Department profile
Russell McVeagh

Banking & Finance

Asia-Pacific Guide 2026 : New Zealand

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Russell McVeagh

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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.

Clients (11)

  • ANZ Bank, New Zealand
  • Kiwibank, New Zealand
  • Westpac New Zealand Limited, New Zealand
  • Heartland Bank, New Zealand
  • ASB Bank Limited, New Zealand
  • New Zealand Local Government Funding Agency Limited
  • IAG, New Zealand
  • Guardians of New Zealand Super Fund
  • NZ Bankers' Association
  • Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment
  • BNZ Bank New Zealand

Industries (11)

  • Banks
  • Financial Services
  • Energy
  • Real Estate
  • Telecommunications
  • Government
  • Health Care
  • Insurance
  • Utilities
  • Education
  • Forestry and Paper

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Banking & Finance - New Zealand

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.

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Work Highlights

Provided by Chambers

  • 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

  • Russell McVeagh's borrower-side work informs their lender-side practice, so they are very commercial and know where the meeting point of the two sides of a deal is.

    Banking & Finance respondentAsia-Pacific

  • The team at Russell McVeagh have an incredible knowledge of the property and banking industries.

    Banking & Finance respondentAsia-Pacific

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Guy Lethbridge
    Guy Lethbridge

    Guy Lethbridge

    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.

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  • Deemple Budhia
    Deemple Budhia

    Deemple Budhia

    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.

      Banking & Finance respondentAsia-Pacific

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

      Banking & Finance respondentAsia-Pacific
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  • John Powell
    John Powell

    John Powell

    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.

      Banking & Finance respondentAsia-Pacific

    • 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.

      Banking & Finance respondentAsia-Pacific
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  • David Weavers
    David Weavers

    David Weavers

    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.

      Banking & Finance respondentAsia-Pacific

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

      Banking & Finance respondentAsia-Pacific
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  • Tom Hunt
    Tom Hunt

    Tom Hunt

    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.

      Banking & Finance respondentAsia-Pacific
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  • Jesse Fairley
    Jesse Fairley

    Jesse Fairley

    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.

      Banking & Finance respondentAsia-Pacific

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

      Banking & Finance respondentAsia-Pacific
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Ranked Individuals at Russell McVeagh (6)

New Zealand

Members

Provided by Russell McVeagh

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