Corporate Law
The experience, ingenuity and effectiveness of our Corporate Law team makes us a formidable partner to have on any transaction in a New Zealand or wider Pacific context.
Dynamically led by Meredith Connell Commercial Partner John Stephens, this large but tight-knit group offers advice across all aspects of corporate activity.
We advise domestic and overseas clients on the full range of corporate law matters, including start-ups, privately owned entities, publicly listed companies, joint ventures, partnerships, limited partnerships and the Crown.
As well as advising on company law matters, corporate governance, commercial contracts, supply arrangements, corporate entities’ regulatory requirements and MBOs and MBIs, the group specialises in structuring advice to ensure entities are formed, reformed and governed in the most appropriate manner.
A feature of our Corporate team’s success is building strong client relationships. We pride ourselves on being more than just a legal resource – instead fulfilling a broader role as trusted commercial advisers to our clients. How? Simply by investing the time to get to know our clients and their businesses – and fully understanding the day-to-day realities of their commercial operations.
Above all, our Corporate team understands that timely advice and counsel of the highest quality is what ultimately helps our clients to get on with the more important task of building and growing their businesses.
Our particular areas of expertise include:
Corporate law >
We advise entities, directors, shareholders and joint venture parties on their responsibilities and liabilities as well as general commercial law compliance.
Corporate structuring >
The Department acts on all aspects of the complete range of corporate structuring matters, from formation advice to group re-organisations and refinancing. We have acted on a number of significant joint venture arrangements and partnerships both public and private.
Commercial contracts >
The team advises on the drafting of the full range of domestic and international commercial contracts and on particular terms – including their enforceability.
Construction >
Advising on both contentious and non-contentious matters including procurement documents and process, building contracts, warranties and guarantees, letters of engagement and associated documentation for developers, construction entities, banks, project managers and associated consultants.
Infrastructure >
Our infrastructure team advises on significant public infrastructure projects including advising regional utility and water suppliers and national electricity suppliers.
Intellectual property >
The team offers specialist advice on the protection of intellectual property for both international and domestic clients, covering copyright, trade marks and all aspects of contentious and non-contentious IP.
Information & communication technology >
The team has significant experience in advising on, and preparing, ICT contracts, including the procurement process, software development, licensing, website terms and conditions, data storage and warehousing, and other related ICT documentation.
Insolvency >
The team advises in relation to entities’ responsibilities in the event of insolvency and deals with a wide range of issues including restructuring, asset disposal, compromise arrangements and advises directors, shareholders and lenders as appropriate. We also act for insolvency specialists, in particular liquidators and receivers.
Financing >
The team acts on all aspects of corporate and project finance for both borrowers and lenders including secured and unsecured lending and structured finance advice.
Hotels >
Structuring of hotel deals, including advising on Operating Agreements, management arrangements, technical services agreements and funding arrangements from single line models to condo structured hotels both in New Zealand and in the wider region. We have advised investors, operators and funders on on some of the largest deals in the region.