Russell McVeagh > Auckland, New Zealand > Firm Profile

Russell McVeagh > The Legal 500 Rankings

New Zealand > Corporate and M&A Tier 1

Russell McVeagh acts for a range of domestic and international clients, including financial institutions, private equity funds, corporate organisations, government bodies and infrastructure operators on M&A transactions, joint ventures and equity capital market mandates. Praised for its ‘commerciality, responsiveness and collaboration’, the team is led by Auckland-based David Hoare, who is ‘among the most experienced corporate lawyers in New Zealand’, advising high-profile clients on all aspects of corporate and commercial transactions. The Auckland office is also home to Joe Windmeyer, Ben Paterson - who commended ‘for his ability to cut through complex issues’ - Dan Jones, Ian Beaumont and David Raudkivi, all of whom have experience in M&A transactions and general corporate matters. In the firm’s Wellington office, ‘excellent partner’ Mei Fern Johnson specialises in investment in (and procurement of) infrastructure, technology, transport and energy projects, while Auckland-based Cath Shirley-Brown is a ‘solution-focused’ partner with experience in cross-border transitions.

New Zealand > Data protection Tier 1

Praised for its ‘depth of expertise in the area of data protection and privacy’, Russell McVeagh advises leading domestic companies and blue-chip international clients on high-profile litigation, commercial and cyber security matters. The practice has demonstrable experience across the tech and telecoms, financial services, insurance, public, consumer goods and energy sectors. In the firm’s Auckland office, ‘extremely capable’ litigator Joe Edwards acts on High Court injunctions and judicial reviews following data breaches, as well as implementing privacy reviews and audits for domestic companies and banks. Edwards jointly leads the practice alongside Liz Blythe, while Mei Fern Johnson, Chris Curran and Mark Campbell operate from the Wellington office, applying their data protection expertise across the privacy, telecoms, media and litigation spheres.

New Zealand > Real estate and construction

Russell McVeagh is praised for its ‘exceptional expertise in the real estate space’, as demonstrated by its advice on large-scale development projects and subdivisions, capital markets transactions, acquisitions and sales, as well as leasing arrangements. ‘Excellent operator’ Ed Crook chairs the national property and construction practice – including the equally capable front-end construction practice – and specialises in commercial property developments, sales and leasing matters, in addition to associated construction and finance work. Polly Pope spearheads the construction litigation group, acting for principals, financiers, contractors, subcontractors and consultants on a broad range of disputes, while David Butler provides ‘invaluable’ advice on real estate capital markets transactions and development projects. ‘Extremely practical’ Anna Crosbie focuses on acquisitions, residential developments and leasing matters, while construction litigators Michael Taylor and Sarah Blackmore are also key contacts. All named practitioners are based in the firm’s Auckland office.

New Zealand > Restructuring and insolvency Tier 1

Russell McVeagh has demonstrable experience in high-profile insolvencies, often involving a cross-border element, in addition to domestic insolvency processes and corporate distress matters arising out of the property development and construction, hospitality and retail sectors. Praised for his ‘depth of experience in this space’, Matthew Kersey leads the practice and regularly acts for secured creditors and insolvency practitioners in relation to security enforcement issues, restructuring, recovery and insolvency strategies. Polly Pope advises receivers, liquidators, voluntary administrators and creditors in solvent corporate reorganisations and takeovers, while banking and finance partner John Powell assists domestic banks and corporate clients on restructuring matters. Other key contacts in the team include Nathaniel Walker and senior associate Jeremy Upson, and senior associate Alex MacDuff rejoined the firm in November 2021 from Allen & Overy LLP’s London office. All named practitioners are based in the Auckland office.

New Zealand > TMT Tier 1

Praised for its ‘great depth of knowledge’, Russell McVeagh advises clients on the full lifecycle of TMT transactions, in addition to privacy and data protection, cyber security issues and telecoms regulation. With demonstrable experience across the technology, media, financial services and public sectors, the team has seen a growth in compliance matters and the ethical implementation of emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence. In the firm’s Auckland office, technology specialist Liz Blythe, who ‘provides prompt, concise and commercially appropriate advice’, jointly leads the practice alongside Wellington-based Mei Fern Johnson, who focuses on the procurement and structuring of high-profile technology projects. Head of the media, marketing law and intellectual property group, Joe Edwards focuses on technology disputes and investigations, privacy issues and cyber-attacks. Special counsel Louise Taylor is another key figure in the group.

New Zealand > Transport (rail, road, air and sea) Tier 1

Praised for its ‘impressive understanding of all aspects of air transport’, Russell McVeagh ‘offers a great depth of expertise’ across the transport sector, advising on large-scale road and rail infrastructure projects for a number of national airport and port operators - including the Ports of Auckland and Auckland International Airport - among others. In the firm’s Auckland office, national chair of the environment, planning and natural resources group, Daniel Minhinnick, jointly leads the practice alongside Wellington-based Mei Fern Johnson, who focuses on commercial contracting, M&A transactions and investment in (and procurement of) infrastructure, transport and energy projects. Other key members of the team include Allison Arthur-Young, who handles development and infrastructure projects, as well as district and regional planning matters, and Simon Pilkinton, who is noted for his experience in the water, municipal waste and port sectors. Both partners operate from the firm’s Auckland office.

New Zealand > Banking and finance Tier 2

Clients single out Russell McVeagh for its ‘capability and expertise across the banking and finance sector, making them well-placed to provide advice on a broad range of issues’, from bond issuances and securitisations to corporate and acquisition finance, debt restructurings and project finance. In the firm’s Wellington office, Guy Lethbridge chairs the national practice group - specialising in debt capital markets and the regulation of banks, insurers and other financial institutions - while Tom Hunt has particular expertise in infrastructure and project finance matters. The Auckland office is home to ‘experienced partners’ Deemple Budhia and John Powell, who are praised as ‘effective communicators, highly responsive and attuned to my client’s commercial demands’. Also in Auckland, David Weavers is noted for his capability in the corporate finance and alternative credit arenas, while Jesse Fairley, who was promoted to partner in December 2021, ‘has all the attributes necessary of an excellent banking and finance lawyer’.

New Zealand > Competition law Tier 2

The ‘knowledgeable and pragmatic’ team at Russell McVeagh has been kept busy with multi-jurisdictional merger clearances, investigations and prosecutions with the New Zealand Commerce Commission, as well as commercial advisory work, litigation and matters concerning law reforms. A key port of call for various media companies, major supermarkets, electricity and telecommunications businesses and private equity firms, practice leader Troy Pilkington has demonstrable experience in cartel investigations and consumer law cases, in addition to large-scale merger clearances.The firm ‘has built a strong competition team’, further underscored by the promotions of Bradley Aburn and Petra Carey in June 2022. Both Pilkington and Aburn are praised as ‘extremely experienced and invaluable advisors’, while Carey is commended as a ‘capable and diligent operator’. All named partners are based in the firm’s Auckland office.

New Zealand > Dispute resolution Tier 2

Russell McVeagh’s ‘proactive’ team has demonstrable experience in large-scale class actions and contentious matters pertaining to construction projects, in addition to restructuring and insolvency litigation, regulatory investigations and ADR cases. In the firm’s Auckland office, Kirsten Massey chairs the practice and focuses on class actions, financial services litigation and professional negligence cases, while Marika Eastwick-Field is a key contact for insurance disputes. The Auckland office is also home to Polly Pope, who advises on class actions, construction and banking litigation, and senior litigator Malcolm Crotty. In Wellington, Chris Curran is noted for his expertise in public law and commercial disputes, judicial reviews and cases relating to IT projects, while ‘energetic and talented’ Nathaniel Walker focuses on contentious insurance matters.

New Zealand > Insurance Tier 2

The multi-disciplinary practice at Russell McVeagh offers an ‘indispensable service’ by combining the expertise of its litigation, regulatory and corporate teams to advise insurers, domestic corporates and other industry players on insurance-related transactions and disputes. The practice continues to act for the Earthquake Commission (EQC) on statutory obligations and high-profile insurance claims, as well as commercial and regulatory matters. In the firm’s Auckland office, ‘capable partner’ Marika Eastwick-Field has experience in insurance coverage disputes relating to material damage, professional indemnity and business interruption claims. Eastwick-Field jointly leads the practice alongside Wellington-based Nathaniel Walker, who advises on contentious insurance matters, with a focus on natural disaster insurance claims.

New Zealand > Intellectual property Tier 2

Noted for its ‘strong capability’ in litigation, Russell McVeagh also advises on the commercial aspects of all types of IP; from trade marks, design and copyright issues to joint ventures, licensing matters and collaboration arrangements. Counting local companies and national corporations among its key roster of clients, the team has demonstrable experience across the banking and financial services, manufacturing and media sectors. ‘Incredibly responsive’ litigator Joe Edwards leads the group and specialises in high-profile IP disputes and brand protection matters, while Liz Blythe, who is praised for her ‘exceptional technical knowledge and practical advice’, focuses on the IP and technology aspects of M&A transactions. Special counsel Brigette Shone is another key member of the team.

New Zealand > Investment funds Tier 2

Russell McVeagh frequently works alongside fund managers, trustees, supervisors, financial advisers, custodians, investors and employers, advising on the establishment, operation, restructuring and wind up of funds and investment schemes. According to one client, the team ‘has deep experience, which when blended with their commercial and practical approach, results in quality client outcomes’. In the firm’s Auckland office, corporate advisory partner Dan Jones leads the practice and advises on a range of issues facing managed funds, while special counsel Sarah McQueen handles compliance matters relating to unit trusts, superannuation and KiwiSaver schemes, and discretionary investment management services.

New Zealand > Labour and employment Tier 2

Russell McVeagh offers ‘pragmatic, up-to-date and business-focused employment advice’ on matters pertaining to union-related issues, senior executive departures, health and safety mandates and dealings with the regulator. Primarily based in Auckland, the team is led by Kylie Dunn, who advises employers on a range of industrial matters, including collective bargaining and industrial action, as well as restraints of trade, professional misconduct and the employment aspects of corporate transactions. Praised as ‘personable and knowledgeable’, Emma Peterson, who was promoted to partner in July 2021, focuses on personal grievances claims, restructurings and employment issues arising in insolvency scenarios. Wellington-based special counsel Mark Campbell is a further key name to note.

New Zealand > Projects and resources management (including environment) Tier 2

Praised for its ‘exceptional talent and pragmatic client focused delivery’, Russell McVeagh acts for a range of infrastructure providers across the energy, transport, ports, utilities, three waters and telecommunications sectors. In Auckland, Daniel Minhinnick heads the firm’s national environment, planning and natural resources, as well as the infrastructure group, and has a ‘superb track record’ in resource management and environmental litigation. The Auckland office is also home to Allison Arthur-Young, who focuses on infrastructure development projects, district and regional planning, and policy matters, while Simon Pilkinton has experience in the water, wastewater, municipal waste and ports sectors. Corporate specialists Mei Fern Johnson and Joe Windmeyer, who operate from the Wellington and Auckland offices respectively, are further key team members. Michael Loan has rejoined the firm after a stint in London and is the head of infrastructure practice.

New Zealand > Tax Tier 2

Noted for its strong transactional capability, Russell McVeagh advises clients on a range of matters, from the tax aspects of M&A deals, financing and capital raising, in addition to business reorganisations, to transfer pricing, customs and excise issues and employee remuneration packages. Fred Ward leads the Auckland-based team and has experience across range of taxation services, including advice on cross-border financing structures and investigation processes involving Inland Revenue. Greg Neill is another key member of the team, who advises large corporates, financial institutions and private businesses in general corporate tax transactions, and frequently collaborates with the firm’s corporate team in large-scale M&A transactions.