Capital Markets
Bell Gully is a prominent firm in New Zealand’s capital markets, particularly in debt. Amon Nunns advised Contact Energy on a NZ$150 million retail bonds offering. Brynn Gilbertson advised Skycity Entertainment Group on the issuance of NZ$125 million of 7-year tenor bonds. David Craig advised KfW on the issue of NZ$200 million of debt securities under its New Zealand medium term note (MTN) programme. James Gibson and Toby Sharpe advised UBS New Zealand and Forsyth Barr on the IPO of CBL Insurance on the NZX main board.
Competition & Antitrust
Bell Gully advises on all aspects of competition law including as it relates to M&A, misuse of market power, cartel investigations and leniency issues. Headed by Torrin Crowther, the team works with prominent lawyers and economists in other jurisdictions as part of multinational merger and cartel/leniency teams.
Construction & Real Estate
Bell Gully acts for developers, investors, end-users, and central and local government authorities. Advice offered covers construction, development, acquisition, and disposals and leasing. Commercial property partner Andrew Petersen leads the property and real estate team. Some of his clients include Fletcher Building, Rank Group, Carter Holt Harvey and Goodman Group.
Corporate/M&A
Headed by Haydn Wong, the corporate department at Bell Gully advises on M&A transactions across a broad range of industries. “Haydn Wong and Gavin Macdonald are really good lawyers,” says a peer. Brynn Gilbertson advised Fisher & Paykel Appliances on the NZ$315 million sale of subsidiary Fisher & Paykel Finance to FlexiGroup, a financial services company. Toby Sharpe advised Element Financial on the New Zealand leg of the acquisition of GE’s global fleet leasing and equipment finance business.
Dispute Resolution & Litigation
Bell Gully advises on complex and contentious disputes that have involved class actions, finance sector litigation and compliance work. David Friar represented Southern Response Earthquake Services in opposing an application by a group of insureds for High Court approval to proceed in a class action resulting from the 2011 Christchurch earthquakes. David Cooper and Sophie East are representing the former directors of Feltex Carpets in a class action brought by former shareholders alleging misleading statements in a prospectus.
Energy & Natural Resources
At Bell Gully, Chris Gordon, chairman and joint head of the energy, infrastructure and projects team, advised on the NZ$1.81 billion sale of Origin Energy’s 53% stake in Contact Energy. Andrew Beatson is advising Meridian Energy on a NZ$3 billion wind development project.
Insurance
Bell Gully’s insurance team acts for a wide range of insurers, brokers and reinsurers. The firm has advised on litigation, claims work, products and policy wording, regulatory work and transactions involving the insurance sector. Co-leader of the insurance practice, Simon Ladd is an experienced litigator who specialises in commercial disputes and regulatory proceedings. David Friar has 20 years of experience as a commercial litigator. He has represented insurers and insureds in a range of insurance disputes, including issues arising from the 2010 Canterbury earthquakes.
IT, Telco & Media
Bell Gully’s national TMT team is led by Dean Oppenhuis. The team provides expertise on a range of matters, including technology infrastructure, systems integration, software licensing, cybersecurity and telecommunications regulation. Transactions and projects lawyer Oppenhuis is known for his technology sector work and advice on M&A, public offerings, private equity and IP commercialisation. Specialist litigator Alan Ringwood is particularly experienced in litigation involving computer software technology issues, domain name disputes, and email and internet defamation.
Labour & Employment
Bell Gully has a reputable labour and employment practice that handles all aspects of employment law, industrial relations, health and safety, human resources and privacy issues. Notable clients include Asahi Group, AT&T, Hewlett-Packard, JP Morgan Chase and Vodafone. Rob Towner heads the practice and has more than 35 years of experience in resolving employment issues and industrial disputes. Litigator Tim Clarke specialises in employment, health and safety and privacy law.
Projects & Infrastructure
Bell Gully is an undisputed leader for projects and infrastructure. Hugh Kettle is advising the New Zealand Transport Agency on a public-private partnership (PPP) involving the NZ$850 million procurement of a new road. The practice is advising Auckland Transport on a number of local, regional and national transport planning issues, including a NZ$2.86 billion 3.4-km city rail link. Andrew Beatson is advising Tainui Group on the proposed NZ$3 billion, 300-hectare Ruakura inland port and commercial hub.
Restructuring & Insolvency
Bell Gully has a highly regarded restructuring and insolvency practice. Murray Tingey leads the firm’s insolvency practice. “They are excellent on contentious matters,” says a peer. Tingey regularly acts for banks, receivers, liquidators and statutory managers. Banking partner David McPherson specialises in acquisition and asset finance, insolvency and debt restructurings. “David is great on non-contentious matters,” says a peer.
Taxation
A thought leader on tax policy and legislative initiatives, Bell Gully has a highly reputable tax practice that is known for its disputes and litigation work. The team advises on a range of tax matters, including the establishment of operating structures in New Zealand, capital raising, financing arrangements and securitisations, and cross-border supply and service arrangements. Willy Sussman has more than 30 years of experience and counsels clients on all aspects of GST. Matthew McKay leads the firm’s tax practice and specialises in disputes and litigation.
