Asia-Pacific Guide 2026 : New Zealand
Ranked Individuals
Provided by Simpson Grierson
Simpson Grierson is consistently trusted to advise on New Zealand’s most complex, high-value and strategically significant financing transactions. We are regularly instructed by international and Asia-based banks, including major Chinese lenders, alongside New Zealand’s institutional banks, and work seamlessly with offshore counsel on cross-border and inbound financings.
We advise across acquisition and leveraged finance, project and infrastructure finance, real estate finance, asset and trade finance, debt capital markets, and structured finance, drawing on integrated banking, tax and capital markets expertise. Our clients include major banks, non-bank lenders and deposit takers, sponsors, listed companies, fintechs, government bodies and corporates.
Recent work includes advising Watercare on its financial separation from Auckland Council, including a multi-creditor security structure supporting a NZ$7 billion debt programme; the lending banks on Fulton Hogan’s NZ$884 million club facilities, one of the largest bank debt financings in New Zealand; and the project financing of Lodestone Energy’s utility-scale solar portfolio, New Zealand’s largest solar project.
Our specialist restructuring and insolvency lawyers advise on complex debt restructurings, receiverships, liquidations and cross-border insolvencies, working closely with corporate, litigation and tax specialists on major transactions and regulatory matters.
Ranked in Chambers Asia-Pacific for 16 consecutive years.
Provided by Chambers
Simpson Grierson offers a broad banking and finance practice with particular expertise in property financing for funds and developers, as well as asset, leveraged and acquisition financing. The law firm offers notable capability in debt restructuring and is experienced in acting for government entities. Clients include Asia-based banks, including large Chinese lenders, as well as institutional New Zealand banks.
Provided by Chambers
Simpson Grierson advised water and wastewater services provider Watercare on its financial separation from Auckland Council as part of a nationwide water management reform programme.
Provided by Chambers
Simpson Grierson's strength is to understand our commercial drivers and then to simplify the legal approach to accommodate.
The Simpson Grierson team is extremely responsive and very client-focused.
Provided by Chambers
Andrew Harkness is Simpson Grierson's managing partner. He frequently acts for lenders on substantial acquisition finance matters and has notable experience in debt capital market transactions.
Josh Cairns has a versatile practice acting for government bodies on innovative financing matters. He also counsels banking and non-banking clients on high value debt restructurings.
Josh Cairns had a strong awareness of the commercial outcomes we were looking to achieve and understood the financing structure required to achieve them.
His market knowledge is strong and he's well connected in the Wellington market.
Stuart Evans regularly assists banks with significant acquisition and property finance matters.
I could not speak more highly of the service Stuart and his team offered on what was a very bespoke and complex transaction.
Stuart is extremely competent and we trust him with our matters.
Dominic Toomey is recognised for advising both borrowers and lenders on matters including acquisition finance, syndicated lending and project finance.
Dominic has a great ability to ask the right questions and come up with pragmatic solutions for often complex new structures and problems.
Working with Dom has been extremely good. He is very helpful, has a great knowledge of issues and provides plenty of comfort through his confident approach on all matters.
Banking & Finance
Head of Banking & Finance
Banking & Finance
Banking & Finance
Provided by Simpson Grierson
James Caird
Dominic Toomey
View profile of Dominic ToomeyAndrew Harkness
View profile of Andrew HarknessStuart Evans
View profile of Stuart Evans
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