IFLR 1000
The Guide to the World's Leading Financial Law Firms

	Bell Gully Chapman Tripp
	Buddle Findlay Russell McVeagh Simpson Grierson
	Dawson Harford & Partners Harmos Horton Lusk Mayne Wetherell Minter Ellison Rudd Watts

Simpson Grierson is "more of a traditional law firm focussed on producing good quality work", says a client. The team retains its position in tier two after positive feedback.... [more]

Simpson Grierson is "more of a traditional law firm focussed on producing good quality work", says a client. The team retains its position in tier two after positive feedback. "The firm produces high quality work and is on par with other first tier firms used in other parts of the world," says one client.

Where a rival partner notes that "Simpson Grierson doesn't muck around", a client sees "a high level of knowledge and expertise in New Zealand matters, especially in the banking and finance space".

In November 2010, the team advised Manukau Council, Auckland Transitional Agencyon and the newly formed Auckland Council authority on their bond issues. Eight local authorities in the Auckland region merged to create a new super council last year. The combined Council faced more than NZ$500 million ($400 million) in debt refinancing. As part of the transition, interim funding was raised by one of the constituent local authorities, Manukau City Council through a NZ$350 million secured bond issue.

The team also acted for TEL as debenture trustee on the public bond issue by Greenstone Energy Finance. The deal required the establishment of a bond programme and the initial issue of NZ$100 million plus NZ$100 million in oversubscriptions through guaranteed secured bonds by Greenstone.

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	Bell Gully Chapman Tripp
	Buddle Findlay Mayne Wetherell Minter Ellison Rudd Watts Russell McVeagh Simpson Grierson
	DLA Phillips Fox Harmos Horton Lusk

Simpson Grierson's banking practice is led by partner Andrew Harkness, recognised as "a leading banking and finance lawyer" by clients, one of which describes him as "an expert covering the full range of transactional banking, with a particular focus on leveraged finance, corporate finance, restructurings and other complex lending transactions". Harkness is also noted for "combining outstanding technical expertise with a rare degree of market insight".... [more]

Simpson Grierson's banking practice is led by partner Andrew Harkness, recognised as "a leading banking and finance lawyer" by clients, one of which describes him as "an expert covering the full range of transactional banking, with a particular focus on leveraged finance, corporate finance, restructurings and other complex lending transactions". Harkness is also noted for "combining outstanding technical expertise with a rare degree of market insight".

One of the largest and most high-profile deals worked on by the team last year was in the public sector. Harkness led a team acting on the merging through bespoke legislation of eight separate security trust and debenture trust deeds into one replacement debenture trust deed for Auckland Council.

This was the first time in New Zealand where legislation was used to merge security trust and debenture trust deeds and the transaction formed part of a wider merger of eight local authorities in Auckland into a so-called 'supercouncil'. In addition the firm also advised the council on New Zealand's largest ever syndicated loan facility valued at NZ$600 million ($467 million).

Another notable highlight was the reorganising of a global syndicated loan facility to Merlin Entertainments Group Luxembourg 2 to fund its A$157 million ($160 million) acquisition of several visitor attractions in Australia and New Zealand. [hide]

	Bell Gully Chapman Tripp Russell McVeagh Simpson Grierson
	Buddle Findlay Harmos Horton Lusk Minter Ellison Rudd Watts
	Dawson Harford & Partners DLA Phillips Fox Kensington Swan Mayne Wetherell

"Simpson Grierson are fully conversant with the detailed technical requirements of New Zealand M&A laws" and "they have a commercial approach which is focused on achieving the right outcome in the most efficient way", says a client."The M&A team provide top quality service and with a fairly large team they are able to take demanding workloads, which is a credit to the firm," comments another client.... [more]

"Simpson Grierson are fully conversant with the detailed technical requirements of New Zealand M&A laws" and "they have a commercial approach which is focused on achieving the right outcome in the most efficient way", says a client.

"The M&A team provide top quality service and with a fairly large team they are able to take demanding workloads, which is a credit to the firm," comments another client.

The team acted as lead legal provider to the Auckland Transition Agency and relevant local authorities, who were tasked with planning and managing the amalgamation of Auckland's seven city and district councils and the regional council to establish a new unitary authority: Auckland Council.

This amalgamation is New Zealand's largest ever merger and follows from a Royal Commission investigation into the governance arrangements appropriate for New Zealand's largest city. This is easily the largest in New Zealand history, considering the organisation's NZ$29.5 billion ($24 billion) asset base and annual capital expenditure of approximately NZ$3 billion.

Another highlight was acting for EastPack in connection with the merger with the Satara Co-operative Group. The merger created New Zealand's largest kiwi fruit packer. The transaction was complex as each company was a co-operative with two classes of shares: transactor shares, with a nominal value and which entitle growers holders to a rebate but not a dividend, and normal investor shares, which pay a dividend.

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	Chapman Tripp Minter Ellison Rudd Watts
	Bell Gully Buddle Findlay Mayne Wetherell Simpson Grierson
	DLA Phillips Fox Kensington Swan Lowndes Associates Russell McVeagh

Simpson Grierson's restructuring and insolvency team has continued to grow from strength to strength throughout 2010 and 2011.Peers and clients alike recognise the talents of Michael Robinson and Steven Flynn.... [more]

Simpson Grierson's restructuring and insolvency team has continued to grow from strength to strength throughout 2010 and 2011.

Peers and clients alike recognise the talents of Michael Robinson and Steven Flynn. "With Robinson you would be hard pressed to find a better insolvency litigator anywhere," says one client, while another recommends Flynn: "if there are tiers for lawyers then he would be tier one. He's really, really good, just top shelf."

Last year the team acted for KordaMentha as receivers and ASB Bank as lender to the Herbert Insurance Group and Herbert Securities. The Herbert group operated an insurance brokerage business, providing insurance cover through 30 leading international and local insurers. The Serious Fraud Office has also commenced an investigation into the group's dealings.

The firm has also been busy in the thriving agriculture sector where it advised Westpac as security agent in relation to the NZ$200 million ($167 million) receivership of Crafar Farms.

Another ongoing project for the team is advising the GE Group on issues relating to mortgage loans that a GE lending entity made to home owners, which then invested the loan proceeds in failed property schemes (including schemes promoted by the failed Blue Chip group).

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