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With the success and reputation of the capital markets team, some of Minter Ellison Rudd Watts' clients include Goldman Sachs, NZX, Allied Farmers and PSIS. This year the team acted for PSIS a leading New Zealand non-bank deposit taker on the issue of NZ$100 million ($81 million) of AAA rated RMBS to institutional investors. This was significant for all parties concerned as it was the first time the client had raised funding from institutional markets. It was the second New Zealand RMBS issue since the global financial crisis and the structure had to take into account a range of issues.

The banking team at Minter Ellison remains in tier two this year after numerous strong recommendations from clients: "Minter Ellison demonstrates excellent knowledge, expertise and innovation in the areas on which we have sought their advice", says a client. "[It] has an experienced team of partners and solicitors who demonstrate strong technical expertise by providing concise, reliable, direct and commercial advice," says another.

Other clients state that "the team is well versed in this sector" and "they are at least equal to other top tier firms in most respects and ahead of them in many".

Partner Kate Lane is highlighted specifically by peers as "an outstanding legal adviser and an accomplished and thorough lawyer whose high quality work inspires confidence in her legal advice. She is calm under pressure and a pleasure to work with".

A stand out mandate last year saw the team advise on the treasury guarantee scheme of South Canterbury Finance (SCF). The NZ$1.8 billion transaction was significant because it involved the Crown changing the basis on which it had previously provided support to investors under the deposit guarantee scheme. The transaction involved the Crown agreeing to provide a first ranking second loan to the receivers of SCF to refinance prior ranking secured parties and agreeing to make set up guarantees for the total indebtedness rather than for individual investors.

Cumulatively, these measures ensured the orderly receivership of New Zealand's biggest finance company, the effective distribution of guaranteed payments, the effective subrogation by the Crown of the first ranking claim to SCF's assets and a material saving for the Crown of post-acceleration interest.

The market was also impressed with partner Michael Langdon: "He has assisted primarily in insolvency and restructuring and is a dedicated and pragmatic lawyer with excellent technical skills and a strong commercial approach to his legal advice," says one client.

"Minters have high calibre people that usually deliver a client-focused service", comments a client of the firm. The past year has seen the addition of several new partners through internal promotion or lateral hiring in the forms of Silvana Schenone, Sarah Sinclair and Neil Millar from Kensington Swan.

The team advised Agria (Singapore) and New Hope last year in the partial takeover for 51% of PGG Wrightson, one of New Zealand's largest agricultural services companies. The NZ$141 million ($115 million) transaction was complicated by the need to obtain regulatory approval in both New Zealand and China.

A client comments: "The partners and staff at Minter Ellison are bright and easy to deal with. They are generally on par with or exceed other law firms in their overall delivery." The same client adds: "I feel valued as a client and would characterise the relationship as one of mutual trust and respect."

The team also advised Canadian Helicopters Limited in its NZ$160 million acquisition of the assets and business of Helicopters (NZ) including its subsidiaries in Australia, Laos and Cambodia. The transaction formed part of the receivership of South Canterbury Finance.

Minter Ellison "has maybe the pre-eminent insolvency and restructuring practice in the New Zealand market", says a rival law firm. Clients agree: "Innovative work in finding solutions outside of the norm and a technical ability, knowledge and expertise which we think is good as they have ability to bring in the necessary staff with the right expertise," says one.

Leading the team are partners Sean Gollin and Michael Langdon. "Sean Gollin I feel operates at a very high level," says one peer, while one client comments: "Langdon is a good solid operator who is very dedicated to his work."

The team acted for the receivers appointed by a secured party for developers Melview (Kawerau Falls Station) Investments and Melview (Kawerau Falls Station) Development. The six hotel Kawerau Falls Station development in Queenstown, was the largest property development in New Zealand with a value approaching NZ$1 billion.

Another highlight for the team was acting for the receivers appointed by Westpac to four related companies, which between them operated 22 dairy farms throughout the North Island of New Zealand. This transaction involved the largest privately owned dairy farming operation in New Zealand.

Clients appreciate the firm's quick response times: "They would probably be more responsive and proactive than many competing firms. The senior legal executive in Wellington is exceptional," says one.