Firm Profile > Dentons Kensington Swan > Auckland , New Zealand

Investment funds Tier 1

Kensington Swan's Wellington office is home to a highly respected managed funds practice, which has a nationwide and Trans-Tasman client base. It played a key role in Financial Markets Conduct Act reforms, including the proposed Financial Markets Conduct Act 2013 reforms that will replace the Financial Advisers Act. The firm is also active in innovative areas of the market such as fintech , with a particular focus on robo-advice. AMP Financial Services, ANZ Bank and Guardian Trust are among its clients. David Ireland and Catriona Grover lead the practice. Ireland has more than 26 years' experience in funds management law and he advises large and boutique providers of investment funds and investment management services. Grover specialises in investment funds, including KiwiSaver, managed funds and superannuation schemes. Senior associate Tom McLaughlin also plays a key role in the practice.

Projects and resources management (including environment) Tier 1

The infrastructure group at Kensington Swan combines expertise in construction and major projects, environment and planning, banking and finance, corporate and commercial, property and China business. It handles consenting and property acquisitions, procurement, project delivery and dispute resolution. The firm has acted in most of the PPPs undertaken in New Zealand since 2010, and it is the only law firm on both the NZ Transport Agency and Auckland Transport panels. Infrastructure projects specialist Paul Buetow in Auckland and environment and planning partner Nicky McIndoe in Wellington are leading lights in the market, but the firm has many prominent lawyers leading the practice, among whom are corporate partners Chris Parke and Heida Donegan, and property partner Matthew Ockleston in Auckland; and Wellington-based corporate partner David Shillson. Stuart Robertson in Auckland has 30 years' experience in the construction sector.

Real estate and construction Tier 1

Kensington Swan's national property team has a high profile with the New Zealand Government and attracts a considerable amount of property work for Crown agencies. With strong teams in both Wellington and Auckland, it also advises many large domestic and multinational corporates including McDonald’s, Bridgestone, Goodman Property Group and Fletcher Building on property and construction matters. John Meads in Wellington leads the national property and real estate team and he has 47 years' experience in property and leasing work. Special counsel Helen Brown is one to watch. Ish Fraser is highly skilled in all aspects of office, retail and industrial leasing. Infrastructure projects specialist Paul Buetow and Matthew Ockleston, who is experienced in Public Works Act, infrastructure projects and public law matters, are the lead partners in Auckland. Up-and-coming partner Paula Ormandy, who joined from Bell Gully, is recommended for property development and complex leasing deals.

Transport (rail, road, air and sea) Tier 1

Kensington Swan's national infrastructure practice brings together skills in includes construction and major projects, environment, planning and Property to assist with strategic transport projects throughout New Zealand. It is involved in the development of roads, ferry terminals, water reservoirs, bridges, public transport, cycling infrastructure and port infrastructure. The firm has played a key role in many PPPs undertaken in the New Zealand since 2010, and it is the only firm to be on the panel of both the NZ Transport Agency and Auckland Transport. Infrastructure project specialist Paul Buetow and property partner Matthew Ockleston in Auckland and, in Wellington, environment and planning expert Nicky McIndoe lead the practice.

Corporate and M&A Tier 2

'The corporate team is particularly client-oriented, pragmatic and patient', says a client of Kensington Swan. Another describes the lawyers as 'professional, experienced and easy to work with'. The firm handles cross-border M&A and a broad range of domestic acquisitions and joint ventures. Chris Parke and David Lewis are the key partners in Auckland. Parke frequently advises overseas clients investing in New Zealand, while Lewis has extensive experience in the health, sports, finance, and retail sectors. Newly promoted partner Heida Donegan is a cross-border investment specialist whom clients describe as 'a first-class China specialist and a "go-to" lawyer'.  Martin Dalgleish, who acts for numerous clients in the transport, logistics and the energy sectors, and veteran corporate, finance and restructuring partner David Shillson lead the practice in Wellington.

Dispute resolution Tier 2

Kensington Swan is a leading firm for government and regulatory, infrastructure and competition litigation. The lead partners are David Campbell in Auckland and Hayden Wilson in Wellington. Campbell, who has a particular focus on competition law, product liability and liability insurance, is 'an experienced litigator who can navigate challenging personalities extremely well and professionally to secure a result', according to one client. Wilson leads on public law and regulatory matters, and is recommended for both litigation and mediation. 'Tenacious and fearless' senior associate Reece Leggett in Auckland is a rising star.

Intellectual property Tier 2

Kensington Swan handles a broad mix of contentious and commercial IP matters, including IP development, enforcement and commercialisation work that ranges from strategic filing strategies through to major transactions and big-ticket litigation. Among its clients are leading domestic companies such as BurgerFuel and Crimson Education, and blue chip global businesses such as Unilever and Danone. Brand protection and Plant Variety Rights protection are key areas of specialist expertise. Jenni Rutter in Auckland and Charlotte Henley in Wellington lead the practice. Rutter is an IP enforcement specialist and an experienced advocate with more than over 20 years’ experience working IP owners in the UK and New Zealand. Commercial IP expert Henley handles rebranding, launching to market and IP commercialisation, as well as disputes.

Labour and employment Tier 2

Kensington Swan has a large practice with a stable of leading corporate and public sector clients. It has particular expertise in the retail, creative, aviation and technology sectors, providing advice on strategy, compliance and litigation. Its recent work includes handling  restructurings, contractual issues, performance management and ill health, misconduct and relationship issues, and statutory obligations. Greg Cain in Wellington handles health and safety matters alongside employment law. He is co-head of the practice along with Charlotte Parkhill in Auckland. Health and safety specialist Grant Nicholson joined Anthony Harper but the firm hired James Warren from Fieldfisher in London who has extensive experience in multi-jurisdictional projects and business transformations, complex reorganisations and the implementation of global HR policies. His recent work includes restraint of trade litigation, ex-employee misappropriation of confidential information claims.

TMT Tier 2

Kensington Swan has 'a good understanding of technology and delivery techniques, and it strongly represents the client's interests, as well as being pragmatic in creation of contracts'. Commercial and technology partner Hayley Miller in Auckland leads the firm's technology, innovation, privacy and media group, and she has extensive experience in technology licensing, development, commercialisation, supply and acquisition. The practice acts for ICT companies and innovative start-ups, and it has particular expertise in the areas of fintech and payments processing. In Wellington, the firm acts for public and education sector clients in the procurement of specialised ICT systems and services. The key lawyers are corporate partner Charlotte Henley, regulatory and litigation partner Hayden Wilson and public law specialist Linda Clark.

Banking and finance Tier 3

Kensington Swan acts for a range of large financial institutions and corporate trustees in New Zealand on corporate and acquisition finance, property development, trade finance, receivables financings and debt capital markets transactions. It also niche expertise in retirement village development financing and structured finance. Among the firm's key clients are HSBC, ANZ Bank and Bank of New Zealand. Key partner Nicole Xanthopol moved to Webb Henderson but oversight of the practice is now handled by four experienced partners. Auckland-based James McMillan handles the firm's relationships with HSBC and ANZ. In Wellington,  David Ireland handles funds management and financial services law, corporate partner David Shillson and investment funds specialist Catriona Grover. In early 2020, Liz Lim joined from Tompkins Wake.

Restructuring and insolvency Tier 3

The restructuring and insolvency practice at Kensington Swan is focused on serving banks and insolvency practitioners. Among these are ANZ Bank, BDO, BWA and Deloitte. The firm provides provide specialist legal advice to creditors and insolvency practitioners in relation to financial risk management, receiverships, administrations and liquidations. A unique facet of the practice is its close collaboration with its construction and major projects lawyers to assist with debt recovery and enforcement work, priority disputes and voidable transactions. Practice head and RITANZ member James McMillan and senior associate Mark Broad are the key practitioners, and each has 16 years' experience in commercial litigation.