Mayne Wetherell > Auckland, New Zealand > Firm Profile
Mayne Wetherell Offices

LEVEL 5, BAYLEYS HOUSE
30 GAUNT STREET, PO BOX 3797
AUCKLAND 1140
New Zealand
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Mayne Wetherell > The Legal 500 Rankings
New Zealand > Banking and finance Tier 2
Possessing a ‘top quality team across the board’, Mayne Wetherell specialises in capital markets and various forms of financing including structured, leveraged and syndicated. Its clients include major New Zealand companies in a broad array of sectors, from aviation to energy. The team is led by Will Tipping, who focuses on acquisition financing and special situations. David Wetherell is a veteran lawyer in capital markets and finance matters. Mei Nah and Daniel Meikle focus on securitisation and debt capital markets. Cameron Peachey is also noted for advising on acquisition and project finance matters.Practice head(s):
Will Tipping
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Excellent upskilling of new lawyers. The whole team has very good knowledge of our business.’
‘David Wetherell and Mei Nah bring calm experience, with superior knowledge.’
‘Top quality team across the board from partners to associates. Very capable and deep bench.’
‘Daniel Meikle is extremely attentive and provides incredibly commercial advice that always addresses the most important issues at hand.’
‘The firm seems to have a simple strategy which is less about bells and whistles and more about top quality lawyers providing their services in an excellent manner.’
‘Very smart, experienced but also pragmatic.’
‘Excellent advice and attention to client service.’
‘Knowledgeable and always available.’
Key clients
Auckland Council
Two Degrees
Goldman Sachs
Merricks Capital
Alvarium Investments
Deutsche Bank
Transpower New Zealand Limited
Westpac New Zealand Limited
Macquarie
Avanti Finance Limited
Work highlights
- Advised NZX listed Auckland International Airport Limited in respect of its global financing arrangements, including the restructure of its financing arrangements in light of COVID-19.
- Refinanced Van Leeuwen Group’s debt from ASB to Merricks Capital, an Australian financier.
- Advised Auckland Council in relation to its offer of NZ$150,000,000 of unsubordinated fixed rate bonds.
New Zealand > Corporate and M&A Tier 2
Mayne Wetherell is well-versed in cross-border and offshore transactions for national and international clients. The firm’s sector expertise is vast, advising in the food and beverage, TMT, property, financial services and healthcare industries. Based in Auckland, the team is led by Matthew Olsen, who is active in the automotive, medical and hospitality sectors, and Michael Pritchard, advising on high-value, cross-border M&A transactions. Charlotte Garland advises on both the buy- and sell-side of transactions for private equity and high net worth clients.Practice head(s):
Matthew Olsen; Michael Pritchard
Other key lawyers:
Charlotte Garland; Sherryn Harford; Cameron Reeves
Testimonials
‘Creative, responsive, deep understanding of company and industry – feels like in-house counsel.’
‘Very approachable, helpful, and expert problem solvers. The team at MW collaborate across their various skillsets to ensure the best outcome for us. They are extremely proactive and never seem to miss a deadline. ’
‘Nothing is ever an issue. Very timely responses and willingness to help out. Incredible ability to explain concepts and legal jargon in simple easy to understand language. ’
‘Very responsive, highly commercial and completely across all aspects of transactions which gives the client full confidence.’
‘Highly engaged Partner (Michael Pritchard) who is across all the details of transactions and is a great commercial problem solver.’
Work highlights
- Advised United States-headquartered Fortifi Food Processing Solutions on acquisition of NZX-listed MHM Automation Limited by scheme of arrangement.
- Advised Toyota Finance New Zealand on its expansion into the rental car market by its acquisition of leading market participants Ezi Car Rental and Moto Car Rental.
- Advised shareholders of Superior Pet Food on $84 million share sale to NZX-listed EBOS.
New Zealand > Tax Tier 2
Delivering ‘quality, comprehensive work’, Mayne Wetherell advises clients on tax disputes, M&A transactions, securitisations, tariffs, and regulatory matters. The practice is able to draw on the expertise of the broader firm to enhance its advice to its clients. Wellington-based Brendan BrownPractice head(s):
Brendan Brown; Chris Harker
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘The team delivers quality, comprehensive work while also being able to distill this into an understandable summary.’
‘Chris Harker’s communication and availability are excellent.’
‘First tier experience and skills in finding solutions to very difficult and complex transactions and fact patterns. You can have the utmost confidence that you are receiving the very best tax advice.’
‘Brendan Brown has an excellent reputation among clients and the tax profession. He is without a doubt one of the best tax lawyers in New Zealand.’
‘Tim Stewart is highly experienced in the tax aspects of banking and financial transactions. He has a clear, logical communication style and excellent work ethic.’
‘Very practical, pragmatic and do a fantastic job of distilling complex matters into clear and easy to understand key points.’
‘Fantastic presentation skills, great experience, consider not only the points in front of them but also wider implications.’
Key clients
Spark New Zealand
Corporate Taxpayers Group
Genesis Energy
Westpac New Zealand Limited
Avanti Finance Limited
Work highlights
- Advised Genesis Energy and FRV as participants in the Solar-Gen Joint Venture on tax aspects of the development and project financing of the 63 MW Lauriston solar farm.
- Advised Westpac New Zealand Limited on its issue of NZ$600m of Tier 2 unsecured subordinated notes.
- Advised senior lenders, Natixis and First Sentier, on the establishment of New Zealand Green Investment Finance Limited’s new CBI certified solar financing programme.
New Zealand > Restructuring and insolvency Tier 3
The 'very high quality team' at Mayne Wetherell advises trading banks, international special situations funds, national corporations and leading insolvency practitioners. The firm is experienced in both contentious and non-contentious contexts. 'A deeply experienced restructuring lawyer', Will Tipping guides the practice, assisting directors, administrators, debtor companies and financial institutions. Jane Innes-Jones is well-versed in voluntary administrations and deed of company arrangements.Practice head(s):
Will Tipping
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Very high quality team across all disciplines. Expansive contacts in the market. Deep experience.’
‘Will Tipping is a deeply experienced restructuring lawyer, particularly well versed in advising sponsors and specialist investors in leveraged restructuring situations.’
‘Jane Innes-Jones is a rising star leveraging her in-market experience as a lender into a restructuring situation ’
‘A commercial approach.’
‘Very personable.’
Work highlights
Mayne Wetherell > Firm Profile
The firm: Mayne Wetherell is a leading New Zealand law firm, known for advising on significant and often complex commercial transactions. Having long been recognised for its market-leading corporate and finance practices, the firm has recently added tax law to its offering, having been joined in 2021 by a team of tax specialists from another New Zealand firm.
Main areas of practice
Mergers and acquisitions: Mayne Wetherell advises on the full range of M&A activity, including listed company takeovers, cross-border transactions, distressed assets, industry consolidations and major divestments. Mayne Wetherell’s lawyers are experienced across a range of sectors, including food and beverage, TMT, property, infrastructure, primary industry, private equity, financial services and healthcare.
Mayne Wetherell’s lawyers are experts in structuring and executing foreign direct investment into New Zealand, including advising on all aspects of New Zealand’s foreign investment consenting regime (the Overseas Investment Act).
Recent transactions include:
- Acting for global investment firm KKR in relation to a number of its transactions in New Zealand, including the acquisitions of Ritchies (a New Zealand bus and coach business), Education Perfect (a New Zealand based online education business), Argenta (a leading animal health-focused pharma services platform) and Natural Pet Food Group (a New Zealand-based premium pet food business).
- Acting as lead counsel to the vendors in relation to their sale of Ziwi, a leading New Zealand-based pet food exporter and the global leader of air-dried pet nutrition, to Fountainvest Partners a Hong-Kong based private equity firm.
- Acting for Waterman Capital on its acquisition, aggregation and subsequent divestment of Provincial Education Group to Busy Bees Australia.
Contact: Michael Pritchard
Tel: +64 9 921 6073
Email: [email protected]
Banking and finance: Mayne Wetherell has acted for all the major banks; the firm has also provided all banking and finance related advice to New Zealand’s largest company, Fonterra Co-operative Group Limited, as well as to Auckland International Airport, 2degrees and Transpower.
Recent transactions include:
- Acting on multiple transactions for global credit funds, such as Goldman SSG, Varde, Merricks, M&G, Blackstone, KKR and others.
- Acting for Auckland Council, Auckland International Airport, Fonterra and Transpower and other corporates in relation to their treasury-related work, including bilateral and syndicated facilities, various issuances of debt securities in New Zealand (both retail and wholesale; and listed and unlisted), various Australian MTN issuances, US private placements and other offshore issuances, including green bond issuances.
- Acting for originators, financiers and independent trustees (as applicable) in relation to multiple warehouse and term securitisation transactions. Mayne Wetherell’s clients on these transactions have included Avanti Finance Limited, Bank of New Zealand, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Westpac New Zealand Limited, Deutsche Bank AG, M&G Investments, Goldman Sachs and other originators, global banks and investment funds and independent trustee companies.
Contact: Will Tipping
Tel: +64 9 921 6074
Email: [email protected]
Tax: Mayne Wetherell’s Tax team was formed when a team of tax lawyers joined from another New Zealand firm in 2021. The team has advised on:
- Tax disputes, including numerous cases before the courts (involving tax avoidance, transfer pricing, capital/revenue, depreciation, and judicial review of the exercise of Inland Revenue’s powers) and in the MAP process.
- Obtaining Inland Revenue rulings.
- Regulatory capital-raisings for banks.
- M&A transactions, demergers and other corporate restructurings.
- The formation of investment funds.
- Customs and excise issues.
- Tax issues for individuals and family trusts.
- Tax reform initiatives, in which the team has advocated for clients and industry bodies.
While providing support to Mayne Wetherell’s transactional teams, the tax team is also instructed directly by clients across a range of industries and has worked alongside transactional lawyers in a number of other firms.
One attribute setting the team apart is its involvement in the tax reform process. This helps the team to advise not only on the ‘black letter law’ aspect of an issue but also on the broader policy context and Inland Revenue’s approach, which is critical to determining the best strategy and achieving practical outcomes.
The team also has an in-depth understanding of international tax issues, including the BEPS reforms enacted since 2017 and latest OECD proposals. The team has advised on several transfer pricing cases including cases that led to litigation or referral to MAP. The team has an in-depth knowledge of New Zealand’s Tax Treaty network and has co-authored the New Zealand chapter of the IBFD Global Tax Treaty Commentaries.
Contact: Brendan Brown
Tel: +64 4 260 2231
Email: [email protected]
Main Contacts
Department | Name | Telephone | |
---|---|---|---|
Banking & Finance; Special Situations & Restructuring; Structured Finance & Securitisation; Private Equity & Venture Capital | Will Tipping | [email protected] | +64 9 921 6074 |
Structured Finance; Special Situations & Restructuring; Mergers & Acquisitions; Capital Markets | Daniel Meikle | [email protected] | +64 9 921 6015 |
Leading and project managing major transactions; Mergers & Acquisitions; Private Equity & Venture Capital; Structured Finance & Securitisation; Banking & Finance; Special Situations & Restructuring; Capital Markets | Dave Wetherell | [email protected] | +64 9 921 6003 |
Capital Markets; Structured Finance; Banking and Finance; Financial Services Regulation | Mei Nah | [email protected] | +64 9 921 6005 |
Mergers & Acquisitions; Corporate Advisory; Private Equity & Venture Capital; Capital Markets | Matthew Olsen | [email protected] | +64 9 921 6097 |
Mergers & Acquisitions; Commercial Services; Capital Markets; Private Equity & Venture Capital; Corporate Advisory | Michael Pritchard | [email protected] | +64 9 921 6073 |
Tax | Brendan Brown | [email protected] | +64 4 260 2231 |
Tax | Chris Harker | [email protected] | +64 9 921 6004 |
Acquisition finance; Structured finance; Project finance; General corporate and property finance | Cameron Peachey | [email protected] | +64 9 921 6013 |
Staff Figures
Number of lawyers : 32 Number of partners : 12Languages
English- Banking and finance
- Corporate and M&A
- Tax