Department profile
Simpson Grierson

Restructuring/Insolvency

Asia-Pacific Guide 2026 : New Zealand

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Simpson Grierson

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About

Provided by Simpson Grierson

To obtain the best outcome when corporate stress or insolvency strikes, specialist legal expertise and tailored advice is vital.

Our restructuring and insolvency team are recognised market leaders, bringing their expertise to assist clients develop strategies to navigate and maximise economic challenges.

We assist clients with all aspects of restructuring and insolvency. This includes corporate recovery measures such as debt restructuring, work-outs, and arrangements and compromises with creditors.

It also includes corporate reconstructions, distressed mergers and acquisitions, administrations, receiverships, investigations, voluntary administrations, and liquidations.

Our recovery specialists assist with the enforcement of security (including by receiverships and mortgagee sales) and proceedings against guarantors.

We are also highly experienced in cross-border insolvencies, as well as in distressed debt trading and restructuring investment.

Our clients include banks and other financial institutions, large corporates, and leading insolvency practitioners. We regularly act in proceedings against directors, fraudulent transfer claims, preference actions, and other insolvency-related litigation.

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Restructuring/Insolvency - New Zealand

Band 2

What the Team is Known For

Simpson Grierson is recognised for its accomplished handling of all aspects of restructuring and insolvency work and is frequently engaged to advise on insolvency disputes and complex receiverships. The team regularly works on complex debt restructuring matters, acting for both receivers and banks. Simpson Grierson boasts an impressively deep bench of experts, with offices in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, who have a range of specialist knowledge, including in the agriculture, construction, financial services and retail sectors.

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Work Highlights

Provided by Chambers

  • Simpson Grierson acted for PwC as receivers and managers of the Cloudy Bay group of companies, which operated a commercial fishing business.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • Simpson Grierson has deep expertise and experience, which shows in the advice they provide. They also have the size and scale to deal with larger matters.

    Restructuring/Insolvency respondentAsia-Pacific

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Steve Flynn
    Steve Flynn

    Steve Flynn

    Steve Flynn is a special counsel at Simpson Grierson's Wellington office and is a greatly respected veteran player in the restructuring, insolvency and securities spaces. He continues to take leading roles in the representation of leading insolvency practitioners on key receivership and liquidation mandates.
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  • James Caird
    James Caird

    James Caird

    James Caird is based in Simpson Grierson's Auckland office, where he acts on all aspects of restructuring and insolvency law. He is particularly well-known for his handling of both contentious issues and the property-related aspects of insolvency mandates.

    • James has a good strategic mindset and can see how to resolve matters.

      Restructuring/Insolvency respondentAsia-Pacific

    • He’s very pragmatic and well-versed in recent case law and how that plays out in reality. He’s really great.

      Restructuring/Insolvency respondentAsia-Pacific
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  • Josh Cairns
    Josh Cairns

    Josh Cairns

    Josh Cairns is active across the spectrum of insolvency and restructuring law, focusing closely on formal insolvency and complex debt restructuring mandates. Based in Wellington, he is singled out for his voluntary administration-related expertise.

    • Josh is really pragmatic and good at what he does. He brings clarity and is very good at identifying risks.

      Restructuring/Insolvency respondentAsia-Pacific

    • Josh is able to take advice and break it down into plain English. He provides consistently clear commercial advice.

      Restructuring/Insolvency respondentAsia-Pacific
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Ranked Individuals at Simpson Grierson (3)

New Zealand

Members

Provided by Simpson Grierson

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