2022 Excellence Awardees

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DEAL AWARDS

IN-HOUSE AWARDS

FIRM AWARDS

PROFESSION AWARDS

DEAL AWARDS

DEBT MARKET DEAL OF THE YEAR

ANZ Bank offer and issue of Tier 2 unsecured subordinated notes

Lead Firm:
Russell McVeagh

Auckland Council offer of secured fixed rate Green Bonds

Lead Firm:
Mayne Wetherell
Other Organisations that worked on the deal (Firms, Banks and Accountants):
ANZ, Auckland Council, Bell Gully, BNZ, Westpac

Contact Energy issue of Green capital bonds

Lead Firm:
Buddle Findlay
Other Organisations that worked on the deal (Firms, Banks and Accountants):
Bell Gully, BNZ, Contact Energy Limited, Forsyth Barr and Craigs Investment Partners

Crown financing support package for Air New Zealand

Lead Firms:
Bell Gully, Chapman Tripp
Other Organisations that worked on the deal (Firms, Banks and Accountants):
Calibre Partners, Goldman Sachs

Syndicated financing of Pacific Radiology Group

Lead Firm:
MinterEllisonRuddWatts
Other Organisations that worked on the deal (Firms, Banks and Accountants):
Buddle Findlay

EQUITY MARKET DEAL OF THE YEAR

Allbirds Initial Public Offering

Lead Firm:
Russell McVeagh
Other Organisations that worked on the deal (Firms, Banks and Accountants):
Bell Gully, Cooley LLP, DLA Piper, Morgan Stanley

EBOS capital raise to finance Lifehealthcare acquisition

Lead Firm:
Chapman Tripp
All other Organisations that worked on the deal (Firms, Banks and Accountants):
King & Wood Mallesons, Lazard Australia, Macquarie Capital (Australia), Macquarie Securities (NZ), Russell McVeagh

Fonterra Co-operative Group capital structure review

Lead Firms:
Russell McVeagh, Webb Henderson

Pacific Edge Capital Raise and Dual Listing

Lead Firm:
Anderson Lloyd
Other Organisations that worked on the deal (Firms, Banks and Accountants):
Bell Potter Securities, Cameron Partners, Chapman Tripp, Forsyth Barr, Jarden Securities, Mills Oakley

Winton Land Limited’s Initial Public Offering

Lead Firm:
Chapman Tripp
Other Organisations that worked on the deal (Firms, Banks and Accountants):
Grant Samuel, Jarden and Forsyth Barr, KPMG, Mills Oakley, Russell McVeagh, Webb Henderson

PROJECT FINANCE DEAL OF THE YEAR

Financing of the development of Hiringa Refuelling NZ's hydrogen refuelling network

Lead Firm:
Anderson Lloyd
Other Organisations that worked on the deal (Firms, Banks and Accountants):
Avid Legal, Beca, Bell Gully, Chapman Tripp, Marsh

First sustainability-linked loan for NZ Schools PPP 3

Lead Firms:
Anderson Lloyd, MinterEllisonRuddWatts
Other Organisations that worked on the deal (Firms, Banks and Accountants):
Bell Gully, Dentons Kensington Swan, MinterEllison (Australia)

KiwiRail loan facility to purchase passenger and freight rail ferries

Lead Firm:
Russell McVeagh
Other Organisations that worked on the deal (Firms, Banks and Accountants):
Bank of America, Holman Fenwick Willan, National Australia Bank, Societe Generale, Watson Farley & Williams, Westpac

Launch of the solarZero schools and commercial energy initiatives

Lead Firm:
Chapman Tripp
Other Organisations that worked on the deal (Firms, Banks and Accountants):
Anthony Harper, Deloitte, MinterEllisonRuddWatts, New Zealand Green Investment Finance, Westpac

M&A DEAL OF THE YEAR

2degrees merger with Orcon Group

Lead Firms:
Harmos Horton Lusk, Mayne Wetherell, Simpson Grierson
Other Organisations that worked on the deal (Firms, Banks and Accountants):
Deloitte, Flacks & Wong, Matthews Law

Acquisition of Vocus Group by Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets (MIRA) and Aware Super

Lead Firm:
Simpson Grierson
Other Organisations that worked on the deal (Firms, Banks and Accountants):
Gilbert + Tobin, Morgan Stanley

Bentley Systems' acquisition of Seequent Holdings from Accel-KKR

Lead Firms:
Bell Gully, DLA Piper
Other Organisations that worked on the deal (Firms, Banks and Accountants):
BDO NZ, Chapman Tripp, Grant Thornton, Goldman Sachs, PwC, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett

Infratil's purchase of a majority stake in Pacific Radiology Group

Lead Firms:
Buddle Findlay, Chapman Tripp
Other Organisations that worked on the deal (Firms, Banks and Accountants):
Allier Capital, E&P Capital, Jarden, KPMG, LEK Consulting, MinterEllison, PwC

Powering Australian Renewables’ and Mercury NZ’s acquisition of Tilt Renewables by Scheme of Arrangement

Lead Firms:
Chapman Tripp, Harmos Horton Lusk, Russell McVeagh
Other Organisations that worked on the deal (Firms, Banks and Accountants):
Ashurst, Buddle Findlay, Citigroup Global Capital Markets Australia, Deloitte, Forsyth Barr, Gilbert + Tobin, King & Wood Mallesons

Unity Software acquisition of Wētā FX's digital assets

Lead Firms:
DLA Piper, Harmos Horton Lusk
Other Organisations that worked on the deal (Firms, Banks and Accountants):
Deloitte, Hudson Gavin Martin, LangtonHudsonButcher, Matthews Law, Morrison & Foerster, Orrick

INSOLVENCY AND RESTRUCTURING DEAL OF THE YEAR

Channel Infrastructure restructure and conversion from oil refinery to import terminal

Lead Firm:
Webb Henderson
Other Organisations that worked on the deal (Firms, Banks and Accountants):
MinterEllisonRuddWatts

Indevin Group acquisition of Villa Maria Estate from FFWL receivership

Lead Firms:
Bell Gully, Harmos Horton Lusk, Mayne Wetherell, Webb Henderson
Other Organisations that worked on the deal (Firms, Banks and Accountants):
ANZ, Bank of New Zealand, Buddle Findlay, Deloitte, Rabobank

Liquidation of Autoterminal New Zealand Limited

Lead Firms:
Holland Beckett, Tompkins Wake, TWA Legal
Other Organisations that worked on the deal (Firms, Banks and Accountants):
Khov Jones

Successful exit from bankruptcy and reorganisation of Hertz Global Holdings' NZ aspects

Lead Firm:
Chapman Tripp
All other Organisations that worked on the deal (Firms, Banks and Accountants):
Minter Ellison, White & Case

VLG Group Restructure and Refinance

Lead Firms:
Anderson Creagh Lai, Mayne Wetherell
Other Organisations that worked on the deal (Firms, Banks and Accountants):
Grant Cameron Assoc., Greenwood Roche, RSM Law, Simpson Grierson

MID-MARKET DEAL OF THE YEAR

Blackstone’s sale of Arena Living to Arvida Group

Lead Firm:
Bell Gully, Chapman Tripp
Other Organisations that worked on the deal (Firms, Banks and Accountants):
PwC

Classic Group and New Zealand Super Fund partnership in Kaha Ake ("Stronger Together") housing program

Lead Firms:
Cooney Lees Morgan, Russell McVeagh
Other Organisations that worked on the deal (Firms, Banks and Accountants):
Schmidt & Co

Fidelity Life’s acquisition of Westpac Group's New Zealand life insurance business

Lead Firms:
Bell Gully, Russell McVeagh
Other Organisations that worked on the deal (Firms, Banks and Accountants):
Anderson Lloyd, Deloitte, Webb Henderson

Kohlberg Kravis Roberts' acquisiton of Education Perfect

Lead Firm:
Mayne Wetherell
Other Organisations that worked on the deal (Firms, Banks and Accountants):
Gilbert + Tobin, Russell McVeagh

Sale of 70 per cent interest in Fertility Associates to New Zealand Super Fund, Pioneer Capital and Comprador Holdings

Lead Firms:
Anderson Lloyd, Dentons Kensington Swan
Other Organisations that worked on the deal (Firms, Banks and Accountants):
MinterEllisonRuddWatts

Sale of Rydges Wellington hotel to New Zealand Super Fund and NZ Hotels Holding Assets

Lead Firms:
Anderson Lloyd, Buddle Findlay

IN-HOUSE AWARDS

JAMES & WELLS YOUNG IN-HOUSE LAWYER OF THE YEAR (35 or under)

Chelsie Foley, Tuatahi First Fibre
Gabriella Garcia, AIA New Zealand
Georgina Sanders, Mainfreight
Laura Campbell, University of Canterbury | Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha
Nathan Watt, OceanaGold Corporation
Sivan Nathan, Perpetual Guardian Group
Tristan Sage, StockCo

 

Sponsored by


LANE NEAVE IN-HOUSE LAWYER OF THE YEAR

David Milton Browne, Business South Incorporated
Davina Rowan, Kiwi Wealth Legal Team
Jackie Floyd, Fonterra Co-operative Group
James Radcliffe, Woolworths New Zealand
Joanna Khoo, Chubb Insurance New Zealand
Megan Potter, CooperAitken
Sarah Retter, Fujitsu New Zealand

 

Sponsored by


FINANCIAL SERVICES IN-HOUSE TEAM OF THE YEAR

AIA New Zealand
ASB Legal Services
Chubb Insurance NZ Legal Team
Guardians of New Zealand Superannuation
Kiwi Wealth Legal Team
Suncorp New Zealand Legal Team

RUSSELL MCVEAGH IN-HOUSE TEAM OF THE YEAR

Auckland Council Legal Services Ngā Ratonga Ture
Auckland International Airport
Fonterra Co-operative Group Legal Team
Genesis Energy Legal Team
NZME Legal Team
SkyCity Entertainment Group
University of Canterbury In-house Legal Services Team
Vector Group Legal Team
Vodafone New Zealand Legal and Regulatory team
Woolworths New Zealand

 

Sponsored by


FIRM AWARDS

EMPLOYMENT LAW SPECIALIST FIRM OF THE YEAR

Black Door Law
Dyhrberg Drayton Employment Law
McBride Davenport James
Richard Upton, Barrister

LITIGATION & DISPUTE RESOLUTION SPECIALIST LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

Cooper Legal
Gilbert Walker
K3 Legal
Morris
Norling Law
Russell Legal
Wilson Harle

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SPECIALIST LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

AJ Park
Ellis Terry
Henry Hughes IP
James & Wells
Zone Law

PROPERTY & CONSTRUCTION SPECIALIST LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

AlexanderDorrington
Domain Legal
Kate Sheehan Lawyers
TBB

INSURANCE SPECIALIST LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

Darroch Forrest Lawyers
Gilbert Walker
Shine Lawyers NZ
Wotton + Kearney New Zealand

BOUTIQUE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

BlackmanSpargo Rural Law
Flacks & Wong
Hudson Gavin Martin
Juno Legal
Morris
Morrison Mallett
Queen City Law NZ
Webb Henderson

EMPLOYER OF CHOICE (<100 LAWYERS)

AJ Park
Lane Neave
Mayne Wetherell
Norris Ward McKinnon
Tompkins Wake
Webb Henderson
Wotton + Kearney

EMPLOYER OF CHOICE (>100 LAWYERS)

Anderson Lloyd
Anthony Harper
Bell Gully
Buddle Findlay
Chapman Tripp
Dentons Kensington Swan
MinterEllisonRuddWatts
Russell McVeagh
Simpson Grierson

RESOLUTION INSTITUTE MEDIATOR OF THE YEAR

Hayden Wilson, Dentons Kensington Swan
Jon Everest, PACT and Orange Umbrella
Mark Kelly, Bankside Chambers
Nina Khouri, Nina Khouri Mediation
Nurit Zurbery, Beyond Conflict Mediation
Wi Pere Mita, Laidlaw Law and Consultancy

 

Sponsored by


YOUNG PRIVATE PRACTICE LAWYER OF THE YEAR (35 OR UNDER)

Alex Bond, Bell Gully
Alice Balme, Wynn Williams
Anastasiya Gutorova, Simpson Grierson
Charles Thompson, Dentons Kensington Swan
Ed McGimpsey, Buddle Findlay
Elena Kim, PwC Legal
Janko Marcetic, Chapman Tripp
Stephanie de Groot, MinterEllisonRuddWatts
Tina Liu, Tompkins Wake
Tom McGarry, TBB

MANAGING PARTNER OF THE YEAR (≤100 LAWYERS)

Angela Parlane, Shine Lawyers NZ
Edwin Morrison, K3 Legal
Helen Mackay, Juno Legal
Jon Calder, Tompkins Wake
Philip Maw, Wynn Williams
Sally Morris, Morris
Sam Hood, Norris Ward McKinnon
Tim Walden, James & Wells

MANAGING PARTNER OF THE YEAR (>100 LAWYERS)

Anne Callinan, Simpson Grierson
Jennifer Caldwell, Buddle Findlay
Malcolm Hurley, Anthony Harper
Richard Greenaway, Anderson Lloyd

MID-SIZE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

Cooney Lees Morgan
Harmos Horton Lusk
K3 Legal
Mayne Wetherell
McCaw Lewis
Norris Ward McKinnon

ROBERT WALTERS LARGE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

Anderson Lloyd
Anthony Harper
Bell Gully
Buddle Findlay
Chapman Tripp
Dentons Kensington Swan
MinterEllisonRuddWatts
Russell McVeagh
Simpson Grierson
Tompkins Wake

 

Sponsored by


PROFESSION AWARDS

DIVERSITY & INCLUSION INITIATIVE OF THE YEAR

Anderson Lloyd
Buddle Findlay
Dentons Kensington Swan
DLA Piper
Fujitsu New Zealand
Laidlaw Law and Consultancy
MinterEllisonRuddWatts
Simpson Grierson