Russell McVeagh > Auckland, New Zealand > Firm Profile

Russell McVeagh > The Legal 500 Rankings

New Zealand > Banking and finance Tier 1

Well-regarded for its ability to offer clients an ‘excellent level of service’ and a ‘solution-focused’ approach, Russell McVeagh advise clients on a broad range of issues, covering debt capital markets, project finance, financial markets regulation, and corporate and acquisition finance. The practice is led by Guy Lethbridge, who specialises in debt capital markets and the regulation of banks, insurers, and other financial institutions; he also regularly assists the New Zealand Bankers Association on industry issues. Debt capital markets specialist Deemple Budhia is key port of call to some of New Zealand’s top banks and is regarded as an expert in consumer credit law. John Powell is a specialist in sustainability lending, complex debt restructuring solutions, and supply-chain financing arrangements, while David Weavers is noted for his experience on market-leading corporate finance matters.

New Zealand > Competition law Tier 1

Russell McVeagh draws considerable praise from clients for its ‘practical and pragmatic’ advice and ‘unmatched’ expertise. The team handles a wide range of prominent competition and antitrust matters, including market studies, merger filings, litigation, and investigations across various industries. The ‘exceptional’ Troy Pilkington heads the practice and is noted for his ability to handle the full gamut of work, acting for clients in the grocery, media, banking, and telecommunications sectors. Bradley Aburn has extensive experience in supporting clients with competition investigations, joint ventures, competitor collaborations, merger control approvals, and market power issues in New Zealand, the UK, and the EU. The ‘dedicated’ Petra Carey is a key port of call for clients seeking guidance on the clearance process for domestic and global M&A transactions and cartel investigations.

New Zealand > Corporate and M&A Tier 1

Praised for its ‘very strong commercial instincts, capability, and complete calm even in the most difficult and stressful situations’, the corporate team at Russell McVeagh handles a steady stream of deals for a diverse portfolio of clients. The team’s expertise is notably pronounced in the financial services, private equity, and government sectors. The practice is spearheaded by David Hoare, who regularly advises high-profile clients on all aspects of complex corporate and commercial transactions. Wellington-based Mei Fern Johnson is noted for her expertise in infrastructure, transport, technology, energy, and joint ventures, with a track record of advising on significant market transactions, including Beijing Capital Group’s $1.9bn sale of Waste Management NZ. The ‘incredibly helpful’ Dan Jones, lauded for his ‘excellent industry knowledge’, specialises in M&A, capital markets and corporate advisory work for public and privately owned clients. A litany of local and international private equity fund managers turn to Ben Paterson for representation in the full scope of corporate transactions. With over three decades of experience, Joe Windmeyer is recommended for M&A, joint ventures, and securities matters, while Cath Shirley-Brown has a specific focus on cross-border transactions. All individuals mentioned above are based in Auckland unless otherwise stated.

New Zealand > Data protection and cyber security Tier 1

Banks, insurers and government agencies turn to Russell McVeagh for assistance with matters ranging from establishing data protection strategies and frameworks across various platforms, to those including data breach management. The team also advises clients on GDPR and regulatory compliance. The unit is additionally handling a growing number of litigation cases concerning injunctions used to protect data. A trio of partners head up the team, being Auckland-based commercial litigator Joe Edwards who has a proven track record handling high-profile privacy, data and confidential information cases; tech specialist Liz Blythe who has longstanding experience advising on privacy and data protection law considerations; and Wellington-based practitioner Mei Fern Johnson who is well-placed to advise on IT outsourcing arrangements. Special counsel Louise Taylor has a focus on tech contracts and operates from the firm’s Auckland office.

New Zealand > Real estate and construction

Russell McVeagh advises on the full range of construction and real estate work. Sarah Blackmore specialises in advising on the sale and acquisition of forestry assets, while Ed Crook assists institutional property owners with major commercial property development mandates. Anna Crosbie and David Butler are also active in high-profile construction and property instructions. Natalie Steur and Michael Taylor are other key practitioners in the department. After the research concluded, former joint practice head Polly Pope departed to Bankside Chambers.

New Zealand > Restructuring and insolvency Tier 1

Handling the full range of restructuring and insolvency-related matters, clients consider the practice at Russell McVeagh to be ‘at the top of the market in this field in New Zealand’. The team’s workload features cross-border liquidations, receiverships, voluntary administrations, secured creditor enforcement and distressed investments. The practice is noted in particular for its expertise in the real estate and construction, retail, hospitality, financial services and forestry industries. Matthew Kersey leads the practice, which benefits from his ‘brilliant commercial mind‘ and expertise in cross-border insolvency. John Powell is experienced in advising banks and corporates on restructuring matters. Wellington-based litigator Nathaniel Walker focuses his practice on cross-border matters. All lawyers are based in Auckland unless stated otherwise.

New Zealand > TMT Tier 1

Public sector, financial services, media and emerging tech expertise forms the cornerstone of the TMT practice at Russell McVeagh. The team possesses the capabilities to advise its diverse roster of clients on the full lifecycle of TMT transactions, including funding, development, procurement and supply, partnerships, investments, and commercialisations. Auckland-based Liz Blythe co-heads the firm’s tech practice, and is noted for her focus on tech, digital and telecoms-related matters. Joe Edwards heads the media, marketing law and IP team and fields an impressive track record acting on high-profile TMT cases. The Wellington office is home to Mei Fern Johnson who routinely handles nationally significant tech projects and specialises in complex procurement and structuring for multi-party, collaborative and innovative tech projects. Special counsel Louise Taylor is recommended for her specialism advising on tech contracts and projects.

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

The team at Russell McVeagh acts for operators, owners, investors, infrastructure funders and the New Zealand Government on a broad variety of matters across the aviation, airport, shipping, port, rail and road industries. In Wellington, Mei-Fern Johnson serves as a specialist in joint ventures, commercial contracting and project work, serving as practice co-head alongside Auckland-based Daniel Minhinnick, who often represents developers involved in schemes with major transport elements; he works alongside Allison Arthur-Young, an authority in district and regional planning, resource management and public law issues, as well as water, wastewater and municipal waste expert Simon Pilkinton.

New Zealand > Dispute resolution Tier 2

Russell McVeagh is praised for its ‘exceptional’ ability to ‘take complex legal issues and distil down clear and concise advice to be able to guide strategy’. The team is regularly involved in significant high-profile disputes, including large-scale class actions and contentious matters, across a wide range of sectors. The practice is steered by Kirsten Massey, who is a highly experienced commercial litigation and dispute resolution specialist, with particular expertise in class actions, financial services litigation and professional negligence disputes. Key contact Malcolm Crotty is a trusted adviser for critical and strategic litigation matters, while the ‘impressive’ Marika Eastwick-Field is noted for her contentious and advisory expertise in M&A, banking and financial services, capital markets, property, and leasing disputes. Nathaniel Walker has a proven track record in all levels of the New Zealand court system and routinely receives instructions at the top of the market.

New Zealand > Insurance Tier 2

Russell McVeagh continues to be known for its advisory and contentious work with the Toka Tū Ake Earthquake Commission regarding its obligations arising from the Canterbury earthquake sequence. Acting principally on coverage disputes, Marika Eastwick-Field co-heads the practice alongside Nathaniel Walker, who is knowledgeable in claims arising out of natural catastrophes. Tom Hunt is the lead partner for insurance regulatory work.

New Zealand > Intellectual property Tier 2

The ‘commercial’ team at Russell McVeagh, praised for its ability to offer clients ‘highly valued, strategic advice’, counts national corporations and local companies among its clients. The practice handles a wide range of IP mandates in the banking and financial services, media and manufacturing sectors. The team is led by ‘exceptional operator’ Joe Edwards, who specialises in brand protection, IP disputes and commercial IP transactions. Liz Blythe heads the technology team, advising on complex technology transactions, including the procurement, supply, development, manufacturing, outsourcing and commercialisation of technology. Special counsel Brigette Shone is noted for her ability to act for clients in a wide range of disputes before the High Court and Court of Appeal.

New Zealand > Investment funds Tier 2

Russell McVeagh‘s funds management practice is frequently instructed by fund managers, trustees, financial advisers, custodians and employers on a host of regulatory and transactional mandates. The team possesses the capabilities to advise on the establishment, operation, restructure and wind up of funds and investment schemes, and to assist clients in the development and design of schemes. In the Auckland office, practice head Dan Jones is noted for his experience advising clients on a broad range of issues facing managed and sovereign funds. Special counsel Sarah McQueen is recommended for her specialist knowledge in managed funds, superannuation and insurance law.

New Zealand > Labour and employment Tier 2

At Russell McVeagh, key pillars of the practice encompass union-related affairs, including related disputes, senior executive departures, health and safety issues, and employment-related regulation. The practice is fronted from Auckland by Kylie Dunn, whose track record spans collective bargaining, industrial action, professional misconduct, business sales, and personal grievances. Dunn is supported by Emma Peterson, who is praised as an ‘exceptional employment lawyer'.

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

‘Responsive, timely, reassuring and engaging’, the team at Russell McVeagh has demonstrable expertise advising on procurement, development, planning and environmental issues across a myriad of sectors and industries, including energy, transport, ports, utilities and telecoms. In Auckland, the ‘responsive’ Daniel Minhinnick leads the firm’s environment, planning and natural resources practice, and is noted for his experience in contentious and non-contentious matters therein. Environmental specialist Allison Arthur-Young focuses on development and large-scale infrastructure projects, whilst Simon Pilkinton is recommended for his experience in the water, wastewater, municipal waste and port sectors. The Wellington office is home to Mei Fern Johnson who is chiefly recognised for her advising on complex commercial contracting.

New Zealand > Tax Tier 2

The Auckland-based team at Russell McVeagh is commended for its ‘deep levels of experience and creative mindset to solving complex problems’. The team’s range of expertise covers corporate transactions, the review of capital structures and transfer pricing disputes, and its clients include major domestic banks, sovereign wealth funds and large corporates. The department is led by Fred Ward, who ‘brings energy to deals and situations where others may struggle’. Ward has expertise in corporate finance matters, M&A and structured investment products. The team is supported by Greg Neill, who is a key contact for advice on the tax aspects of M&A, private equity and financing transactions. Neill has acted for some of New Zealand’s biggest corporates, as well as large offshore corporations.