Banking & Finance
Asia-Pacific Guide 2024 : New Zealand
Band 1
Contact number
+64 9 367 8000About
Provided by Russell McVeagh
Our Banking and Finance team are long-time trusted advisors to major banks, lenders, financial institutions, and other participants in the banking and finance sector. With considerable specialist knowledge and experience, we also act for global and regional private equity sponsors and a number of New Zealand's largest corporates.
Our team is well known for our leadership in crafting complex, market-leading transactions for prominent financial institutions and corporations, and for our close relationships with the Financial Markets Authority, Reserve Bank of New Zealand, Treasury, and other industry bodies.
We also play an important role helping our clients navigate the challenges posed by increased regulation, technological disruption, and greater public scrutiny.
Our team advises on all aspects of New Zealand law that apply to borrowers and lenders in the bank and mezzanine loan markets, the delivery of complex projects, the entry into and operation of derivative contracts, and the regulation and delivery of financial services.
Our specialist areas of expertise include:
- Debt Capital Markets.
- Leveraged and other acquisition financing.
- Sustainable and green finance.
- Takeover finance.
- Securitisations and repackaging transactions.
- Structured derivatives.
- Restructuring & Insolvency.
- Projects and asset finance.
- FinTech.
Chambers Review
Russell McVeagh has a leading Auckland-based transactional and regulatory practice across the full range of banking and financing arrangements in New Zealand. The law firm acts on major infrastructure financings and has noteworthy expertise in bond issuances, refinancings and acquisition financing mandates. It frequently acts for lenders on securitisations and offers strong corporate financing capability, as well as servicing clients in substantial debt restructuring. Key clients include Bank of New Zealand, ANZ Bank New Zealand and T&G Global.
Work Highlights
- Russell McVeagh advised Kiwibank in the sale and purchase of Kiwi Group Holdings to The Crown, providing comprehensive advice on the legal implications of the transaction and the new ownership structure.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"Russell McVeagh is incredibly good at synthesising, articulating and implementing complex and sophisticated matters."
"Russell McVeagh were thoughtful in their handling of a complex and large cross-border deal."
"The team possess excellent commercial acumen and understand what we are trying to achieve as a business."
"Russell McVeagh is incredibly good at synthesising, articulating and implementing complex and sophisticated matters."
"Russell McVeagh were thoughtful in their handling of a complex and large cross-border deal."
"The team possess excellent commercial acumen and understand what we are trying to achieve as a business."
Notable Practitioners
Guy Lethbridge is Russell McVeagh's national practice group chair and is widely viewed as a prominent figure with an enviable track record on capital markets transactions. He offers significant experience on debt and hybrid bond issuances as well as securitisation and derivatives mandates.
"''Guy is very engaging, knowledgeable and approachable.''"
Deemple Budhia is very well established in the DCM sphere and offers clients significant experience on securitisation, covered bonds and derivatives transactions. She counts an impressive list of major New Zealand and regional banks among her clients.
"Deemple is a leader in her field in New Zealand."
John Powell is particularly highly rated for his work on corporate financings and debt restructuring mandates. He acts for a range of domestic and multinational clients.
''John is an extremely thorough, very technical, always available, very experienced lawyer."
"He is probably the most experienced banking lawyer in New Zealand. His knowledge is exceptional."
David Weavers continues to serve an enviable client list which includes a number of multinational and New Zealand-based banks. Drawing on experience working for multinational firms in London, he offers significant insight into cross-border financings.
"David has a really good inner knowledge of how a bank works, which makes him very efficient when he's working with us on a deal.''
"David is absolutely brilliant to work with. He cuts through complexity quickly and is incredibly dependable."
Tom Hunt is a rising star at Russell McVeagh and is making a name for himself in the New Zealand finance market. He is admired for his adept handling of corporate financing transactions and debt capital markets mandates.
"''Tom understands our business and financing needs and is always available to offer his guidance and advice for navigating complex issues.''"
"I highly recommend Tom as having excellent technical and sector knowledge, providing great advice and going above and beyond to support the in-house team."
Ranked Lawyers at
Russell McVeagh
New Zealand
Members
Provided by Russell McVeagh
Bevan Peachey
Head of Department
Jesse Fairley
Clients
Provided by Russell McVeagh
ANZ Bank, New Zealand
ASB Bank Limited, New Zealand
BNZ Bank New Zealand
Guardians of New Zealand Super Fund
Heartland Bank, New Zealand
IAG, New Zealand
Kiwibank, New Zealand
Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment
NZ Bankers' Association
New Zealand Local Government Funding Agency Limited
Westpac New Zealand Limited, New Zealand
Industries
Provided by Russell McVeagh
Banks
Education
Energy
Financial Services
Forestry and Paper
Government
Health Care
Insurance
Real Estate
Telecommunications
Utilities