Department profile
Russell McVeagh

Tax

Asia-Pacific Guide 2026 : New Zealand


Russell McVeagh

Rankings

About

Provided by Russell McVeagh

Russell McVeagh's Tax team is New Zealand's strongest legal tax practice, providing a complete range of advice on all types of direct and indirect taxation.

Clients choose our Tax team for our range of expertise, depth of experience and our commitment to advancing our clients’ interests. Our tax lawyers bridge the gap between the tax and other legal issues that need to be managed in any transaction or dispute. 

Our Tax team provides advice on a wide variety of issues relating to financing and capital raising, mergers and acquisitions, business establishment and reorganisations, investment products, PPPs, employee remuneration packages, customs and excise, transfer pricing, and tax investigations and disputes.

The team has participated in all aspects of the tax reform process, including appearing before parliamentary committees and making representations at ministerial level. Close involvement in the tax reform process means that all team members are familiar with the latest developments in law and procedure, and have a full appreciation of the approach of the policy makers and tax administration.

Almost every transaction the firm advises on has tax implications for our clients. That’s why our tax specialists are embedded across our practice, combining a deep knowledge of tax law with industry expertise.

Clients (14)

  • Guardians of New Zealand Superannuation
  • Fonterra Co-operative Group
  • Infratil
  • Spark
  • Vector
  • Trustpower
  • Lion
  • Auckland International Airport
  • ANZ Bank
  • ASB Bank
  • BNZ Bank
  • Heartland Bank
  • KiwiBank
  • Westpac Bank

Industries (7)

  • Banks
  • Telecommunications
  • Energy
  • Financial Services
  • Food & Drink Producers
  • Insurance
  • Transportation

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Tax - New Zealand

Band 1

Band 1


What the Team is Known For

Russell McVeagh's team regularly advises on the tax aspects of high-value corporate transactions and complex contentious proceedings involving tax avoidance and tax assessment amendments. It is particularly well placed to advise on regulatory matters involving debt and equity issuances. The team expertly assists clients with transfer pricing and customs and excise duty matters, as well as policy development and law reform. It also advises on the tax aspects of employee share schemes.

Work Highlights

Provided by Chambers

  • Russell McVeagh advised UDC Finance on its fourth term securitisation, whereby the term securitisation SPV issued asset-backed AAA-rated notes to a pool of third-party investors.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • Russell McVeagh is able to easily distil tax-specific information into something that a business can digest and process.

    Tax respondentAsia-Pacific
  • The firm's tax team is deeply experienced and offers exceptional advice on potential commercial structures that minimises complexities and maximises value.

    Tax respondentAsia-Pacific
  • Russell McVeagh's knowledge base in the subject matter was first class.

    Tax respondentAsia-Pacific

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Band 1Fred Ward
    Band 1Fred Ward

    Fred Ward

    Fred Ward advises clients on the tax issues relating to capital markets and M&A transactions, as well as tax litigation.

    • Fred Ward's pragmatism coupled with his wealth of experience adds value to us.

      Tax respondentAsia-Pacific
    • Fred was great to deal with. He is highly skilled and he delivered.

      Tax respondentAsia-Pacific
    • Fred Ward is always very responsive and offers good turnaround. He also brings decades of experience and, with that, good perspective on the matters we give him.

      Tax respondentAsia-Pacific
  • Band 3Greg Neill
    Band 3Greg Neill

    Greg Neill

    Greg Neill heads the firm's tax practice in Auckland. He is well versed in supporting clients in tax disputes with the Inland Revenue and has notable expertise in M&A and private equity matters.

    • Greg is wonderful to work with. He can raise potential issues that he's seen elsewhere in the industry, which is hugely helpful.

      Tax respondentAsia-Pacific
    • Greg Neill is second to none in the transactional documentation market. He is both commercial and practical and gets stuff done.

      Tax respondentAsia-Pacific
    • Greg is an exceptional lawyer whose advice is always easy to follow - however technical the issues in law - and seamlessly works with his colleagues and others on the project to get up to speed.

      Tax respondentAsia-Pacific
    • Greg has a depth of knowledge and experience that allows him to offer extremely sound and valuable advice that allows us to be nimble to capitalise on commercial opportunities.

      Tax respondentAsia-Pacific

Ranked Individuals at Russell McVeagh (2)

New Zealand

Members

Provided by Russell McVeagh

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