/Home/Asia-Pacific/Restructuring/Insolvency in New Zealand/MinterEllisonRuddWatts
View profile of MinterEllisonRuddWatts
Department profile
MinterEllisonRuddWatts
Department profile | MinterEllisonRuddWatts
Restructuring/Insolvency

About

Provided by MinterEllisonRuddWatts

Our Restructuring and Insolvency team is trusted by leading banks, insolvency firms, and government agencies to advise on New Zealand’s most complex and high-profile matters. With deep technical expertise and a proven track record in insolvency administrations, litigation, and restructuring deals, we deliver strategic, commercially focused solutions across industries. Clients value our practical insight, market-leading experience, and commitment to helping them navigate financial distress with confidence.

Recent work highlights

  • Laybuy receivership | Acted for secured creditor on the receivership of “buy now, pay later” service Laybuy’s New Zealand operations. Advised on receivership, intercreditor arrangements, and cross-border coordination, enabling sale to Klarna.
  • NZGIF | Advised for the New Zealand Green Investment Finance Limited in relation to the highly public insolvency of Solar Zero. We advised NZGIF in relation to its participation in the securitisation funding structure and direct facilities provided to Solar Zero by NZGIF.
  • BNZ | Acting as first-ranking secured creditor in relation to Greenleaf Fresh Limited – a large-scale vertical farming business that went into voluntary administration and subsequently into liquidation in February 2025.
  • Dasset Liquidation | Advising liquidators of failed crypto exchange, including High Court directions on creditor priority amid fraud investigations.

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Restructuring/Insolvency - New Zealand

2
Band 2

What the Team is Known For

MinterEllisonRuddWatts regularly handles high-profile restructurings and insolvencies alongside major insolvency firms in New Zealand. The firm is a trusted adviser to New Zealand's major banks, handling contentious and non-contentious workout and liquidation matters. The team also acts for directors of liquidated companies in response to claims alleging breaches of their duties; for liquidators on clawback claims; application for directions from court; and asset disposals. Asset transfer disputes, distressed debt sales and corporate restructurings are some of the practice's particular areas of expertise.

Work Highlights

  • MinterEllisonRuddWatts acted for the liquidators of Mainzeal, a former construction company, in a case brought against its former directors for infringement of directors' duties.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

MinterEllisonRuddWatts understands our business and what affects our business and they advise accordingly.

Restructuring/Insolvency respondent
Asia-Pacific

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

Sean Gollin
2
Sean Gollin
Head of Restructuring/Insolvency
2
Band 2
Sean Gollin specialises in the litigation of complex insolvency and receivership disputes and also maintains a significant advisory practice in Auckland, covering a variety of restructuring and corporate recovery issues.

Sean Gollin is very detailed and commercial in his approach.

Sean Gollin always provides good service. He is available or he will get back to me quickly. I find the level of advice to be of a high standard.

View Profile
Michael Langdon
3
Michael Langdon
3
Band 3

Michael Langdon is particularly well known for advising leading domestic and international banks across a comprehensive range of distressed debt, recovery, restructuring and security enforcement issues. He is also active in counselling receivers and liquidators on their responsibilities.

Michael Langdon is a strong operator and handled a complex restructuring capably.

Michael Langdon enabled us to get a better recovery and it was helpful to receive the right advice at the right time.

View Profile
Richard Gordon
3
Richard Gordon
3
Band 3
Richard Gordon is particularly noted for receivership litigation, as well as expertise concerning Personal Property Securities Act and voidable transactions. He acts for both major banks and insolvency practitioners on restructuring, enforcement and recovery options and receiverships.

Richard Gordon provides pragmatic legal advice and is always available to answer queries. He is good at keeping my team updated across newsworthy insolvency and litigation matters.

Richard Gordon's strength is that he cuts through to the point and is practical.

View Profile

Ranked Lawyers at
MinterEllisonRuddWatts

Provided by Chambers
Filter by
Band

New Zealand

Restructuring/Insolvency
Sean Gollin
2
Sean Gollin
Head of Restructuring/Insolvency
2
Band 2
View Profile
Michael Langdon
3
Michael Langdon
3
Band 3
View Profile
Richard Gordon
3
Richard Gordon
3
Band 3
View Profile

Members

Provided by MinterEllisonRuddWatts

Ana Simkiss

Charlotte Carey

Nick Frith

Sean Dolan

Sean Gollin

Sean Gollin

Head of Department

Clients

Provided by MinterEllisonRuddWatts

ANZ bank

ASB bank

BDO

BNZ bank

Baker Tilly Staples Rodway

Calibre Partners

Deloitte

Grant Thornton

KPMG

Kiwibank

LPF Group

McGrathNicol

PricewaterhouseCoopers

Rabobank

The Treasury

Westpac bank