About

Provided by Russell McVeagh

Our Banking and Finance team are long-time trusted advisors to major banks, lenders, financial institutions, and other participants in the banking and finance sector. With considerable specialist knowledge and experience, we also act for global and regional private equity sponsors and a number of New Zealand's largest corporates.

Our team is well known for our leadership in crafting complex, market-leading transactions for prominent financial institutions and corporations, and for our close relationships with the Financial Markets Authority, Reserve Bank of New Zealand, Treasury, and other industry bodies.

We also play an important role helping our clients navigate the challenges posed by increased regulation, technological disruption, and greater public scrutiny.

Our team advises on all aspects of New Zealand law that apply to borrowers and lenders in the bank and mezzanine loan markets, the delivery of complex projects, the entry into and operation of derivative contracts, and the regulation and delivery of financial services.

Our specialist areas of expertise include:

  • Debt Capital Markets.
  • Leveraged and other acquisition financing.
  • Sustainable and green finance.
  • Takeover finance.
  • Securitisations and repackaging transactions.
  • Structured derivatives.
  • Restructuring & Insolvency.
  • Projects and asset finance.
  • FinTech.

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Banking & Finance - New Zealand

1
Band 1

What the Team is Known For

Russell McVeagh has a leading Auckland-based transactional and regulatory practice across the full range of banking and financing arrangements in New Zealand. The law firm acts on major infrastructure financings and has noteworthy expertise in bond issuances, refinancings and acquisition financing mandates. It frequently acts for lenders on securitisations and offers strong corporate financing capability, as well as servicing clients in substantial debt restructuring.

Work Highlights

  • Russell McVeagh advised National Australia Bank on a transaction to combine its New Zealand wealth advice and asset management businesses with Jarden Wealth into a new entity, FirstCape, with Pacific Equity Partners also acquiring a stake.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

Guy Lethbridge
E
Guy Lethbridge
E
Eminent Practitioners

Guy Lethbridge is a prominent lawyer with an enviable track record on capital markets transactions. He offers significant experience on debt and hybrid bond issuances as well as securitisation and derivatives mandates.

Deemple Budhia
1
Deemple Budhia
1
Band 1

Deemple Budhia is the firm's banking and finance national practice group chair and offers clients significant experience in securitisation, covered bonds and derivatives transactions. She counts an impressive list of major New Zealand and regional banks among her clients.

Deemple Budhia is our main lawyer on securitisation. She's an expert in her field.

Deemple Budhia has exceptional expertise in structured finance matters and her in-depth market knowledge means she consistently provides clear and pragmatic advice.

John Powell
2
John Powell
2
Band 2

John Powell is particularly highly rated for his work on corporate financings and debt restructuring mandates. He acts for a range of domestic and multinational clients.

John Powell has extensive experience in both bank-side and client-side financing, which makes him very effective in identifying and solving key commercial issues.

John is always great to work with. He will take the time to understand the proposed transaction to ensure execution is as efficient as possible.

David Weavers
3
David Weavers
3
Band 3

David Weavers continues to serve an enviable client list which includes a number of multinational and New Zealand-based banks. Drawing on experience working for multinational firms in London, he offers significant insight into cross-border financings.

David Weavers is always great to deal with.

We really enjoy working with Dave. He has his finger on the pulse with what is happening in the New Zealand market.

Tom Hunt
3
Tom Hunt
3
Band 3

Tom Hunt is a strong practitioner in the New Zealand finance market. He is admired for his adept handling of corporate financing transactions and debt capital markets mandates.

Tom is incredibly accessible, reliable, practical and has a detailed knowledge of the New Zealand landscape.

Jesse Fairley
U
Jesse Fairley
U
Up and Coming

Jesse Fairley is a partner at Russell McVeagh based in Auckland. He has particular expertise in financing matters, especially with regard to property financing.

We really appreciate working with Jesse. He is a true trusted adviser to our business and an expert in his field.

Jesse is commercial, pragmatic and technically excellent, as he is well tuned to the strategic requirements of our business.

Ranked Lawyers at
Russell McVeagh

Provided by Chambers
Filter by
Band

New Zealand

Banking & Finance

Guy Lethbridge
E
Guy Lethbridge
E
Eminent Practitioners
Deemple Budhia
1
Deemple Budhia
1
Band 1
John Powell
2
John Powell
2
Band 2
David Weavers
3
David Weavers
3
Band 3
Tom Hunt
3
Tom Hunt
3
Band 3
Jesse Fairley
U
Jesse Fairley
U
Up and Coming

Members

Provided by Russell McVeagh

Clients

Provided by Russell McVeagh

ANZ Bank, New Zealand

ASB Bank Limited, New Zealand

BNZ Bank New Zealand

Guardians of New Zealand Super Fund

Heartland Bank, New Zealand

IAG, New Zealand

Kiwibank, New Zealand

Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment

NZ Bankers' Association

New Zealand Local Government Funding Agency Limited

Westpac New Zealand Limited, New Zealand

Industries

Provided by Russell McVeagh

Banks

Education

Energy

Financial Services

Forestry and Paper

Government

Health Care

Insurance

Real Estate

Telecommunications

Utilities