Award Categories

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DEBT MARKET DEAL OF THE YEAR

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Establishment of NZGIF Solar Finance Programme

Organisations involved:  Chapman Tripp (Counsel to NZGIF in establishing the program; Counsel to SolarZero as issuer), Deloitte (tax advisor to Solar Zero), DLA Piper (legal advisor to NZGIF as senior and mezzanine financier), Mayne Wetherell (Counsel to senior lenders First Sentier and Natixis), Webb Henderson (Counsel to Public Trust); Financiers:  New Zealand Green Investment Finance (Programme Manager and Mezzanine Lender), Natixis Investment Managers and First Sentier Investors (Senior Lenders), Societe Generale (Arranger, Lead Manager and Green Coordinator)

Funding for construction of Moa Point, Wellington Wastewater Minimisation Facility

Organisations involved:  Bell Gully (primary legal adviser to Crown Infrastructure Partners), Buddle Findlay (Counsel for the Lenders), Chapman Tripp (Counsel for WCC), Deloitte (tax and accounting advisor to Crown Infrastructure Partners), Simpson Grierson (Counsel for the Crown)

Issuance of NZ$1.1 billion inaugural sustainable financing bonds by New Zealand LGFA 

Organisations involved:  Russell McVeagh (legal adviser to LGFA); Banks: ANZ, BNZ and Commonwealth Bank of Australia (acting as Joint Lead Managers), Westpac (acting as Sustainability Coordinator, Arranger and Joint Lead Manager)

NZ$650 million pool asset-backed securitisation by UDC Finance

Organisations involved:  Chapman Tripp (advising the Arranger and Dealers), Dentons Kensington Swan (advising the Trustee), Russell McVeagh (legal adviser to UDC Finance); Banks: ANZ (Joint Lead Manager, Swap Contemporary), BNZ (Arranger, Joint Lead Manager, Swap Counterparty), Societe Generale (Joint Lead Manager)

EQUITY MARKET DEAL OF THE YEAR

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Capital raise and takeover defence of EROAD 

Organisations involved:  Allens, Bell Gully, Chapman Tripp (adviser to EROAD), Rimon Law, Russell McVeagh

Equity capital market raising for Infratil 

Organisations involved:  Baker McKenzie, Barrenjoey, Chapman Tripp (legal Counsel to Infratil), Forsyth Barr, Simpson Grierson (legal advisor to underwriters), Sidley Austin, UBS

Establishment of Bay of Plenty Housing Equity Fund (BOPHEF)

Organisations involved:  Brightlight GP NZ (Fund Manager), Chapman Tripp (Fund Manager advisor), Deloitte (tax advisor to the fund manager), Holland Beckett, New Ground Capital (Fund Manager), Sharp Tudhope (advisor to the Bay of Plenty Housing Equity Fund’s founding shareholders/equity investors)

Sale of 7 percent stake in Auckland Airport by the Auckland Council

Organisations involved:  Baker McKenzie, Flagstaff Partners, Simpson Grierson (legal adviser to Auckland Council), UBS New Zealand

PROJECT FINANCE DEAL OF THE YEAR

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Development and project financing of 63 MW Lauriston solar farm by Genesis Energy and FRV Australia 

Organisations involved:  Chapman Tripp (advising the lenders), Russell McVeagh (lead legal adviser to Genesis Energy and FRV Australia), White & Case (advising the lenders); Banks: BNZ Bank and MUFG Bank (project financing)

Financing of Connexa’s acquisition of 2degrees’ mobile cell tower assets

Organisations involved:  Chapman Tripp (advising Connexa), Russell McVeagh (lead counsel to a syndicate of five offshore mandated lead arrangers), Webb Henderson (advising Spark – Connexa shareholder); Financial Advisor: Bank of America

Funding for construction of Moa Point, Wellington Wastewater Minimisation Facility

Organisations involved:  Bell Gully (primary legal adviser to Crown Infrastructure Partners), Buddle Findlay (Counsel for the Lenders), Chapman Tripp (Counsel for WCC), Simpson Grierson (Counsel for the Crown)

Social housing project of Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei

Organisations involved:  Buddle Findlay (for BNZ), Chapman Tripp, Russell McVeagh (lead legal adviser to Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Whai Rawa), Simpson Grierson (for Westpac); Banks: Bank of New Zealand, Westpac New Zealand 

M&A DEAL OF THE YEAR

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Acquisition of 50 percent of Vector’s metering business by QIC 

Organisations involved:  Chapman Tripp (Legal Counsel to Vector), Harmos Horton Lusk (adviser to Vector on its joint venture and governance arrangements for Vector Metering), Herbert Smith Freehills, King & Wood Mallesons, Russell McVeagh (Lead legal advisers to QIC), Vector’s in house legal team; Banks: Barrenjoey (for Vector), Citi, JP Morgan, Craigs Investment Partners (for QIC)

Acquisition of a controlling interest in One NZ by Infratil

Organisations involved:  Bell Gully (primary legal adviser to Brookfield Asset Management); Buddle Findlay (legal adviser to Infratil – purchaser)

Acquisition of Fonterra’s Soprole dairy business by Gloria Foods

Organisations involved:  MinterEllisonRuddWatts (adviser to Fonterra), Simpson Grierson (New Zealand legal counsel to Gloria Foods); Cariola Díez Pérez-Cotapos (Chilean legal advisers to Fonterra), Claro & Cia (Chilean legal advisers to Gloria Foods), Conyers (Bermudan legal advisers to Fonterra), Sapag & Gonzalez (Chilean tax advisors to Fonterra); Investment bankers: JP Morgan (Investment bankers to Fonterra), Tyndall Group (Investment bankers to Gloria Foods)

Acquisition of Pushpay by BGH Capital and Sixth Street consortium

Organisations involved:  Bell Gully (primary legal adviser to the bidder), Buddle Findlay (legal counsel to Sixth Street), Harmos Horton Lusk (adviser to Pushpay)

NZ$1.4 billion acquisition of HSBC’s New Zealand prime residential mortgage portfolio by Pepper Money

Organisations involved:  Bell Gully, Chapman Tripp (Legal Counsel for Pepper Money), King & Wood Mallesons, Norton Rose Fulbright

INSOLVENCY & RESTRUCTURING DEAL OF THE YEAR

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Proposed debt restructuring of Ruapehu Alpine Lifts

Organisations involved:  Bell Gully (acting Ruapehu Alpine Lift’s Directors), Buddle Findlay (acting for PwC as Administrators), Chapman Tripp (advising the Crown Regional Holdings Limited and Calibre Partners as Receivers), Dentons (acting for Life pass holders), Russell McVeagh (Adviser to ANZ Bank as senior lender to Ruapehu Alpine Lifts); Banks: ANZ; Accountants: Calibre Partners, PwC

Receivership of Opum Technologies

Organisations involved:  Baker Tilly Staples Rodway, Chapman Tripp (legal Counsel), James Wells, Leeder Law

Receivership of Treasure Plus

Organisations involved:  Buddle Findlay and Dyer Whitechurch (for the guarantor Calibre Partners), Chapman Tripp (legal Counsel); Receivers: Baker Tilly Staples Rodway, the Voluntary Administrators.

MID-MARKET DEAL OF THE YEAR

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Acquisition of 50 percent stake in GreenPower New Zealand by Energy Marlborough

Organisations involved:  Simpson Grierson (legal advisor to the purchaser), Duncan Cotterill

Acquisition of Morrison & Co’s NZ infrastructure assets by Amber Infrastructure Group

Organisations involved:  Chapman Tripp, Russell McVeagh (lead adviser to International Public Partnerships and their advisor Amber Infrastructure Group)

Acquisition of Pinnacle Corporation by Qube Holdings

Organisations involved:  MinterEllisonRuddWatts, Simpson Grierson (legal advisor to purchaser)

Acquisition of Totara Learning by Tenzing

Organisations involved:  Deloitte NZ (and UK) (tax advisor to Tenzing), DLA Piper (legal advisor), Osborne Clarke LLP, Russell McVeagh

Merger of Kāpura and Joylab Group

Organisations involved:  Chapman Tripp (legal Counsel to Kāpura), Bell Gully (for Joylab Group), Simpson Grierson (legal advisor to DB Breweries); Banks: Cameron Partners (for Kāpura), Forsyth Barr (for DB Breweries)

YOUNG IN-HOUSE LAWYER OF THE YEAR (35 OR UNDER)

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EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

Gabriella Garcia, AIA NZ
Georgina Sanders, Mainfreight
Julie Hands, Hato Hone St John
Romina Seylani, Douglas Pharmaceuticals
Sam Fellows, Tauranga City Council
Sonia Pinto, Inland Revenue
Taylor Sutherland, Perpetual Guardian

JAMES & WELLSIN-HOUSE LAWYER OF THE YEAR

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EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

Briony McTaggart, Natural Hazards Commission Toka Tū Ake
Karyn O’Loughlin, DB Breweries
Kathryn Mitchell, Crown Infrastructure Partners
Louise Martin, Auckland International Airport
Louise Rooney, Precinct Properties
Mark Cunliffe, New Zealand Takeovers Panel
Theresa Donnelly, Perpetual Guardian
Tom Thursby, One New Zealand

Sponsored by

FINANCIAL SERVICES IN-HOUSE TEAM OF THE YEAR

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EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

AIA NZ
ANZ
KPMG NZ
New Zealand Green Investment Finance
Perpetual Guardian Legal Team
Suncorp New Zealand – Legal & Secretariat

Winners of the Financial Services In-House Team and Energy In-House Team categories will automatically progress to become excellence awardees of In-House Team of the Year. 

ENERGY IN-HOUSE TEAM OF THE YEAR

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EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

Contact Energy Legal Team
Genesis Energy
Vector

Winners of the Financial Services In-House Team and Energy In-House Team categories will automatically progress to become excellence awardees of In-House Team of the Year. 

RUSSEL MCVEAGHIN-HOUSE TEAM OF THE YEAR

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EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

Auckland International Airport
Downer
Fisher & Paykel Appliances
Fonterra Legal Team
Hato Hone St John
Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora
One New Zealand
Precinct Properties
SkyCity Entertainment Group

Winners of the Financial Services In-House Team and Energy In-House Team categories will automatically progress to become excellence awardees of In-House Team of the Year. 

Sponsored by

CHISHOLM CLARKEYOUNG PRIVATE PRACTICE LAWYER OF THE YEAR (35 OR UNDER)

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EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

Alex MacDuff, Russell McVeagh
Ashton Goatley, Webb Henderson
Charlotte Garland, Mayne Wetherell
Emma Hughes, Anthony Harper
Keegan Jones, WRMK Lawyers
Kishan Gunatunga, Chapman Tripp
Matt Austin, Simpson Grierson
Samantha Beattie, Wotton + Kearney
Wendy Smith, DLA Piper
Zac Kedgley-Foot, Bell Gully

Sponsored by

EMPLOYMENT LAW SPECIALIST FIRM OF THE YEAR

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EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

Black Door Law
Copeland Ashcroft Law
Dyhrberg Drayton Employment Law
McBride Davenport James
Richard Upton

LITIGATION & DISPUTE RESOLUTION SPECIALIST LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

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EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

Cooper Legal
Gilbert Walker
K3 Legal
LeeSalmonLong
Russell Legal 
Wilson Harle

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SPECIALIST LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

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EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

AJ Park
Catalyst Intellectual Property
Henry Hughes IP
James & Wells

BAKER TILLY STAPLES RODWAYPROPERTY & CONSTRUCTION SPECIALIST LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

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EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

AlexanderDorrington
Convey Law
Domain Legal
Kate Sheehan Lawyers
TBB

Sponsored by

LEXISNEXISBOUTIQUE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

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EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

BlackmanSpargo Rural Law
Flacks & Wong
Juno Legal
Morrison Partners
Norling Law
Quigg Partners
Rice Speir
Webb Henderson

Sponsored by

FLUID LEGAL RECRUITMENTEMPLOYER OF CHOICE (<100 LAWYERS)

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EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

AJ Park
James & Wells
Juno Legal
McCaw Lewis
Morris Legal
SHIFT Advisory
Succeed Legal
Tavendale and Partners
Wynn Williams

Sponsored by

REALAMLEMPLOYER OF CHOICE (>100 LAWYERS)

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EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

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

Sponsored by

LEAP LEGAL SOFTWAREMID-SIZE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

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EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

Cavell Leitch
Cooney Lees Morgan
Harmos Horton Lusk
K3 Legal
Mayne Wetherell
McVeagh Fleming

Sponsored by

ROBERT WALTERSLARGE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

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EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

Anderson Lloyd
Anthony Harper
Bell Gully
Chapman Tripp
Dentons
DLA Piper
MinterEllisonRuddWatts
Russell McVeagh
Simpson Grierson
Tompkins Wake
Wynn Williams

Sponsored by

LAW FIRM LEADER OF THE YEAR (≤100 LAWYERS)

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EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

Alissa Bell, McVeagh Fleming
Andrew Shaw, Lane Neave
Brent James Norling, Norling Law
Cecilia Burgess, Cooney Lees Morgan
Edwin Morrison, K3 Legal
Helen Mackay, Juno Legal
Sally Morris, Morris Legal
Sonja Cooper, Cooper Legal
Tim Walden, James & Wells

LAW FIRM LEADER OF THE YEAR (>100 LAWYERS)

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EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

Andrew Poole, MinterEllisonRuddWatts
Hayden Wilson, Dentons
Jon Calder, Tompkins Wake
Laura Scampion, DLA Piper
Phillipa Muir, Simpson Grierson
Richard Greenaway, Anderson Lloyd

DIVERSITY & INCLUSION INITIATIVE OF THE YEAR

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EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

Anderson Lloyd
Buddle Findlay
DLA Piper
MinterEllisonRuddWatts
Simpson Grierson
Tompkins Wake