The Legal 500

Within Banking and finance, Chapman Tripp is a second tier firm,

Chapman Tripp acted for a syndicate of banks including Citigroup on a $156m project-financing transaction for telecommunications company Digicel. The practice also advised banks, including ASB, on the establishment of mortgage-backed repo facilities, which amounted to over NZ$9bn alone. John Strowger is ‘well regarded’ and Hamish Foote is also recommended by clients.

Within Corporate and M&A, Chapman Tripp 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, Chapman Tripp is a first tier firm,

Chapman Tripp’s 11-partner dispute resolution team caters for both the North and South Islands. The Wellington office was recently boosted by the addition of principal Daniel Kalderimis, coinciding with the departure of senior solicitor Josine Wynberg. In August 2008, the practice was successful in defending PGG Wrightson against allegations of an ineffective merger, throughout the first instance judgment, and appeals in the appeal and Supreme courts. The practice comes recommended by clients ‘in relation to public finance reforms’ particularly.

Within Employment, Chapman Tripp is a second tier firm,

Chapman Tripp’s employment practice is praised by clients for its ‘pragmatic’ approach. Doug Alderslade is particularly recommended by clients for disputes. Following the Mangatepopo canyoning tragedy, the practice acted for the Sir Edmund Hillary Outdoor Pursuits Centre during extensive investigations by the police and Department of Labour. The practice also continues to advise a variety of receivers and administrators in insolvency cases, such as the Kleins administration and Bridgecorp.

Within Intellectual property, Chapman Tripp is a second tier firm,

Matt Sumpter at Chapman Tripp is recommended by clients for intellectual property advice. The practice successfully acted for UBS protecting its trade mark through an injunction in May 2009. The practice was also successful in protecting Billabong’s trade mark, winning orders preventing the registration of a trade mark on beer bottles in November 2008. The practice filed eight anti-piracy proceedings for Microsoft in the same year.

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, Chapman Tripp is a second tier firm,

Chapman Tripp’s projects practice is recommended for its ‘expertise and quality of advice’. The team acted for Meridian Energy to gain consent for the NZ$1bn North Bank Tunnel Scheme. Suzanne Janissen and Vernon Rive, both based in Auckland, are picked out by
clients.

Within Restructuring and insolvency, Chapman Tripp is a second tier firm,

A highlight of 2008 for Chapman Tripp’s restructuring practice was completing a financial debt restructuring for Hanover Finance of NZ$554m in December. The practice also negotiated a debt restructuring on behalf of Nuplex banking syndicate in 2009. In addition to advising on credit moratoria for North South Finance and OPI Pacific Finance, it was also instructed by PricewaterhouseCoopers on Provincial Finance’s NZ$300m receivership.

Within Tax, Chapman Tripp is a first tier firm,

Chapman Tripp’s taxation practice provides ongoing advice to a number of New Zealand’s major banks, including advising one New Zealand bank on its mortgage-backed repo facilities. A highlight of 2009 was the instruction by an investment group to advise on an innovative single class term PIE fund. Casey Plunket is ‘very good’.