance, and is advising Central Plains Water Trust on the establishment of New Zealand’s largest irrigation scheme.

Within Real estate and construction, Buddle Findlay is a second tier firm,

Buddle Findlay is ‘very client orientated’ and ‘provides good value for money’. The firm is active across a variety of urban regeneration, development and build and lease matters, including work for Infratil, Goodman and NZ Retail Property Group. Significant recent panel appointments include the New Zealand Transport Agency and ANZ National Bank.

Within Restructuring and insolvency, Buddle Findlay is a first tier firm,

Buddle Findlay’s restructuring and insolvency practice benefits from the firm’s strong connections in the banking and professional services market. It advised the trustee in respect of the NZ$1.7bn South Canterbury Finance Limited insolvency, and acted for Ferrier Hodgson as administrators in respect of Whitcoulls/Borders Group in New Zealand’s first significant voluntary administration, which also involved cross-border creditor pools. Scott Abel was promoted to partner.

Within Tax, Buddle Findlay is a second tier firm,

Despite the difficult market, the team at Buddle Findlay has been busy, particularly with new inbound investment, private equity transactions, corporate restructuring, andsecuritisation restructuring. It is experienced in cutting-edge matters, including the development of new financial products and emissions trading issues. It recently advised Kiwibank on NZ$2bn offshore bond issuances and the introduction of new products, as well as advising Greenstone Energy (now Z Energy) on its bond debt issuance programme.