Richard Wells > MinterEllisonRuddWatts > Auckland, New Zealand > Lawyer Profile
MinterEllisonRuddWatts Offices
PWC TOWER, 15 CUSTOMS STREET WEST
PO BOX 105 249
AUCKLAND 1143
New Zealand
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Richard Wells
Work Department
Corporate and Commercial
Position
Partner
Career
Richard is a commercial lawyer with broad experience gained from both in-house and private practice roles in several jurisdictions.
He is sought after to help clients establish new ventures, commercialise technology, assess risk, and resolve any problems arising while pursuing their goals. His experience spans the technology, media and telecommunications (TMT), health, privacy, consumer, charitable, and sport sectors.
An expert legal draftsperson and trouble-shooter, Richard assists with issues arising at all stages in a product lifecycle. He enjoys first understanding and then helping bring his clients’ objectives to life through clear and concise contracts. His wide commercial contracting experience includes procurement, licensing arrangements, research agreements, and commercialisation of new technology and intellectual property both in New Zealand and overseas.
Renowned for his calm approach to critical situations, Richard also helps his clients mitigate risk and contractual exposure when things go wrong. He has helped manage some of the most high-profile and significant data breach and cyber security episodes in New Zealand. He is experienced in all areas of privacy and data protection law and regularly deals with complaints and regulator enquiries, including those brought by the Office of the New Zealand Privacy Commissioner.
Lawyer Rankings
New Zealand > Intellectual property
Drawing considerable praise from clients for its ability to marry its ‘tactical knowledge’ with a ‘proactive and pragmatic’ approach, the team at MinterEllisonRuddWatts acts for clients on the gamut of IP matters, from trade mark registration and portfolio management to IP litigation. Leading the practice is the ‘very knowledgeable’ Christopher Young
, whose IP expertise ensures that the team is sought out by numerous well-established corporates. Richard Wells regularly advises clients on issues in the commercialisation of new technology and the licensing of IP, and John McCay is noted for his focus on the TMT sector.
New Zealand > Data protection and cyber security
Privacy and data protection issues handled by MinterEllisonRuddWatts include advising its client roster on handling regulators; advising on privacy risks associated with emerging tech such as AI; and representing clients in privacy disputes before the Human Rights Review Tribunal. Wellington-based co-head Briony Davies frequently acts for clients in privacy complaints and disputes. In Auckland, fellow co-head Richard Wells, praised for his ‘calmness and frankness’, has a proven track record assisting clients in their management of high-profile data breaches. Also in Auckland, June Hardacre and senior associate Suzy McMillan are key contacts.
Lawyer Rankings
Top Tier Firm Rankings
- Banking and finance
- Competition law
- Corporate and M&A
- Dispute resolution
- Investment funds
- Labour and employment
- Restructuring and insolvency
- Restructuring and insolvency
- Transport (rail, road, air and sea)
- Projects and resources management (including environment)
- Real estate and construction
- Restructuring and insolvency
- Restructuring and insolvency
- Tax
- TMT