Buddle Findlay

Top-tier firm Buddle Findlay moved up to ‘Outstanding’ in the banking and finance table this year. Head of the firm’s corporate and commercial practice, Simon Vodanovich, mainly advises on takeovers, M&A and capital raisings. Partner Peter Owles specialises in infrastructure and project development. He also provides corporate and commercial advice to companies with a particular focus on the energy and infrastructure sectors. Partner Laura O'Gorman retired from partnership in March 2019.

Banking and finance

Work highlights

Acted for ANZ Bank New Zealand on the $350 million project financing of SX Next submarine fibre optic cable constructed by the Southern Cross Cables Group. The SX Next cable is a 72 terabits per second fibre optic cable that joins Australia, New Zealand and the US. This is the biggest project financing in New Zealand in 2019 by total transaction size.

Key clients

ASB Bank, Bank of China, China Construction Bank

Competition/antitrust

Work highlights

Advising global payments service provider Verifone on the competition law aspects of its proposed acquisition of the New Zealand business of Smartpay. Verifone and SmartPay are two of the largest providers of payment terminals in New Zealand.

Key clients

Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), Payments NZ, Toyota New Zealand

Construction

Work highlights

Acted for Auckland Transport and Auckland Council on the construction of City Rail Link (CRL) project. This is New Zealand's largest infrastructure project by value and the first underground railway project in New Zealand. 

Key clients

Landcorp Farming, Massey University, Northland District Health Board

Corporate and M&A

Work highlights

Acted for a consortium comprising Infratil and Brookfield Asset Management on its acquisition of Vodafone New Zealand. This was the largest M&A deal in New Zealand in 15 years.

Key clients

DKSH Australia, Kinetic, Sky Television

Dispute resolution

Work highlights

Acting for Southern Response Earthquake Services in defending a large class action initiated by former customers over a settlement of their earthquake insurance claim.

Key clients

New Zealand Industrial Park, New Zealand Steel, Zespri Group

Intellectual property

Work highlights

Acting for Manuka Honey Appellation Society on the IP protection of the term ‘Manuka Honey’.

Labour and employment

Work highlights

Advised a number of clients on the workplace implications of Covid-19, particularly in light of New Zealand's recent declaration of a national state of emergency and the move to alert level 4, which prompted border closures, a nationwide lockdown and the closure of all non-essential businesses.

Private equity

Work highlights

Advised Mobi2Go on all aspects of its series A funding round. This transaction involved venture capital fund, Movac, investing in Mobi2Go to provide capital to fund its growth.

Key clients

IMAGR Holdings, Rangatira

Regulatory

Work highlights

Advising Electricity Authority on regulatory matters in relation to its proposal to introduce a default distributor agreement.

Key clients

Energy Fiji, Ministry for Primary Industries, Tertiary Education Commission

Restructuring and insolvency

Work highlights

Advised EastPack, New Zealand’s largest kiwifruit post-harvest operator, on its capital restructuring.

Key clients

Bank of New Zealand, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, PricewaterhouseCoopers

Client feedback

“Friendly and responsive.” – Banking and finance

“Buddle Findlay's banking and finance practice is fantastic to work with. It is technically on point and extremely commercial so is able to suggest solutions that work for both lenders and clients. The firm is extremely responsive and great fun to deal with.” – Banking and finance

“Accurate and timely responses, and cost effective commercial advice.” – Banking and finance

“Very talented, collaborative and well-coordinated team of finance partners. Takes a very commercial, pragmatic approach to getting deals done.” – Banking and finance

“Client-focused. Enjoyable to interact with and clearly explains the roadmap ahead on any work it is planning. Results-oriented.” – Corporate and M&A

“Good at checking scope. Great understanding of our business—past and present.” – Corporate and M&A

“Diversity of skills across all facets of business, and proactive communication.” – Corporate and M&A

“Speed, responsiveness and attention to detail. Also multi-disciplinary.”– Corporate and M&A

“The firm did a great job in managing a large and complex acquisition.” – Corporate and M&A

“The law firm was very thorough in providing all-round advice. For a client that is not based in New Zealand, the firm ensured that it provided integrated advice. It was extremely responsive to requests.” – Corporate and M&A

“Efficient and excellent communicators. Well-priced. Thorough and detail-oriented.” – Corporate and M&A

“Responsive and good at following up outstanding items.” – Dispute resolution

“Partners and staff solicitors I deal with are very competent and do the job well, with good client rapport.” – Dispute resolution

“Good communication, quick responses, quick access to senior people.” – Intellectual property

“Authoritative leading edge up-to-the-minute knowledge of best practice. Timely professional advice. Value for money. Always conscious of cost to business.” – Labour and employment

“Understanding of core strategic goals of the company and ability to merge US and New Zealand requirements while highlighting balance of cross and no-cross lines.” – Private equity

“Great culture and friendly. Fast service. Responsive.” – Real estate

“The firm is extremely responsive, including to urgent requests. Even with short turnarounds, its advice is always exceptionally clear and pragmatic. The firm also understands our business extremely well, and the complex interplay between our various functions.” – Regulatory

“Highly-skilled. Advanced specialist knowledge. Very responsive.” – Restructuring and insolvency

“Knowledgeable and practical advice. Always available.” – Tax

Miriam Andrews

“Highly responsive in this dynamic environment. Extremely knowledgeable in New Zealand banking and finance. Ability to advise and respond to multi-bank complex transactions.”

“Andrews is a fantastic lawyer. She has superior technical knowledge but that is not all—as she has had more than one stint on the 'client' side—she knows what makes banks tick and tailors her advice accordingly. She has an enviable depth of experience and market knowledge which enables her to provide solution oriented advice that works for us and our clients.”

Scott Barker

“Quick to respond. Comes up with solutions.”

“Very frank, accessible, good at tactics.”

Nick Bragg        

“Was across the detail very well. Extremely diligent and never missed a deadline.”

“Strong communication and balanced advice of legal risk and commercial focus. Bragg has a strong understanding of companies’ risk profile and balances this with the ability to move at speed. He provides a robust pillar for legal counsel.”

David Broadmore

“Good communication, advice and responsiveness.”

Shaun Brookes

“Authoritative subject matter expert. Advice is first class and delivers great outcomes in a timely manner. A real gentleman to deal with.”

Annie Cao

“Fast replies, good at managing deadlines and multiple moving parts of a litigation. Positive attitude, good communication, and thoughtful approach to competing legal arguments.”

Daniel Collins

“Very conscientious, attention to detail.”

Tony Dellow

“Highly responsive, and always provides clear, pragmatic advice. Understands our business and has a very good sense of humour.”

Paul Farrugia

“Commercial. Responsive and clear communicator. Trusted advisor. Great team player.”

“Farrugia is an excellent relationship partner—always focuses on delivering top quality, commercial services in a professional and positive manner.”

Daniel Kelleher

“Friendly, strong expertise.”

Mark Odlin

“Responsive and communicative. Very results-oriented and excellent problem solving skills. Very friendly and personable to deal with.”

Willie Palmer

“Excellent to deal with. Very competent. Good client relationship.”

David Perry

“Perry is personable, incredibly thorough, works to tight deadlines and knows our business back to front.”

Hamish Selby

“Positive and constructive to deal with. Knows our business well. Asks good questions to get to the core of the problem early.”

David Thomson

“Responsive, engaging, good client management, knowledgeable, detailed.”

Tony Wilkinson

“Wilkinson is easy to deal with, personable, and has in-depth knowledge of tax.”

“He was responsive and was able to convey and explain complex matters in a simplified manner to someone that is not based in New Zealand. Recommendations are always pragmatic and commercial.”

“Expert in tax, accessible, prompt.”