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MinterEllisonRuddWatts
Department profile | MinterEllisonRuddWatts
Tax

About

Provided by MinterEllisonRuddWatts

Our Tax team is one of New Zealand’s most experienced and commercially focused legal tax practices, advising on complex domestic and international transactions, regulatory matters, and disputes. Known for delivering technically robust and strategic solutions, the team plays a key role in high-value infrastructure, corporate, and private wealth projects. Their expertise spans structuring, due diligence, negotiation, and resolution of tax issues across the full transaction lifecycle.

Recent work highlights

  • Wellington Gateway Partnership | Advised on the restructuring and refinancing of the Transmission Gully PPP, navigating sensitive tax structuring and compliance to support long-term project viability.
  • AgriZeroNZ | Advised on its restructure into a limited partnership and NZD22m shareholder investment led by a2 Milk and major banks, ensuring foreign investment readiness and Crown compliance.
  • Avolon | Advised on all New Zealand tax aspects of its first aircraft finance transaction with Air New Zealand, including tax provisions in sale and leaseback documentation for four Airbus A320-232 aircraft.
  • Tower | Advised on its NZD45m capital return via Court-approved Scheme of Arrangement, securing Inland Revenue approval for non-taxable treatment and guiding compliance across shareholder, NZX, Reserve Bank, and Court processes.

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Tax - New Zealand

2
Band 2

What the Team is Known For

MinterEllisonRuddWatts offers an array of expertise advising on taxation aspects of corporate transactions and tax authority disputes. The firm possesses considerable knowledge of infrastructure, investment and warranty insurance matters. It is regularly entrusted by major banks and investment funds to advise on tax issues, and also acts for clients in the energy, media and real estate sectors, among others.

Work Highlights

  • MinterEllisonRuddWatts advised Tiny on the New Zealand tax aspects of its acquisition of a 60% stake in Letterboxd.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

They are very responsive and provide clear time frames to manage expectations. 

Tax respondent
Asia-Pacific

When issues arise, Minters are able to problem-solve and find practical solutions while delivering the desired customer outcome.

Tax respondent
Asia-Pacific

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

Andrew Ryan
2
Andrew Ryan
2
Band 2
Andrew Ryan has a broad tax practice, acting for clients on tax issues relating to corporate transactions as well as on tax controversy matters.

Andrew Ryan was pragmatic and responsive, and provided strong and comprehensive advice.

Andrew Ryan is very personable, easy to talk through issues with and asks the right questions. He is very proactive and keeps me up to date.

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Simon Akozu
U
Simon Akozu
U
Up and Coming
Simon Akozu is based in MinterEllisonRuddWatts's Auckland office. He assists on the tax aspects of transactional matters and inbound and outbound investments, with particular experience in the infrastructure sector.

I thoroughly enjoyed working with Simon. He was responsive at all times and had an excellent grasp of the issues.

Simon provides accurate, timely, commercial and value-for-money tax advice.

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Ranked Lawyers at
MinterEllisonRuddWatts

Provided by Chambers
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Band

New Zealand

Tax
Andrew Ryan
2
Andrew Ryan
2
Band 2
View Profile
Simon Akozu
U
Simon Akozu
U
Up and Coming
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Members

Provided by MinterEllisonRuddWatts

Phillip Chrisp

Steven Liu

Sue Wong

Clients

Provided by MinterEllisonRuddWatts

Dai-ichi Life

Fonterra

Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA)

Sharesies

The Treasury | Te Tai Ōhanga

Todd Corporation

Tower

Wellington Gateway Partnership

Westpac

Z Energy

amicaa Investments Pty