Mei Fern Johnson > Russell McVeagh > Wellington, New Zealand > Lawyer Profile

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.

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.

‘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.

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.