Chambers Review
Provided by Chambers
Banking & Finance - New Zealand
What the Team is Known For
Bell Gully's elite Auckland-based national banking and finance team assists major banks, financial institutions and corporates. The firm is increasingly in high demand by international issuers in local debt capital markets, and the team acts prominently on Kauri bonds matters. Bell Gully regularly advises financial institutions on a wide range of asset acquisitions. It possesses notable strength in specialised areas such as securitisation and advisory services on regulation amendments.
Strengths
Bell Gully have market-leading cross-departmental expertise.
Bell Gully have experience and a deep understanding of our process, products and structures.
Work Highlights
Bell Gully advised Stonepeak on its takeover of retirement village operator Arvida Group by way of court-approved scheme of arrangement for NZD1.25 billion.
Notable practitioners
David McPherson enjoys an excellent reputation in the New Zealand banking market. He advises lenders and borrowers alike, often on high-value acquisition and debt restructuring matters.
Dave is a super smooth operator. The turnaround time and that stuff is fantastic.
Jennifer Gunser assists banks and asset managers, as well as larger corporates, on structuring and refinancing facilities including trade finance and sustainability-linked loans.
Jennifer is our go-to lawyer for large complex transactions with international reach. She is extremely commercial and has a talent for finding solutions.
Jennifer Gunser has an excellent understanding of what's required and is very pragmatic.
Sam Dykes is a partner at Bell Gully noted for his experience in financing transactions, including advising in complex leveraged acquisitions, project financing and syndicated lending. He has a wide client base which includes borrowers, financial institutions and non-bank lenders.
Sam is brilliant and a trusted adviser. He is easy to work with and works extremely well with all stakeholders.
Sam Dykes is very responsive and has a good understanding of clients' banking needs.
Zac Kedgley-Foot is experienced in a wide range of matters within banking and finance, with particular focusses including acquisitions and refinancing.
He's an incredibly sharp young practitioner.
Sarah Anderson-Butler offers expertise in recapitalisation and restructuring as well as acquisition financing in the real estate space.
Sarah does strong work in distressed scenarios.
Sarah is an incredibly intelligent lawyer and one of the first names we think of when a complex transaction is at hand.