MinterEllisonRuddWatts > Wellington, New Zealand > Firm Profile

MinterEllisonRuddWatts > The Legal 500 Rankings

New Zealand > Banking and finance Tier 1

Counting a number of high-profile domestic and international banks among its key roster of clients, MinterEllisonRuddWatts handles regulation and compliance matters, leveraged finance transactions, financial restructurings, and infrastructure-related financings. Jeremy Muir jointly leads the practice alongside Steve Gallaugher, who has demonstrable experience in advising on acquisition, syndicated, corporate, projects and property finance matters.  Kate Lane covers a broad range of areas, from institutional finance to consumer finance, and has a keen interest in ESG-related matters. Wellington-based Chris O’Brien acts for various banks, major corporates, trustee companies, as well as public sector entities, while Michael Langdon is noted for his expertise in construction and development financings. Special counsel Simon Gray, who has a particular interest in the energy and infrastructure sectors, and senior associate Allison Hancock are further key contacts in the team. All named practitioners are based in the firm’s Auckland office, unless stated otherwise.

New Zealand > Competition law Tier 1

MinterEllisonRuddWatts has demonstrable experience in merger clearance applications and oppositions - often with a distinct cross-border element - and is particularly noted for its capabilities handling anti-dumping and anti-subsidy matters. The Auckland-based team is led by highly regarded Ross Patterson, who represents clients in high-profile merger clearances, authorisations and Commerce Commission investigations, and is especially recognised for his expertise in the telecoms sector. Jennifer Hambleton, who was promoted to partner in May 2022, focuses on Commerce Act and Fair Trading Act (FTA) investigations and enforcement actions, while corporate partner Sarah Salmond handles regulatory work arising out of concerns in the agriculture and fisheries, food and beverage, telecoms and energy sectors. Key clients include Tourism Holdings Limited, Tegel Foods Limited and Life Health Foods NZ, to name a few.

New Zealand > Corporate and M&A Tier 1

Counting domestic and multinational entities, as well as private equity firms, among its key roster of clients, ‘top professional firm’ MinterEllisonRuddWatts and has demonstrable experience across the full range of M&A transactions, joint ventures, equity capital markets and corporate governance matters. Neil Millar, who spearheads the corporate practice in Auckland, advises private company clients on high value M&A transactions, while Rodney Craig leads the Wellington-based team, frequently assisting early-stage and high growth businesses in the technology sector. The Auckland office is also home to Mark Forman , who has ‘has an inherent understanding of transaction dynamics, excellent judgment and knows how to close a deal’, and Mark Stuart, who acts for local and international private equity investors with their cross-border acquisitions. Other key members of the team include Auckland-based Igor Drinkovic, who focuses on public M&As, John Conlan and Cathy Quinn, who operate from the Wellington and Auckland offices, respectively. Sacha Oudyn left the firm in November 2021, as did Silvana Schenone in August 2022.

New Zealand > Dispute resolution Tier 1

Counting major corporates, financial institutions and public sector entities among its key clients, MinterEllisonRuddWatts’ caseload regularly includes large-scale commercial litigation, ranging from regulatory investigations and insolvency to banking and finance, agriculture, energy and insurance-related disputes. In Auckland, Jane Standage, who ‘provides clear, pragmatic and strategic advice’ to clients in relation to investigations by regulators (including the Financial Markets Authority, Commerce Commission and Reserve Bank) jointly leads the practice alongside Wellington-based Richard Gordon, who has experience in banking and insolvency litigation. Also in Wellington, Stacey Shortall is noted for her expertise in handling the interplay between regulatory investigations, criminal prosecutions and civil lawsuits, while Auckland-based Andrew Horne and Nick Frith specialise in insurance disputes. Other key members of the team include Sean Gollin, who operates from the firm’s Auckland office and has a broad civil and commercial litigation practice, and Wellington-based Briony Davies, who handles public law disputes. Oliver Skilton left the firm in April 2022 to join Mills Lane Chambers.

New Zealand > Investment funds Tier 1

Counting leading domestic financial institutions among its key roster of clients, MinterEllisonRuddWatts ‘has a breadth of experience in investment funds that is second to none in New Zealand’. Noted for its transactional and regulatory expertise, the team advises on developing fintech and cryptocurrency matters, acting national and international crypto/blockchain clients, as well as retail platform offerings. With respect to the joint practice heads, as one client puts it: ‘Jeremy Muir is a standout partner in this space along with Lloyd Kavanagh and together, they lead a team of high-calibre individuals’. Kavanagh covers investment funds, financial services regulation and corporate governance, while Muir is at the heart of the fintech sector, advising on cryptocurrencies, digital tokens and coins, NFTs and other blockchain projects. Special counsel Alistair Robertson, who ‘brings his extensive in-house experience’ to the team, and senior associate Maria Collett-Bevan both possess demonstrable experience in financial services regulation. All named practitioners are based in the firm’s Auckland office.

New Zealand > Labour and employment Tier 1

Based across the firm’s Auckland and Wellington offices, MinterEllisonRuddWatts’ ‘first-rate’ employment practice has demonstrable experience across employee and industrial relations, health and safety matters, financial services remuneration and conduct, as well as employee privacy issues. ‘Widely respected for her calm, sound and strategically nuanced advice on complex issues’, Gillian Service leads the Auckland-based team and handles issues relating to flexible working, the Holidays Act and unionised workforces. The Auckland office is also home to ‘technically accurate’ June Hardacre, who is noted for her expertise in data protection and employee privacy mandates, and Aaron Lloyd, who handles regulatory investigations and employment-related litigation. Praised for her ‘intellectual rigour and expertise’, Megan Richards spearheads the Wellington-based practice, advising on matters with political and reputational risk, including independent investigations into bullying and sexual harassment allegations, executive appointments and exits/terminations. Special counsel Emma Warden is another key figure in the Wellington team.

New Zealand > Projects and resources management (including environment) Tier 1

Praised for its ‘in-depth understanding of the RMA’, MinterEllisonRuddWatts acts for central and local government bodies, blue-chip principals and national developers on major infrastructure and construction projects. Construction expert Sarah Sinclair, who continues to advise the Department of Internal Affairs on the Three Waters Reform Programme, jointly leads the team alongside resource management and environmental specialist Bianca Tree, who advises on all aspects of the RMA and related legislation. Steve Gallaugher has demonstrable experience in project financings, while Rachel Devine is a leading figure in the environmental and resource management space, and spearheads the team advising on the reform of the resource management system in New Zealand. Other key members of the practice include Travis Tomlinson and Scott Thompson, both of whom handle infrastructure and construction projects. All named partners operate from the firm’s office in Auckland.

New Zealand > Real estate and construction

MinterEllisonRuddWatts’ real estate and construction practices exemplify ‘excellent knowledge’ across the full spectrum of contentious and non-contentious matters, from high-value acquisitions, portfolio management and commercial leasing to major infrastructure projects and construction-related disputes. Head of real estate David Gilbert handles the acquisition, development and disposal of land, retail premises and office complexes, while Andrew Monteith has experience in large-scale infrastructure projects and consultant Ross Pickmere advises on a broad range of commercial property deals. Janine Stewart, who regularly acts on matters relating to defective buildings, as well as landlord and tenant obligations and rent review disputes, jointly leads the construction team alongside Travis Tomlinson, who focuses on public sector construction projects and capital works programs. Other key members of the team include infrastructure specialist Sarah Sinclair, expert construction litigator Stephen Price and Mark Crosbie. All named practitioners are based in the firm’s Auckland office.

New Zealand > Restructuring and insolvency Tier 1

The ‘personable, engaging, competent and capable’ team at MinterEllisonRuddWatts counts leading domestic banks and insolvency practitioners in New Zealand among its key roster of clients, and notably acts as adviser to The Treasury on insolvency and restructuring assignments involving the Crown. The practice is especially well-placed to advise on trans-Tasman, regional and cross-border insolvency and restructuring assignments. In Auckland, practice co-leader Sean Gollin maintains a strong litigation and general advisory practice relating to receivership and insolvency law, security enforcement, restructuring, and corporate recovery. The Auckland office is also home to practice co-leader Michael Langdon, who advises on restructurings, distressed debt and security enforcement issues, while Wellington-based litigator Richard Gordon handles corporate insolvency cases, in addition to banking and securities law mandates. Senior associate Charlotte Carey also operates from the firm's Wellington office.

New Zealand > Tax Tier 1

Praised for its ‘first-rate technical knowledge’, MinterEllisonRuddWatts has demonstrable experience in advising on the tax aspects of top-tier corporate transactions, in addition to large-scale infrastructure projects. Additional areas of expertise include transfer pricing, warranty and indemnity insurance, executive remuneration and tax disputes with the New Zealand Inland Revenue. The Auckland-based practice is led by Andrew Ryan, who has notable experience in corporate taxation and obtaining binding rulings from Inland Revenue, whilst acting for domestic banks, blue-chip companies, government entities, insolvency practitioners, not-for-profit organisations and private individuals. Simon Akozu, who was promoted to partner in January 2022, and focuses on M&A, infrastructure projects, financing arrangements and crypto assets, while senior associate Phillip Chrisp advises on the tax aspects of corporate and property transactions.

New Zealand > TMT Tier 1

MinterEllisonRuddWatts has a ‘wealth of experience’ across the full gamut of TMT matters, from technology transformation projects and large-scale M&A transactions to emerging technologies, regulatory matters and complex disputes, among others. In the firm’s Auckland office, Tom Maasland leads the practice and advises on cyber security, artificial intelligence and blockchain-related mandates, while Wellington-based Jane Parker is ‘particularly knowledgeable’ in handling matters pertaining to technology services agreements. The Auckland office is also home to Ross Patterson, who focuses on telecoms regulation, and Richard Wells, who advises on technology-related contracting, in addition to privacy and data protection issues. In Wellington, John McCay is noted for his experience in the film and entertainment sectors. Other key members of the practice include Auckland-based special counsel Sonya Forbes, and senior associates Kate Cruickshank and Kate Anderson, both of who operate from the firm’s Wellington office.

New Zealand > Data protection Tier 2

MinterEllisonRuddWatts’ privacy and data protection team assists clients in resolving and mitigating risks, from major data breaches and drafting privacy policies, to data sharing contracts and privacy compliance obligations. In the firm’s Auckland office, Richard Wells, who has experience in high-profile data breaches in New Zealand, jointly leads the practice alongside Wellington-based Briony Davies, who advises clients across the government, transport, health and education sectors on privacy issues and obligations. The Auckland office is also home to June Hardacre, who ‘offers exceptionally practical and commercial advice’ on contentious matters relating to the Privacy Act 2020, including access request and data breaches, in addition to day-to-day employee privacy issues.

New Zealand > Insurance Tier 2

MinterEllisonRuddWatts frequently acts for local and international underwriters in dealing with New Zealand’s financial services regulators, as well as advising on the drafting and interpretation of insurance policies. The team also counts life and health insurance claims, reinsurance matters, property issues, professional indemnity and general liability work in its caseload. In the firm’s Auckland offices, ‘knowledgeable and pragmatic’ Andrew Horne leads the practice and continues to act for global broking firm Marsh, in addition to leading domestic insurers. Nick Frith defends negligence claims against brokers, and advises on litigating property damage and business interruption claims for both insureds and insurers.

New Zealand > Intellectual property Tier 2

Praised for its ‘outstanding, client-focused service’, MinterEllisonRuddWatts is handling a growing number of corporate transactions, advising on the IP aspects of major deals, while also handling the commercialisation of IP assets, including structuring and licensing matters. The team also has demonstrable experience in trade mark registration and portfolio management, as well as IP litigation. In the firm’s Auckland office, practice leader Christopher Young ‘is at the top of his game’ when advising local and international clients on trade mark and licensing matters as well as transactional work, while Richard Wells is a key contact for IP commercialisation. Based in Wellington, commercial TMT partner John McCay, who is noted for his expertise in the New Zealand film industry, is another key name to note.

New Zealand > Transport (rail, road, air and sea) Tier 3

MinterEllisonRuddWatts provides a ‘flexible but consistent level of service’ to its roster of clients – including government bodies, constructors, developers and operators – on large-scale road and rail, port and maritime infrastructure projects. The practice has demonstrable capability in advising on the full lifecycle of a project, from funding and procurement to construction, delivery and ongoing operations. In the firm’s Auckland office, practice leader and infrastructure specialist Sarah Sinclair focuses on funding models, procurement strategies and contracting structures, and is frequently assisted by senior associate Jordan Oldham.