New Zealand Law Awards 2021 Commemorative Guide by Key Media

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A WORD FROM KEY MEDIA THANK YOU to everyone who took part in the New Zealand Law Awards 2021. After a difficult year that tested the resilience of many industries, these awards offer a true snapshot of the best and brightest in the legal profession and those who stepped up and put their clients first when it mattered most. The New Zealand Law Awards celebrated and recognised excellence in the legal profession across 27 prestigious categories, focusing on the achievements of the country’s most outstanding legal professionals and organisations. It was wonderful to see such strong industry support for the 2021 event. NZ Lawyer and its publisher, Key Media, would like to thank everyone who submitted a nomination, as well as to acknowledge the esteemed panel of judges for lending their time and expertise to the endeavour. We extend our congratulations to all the winners and excellence award recipients, whose outstanding accomplishments have inspired us all. Despite the challenges faced over the past year, the future of the legal profession has never looked brighter.

TABLE OF CONTENTS DEAL AWARDS Debt Market Deal of the Year

Equity Market Deal of the Year

Project Finance Deal of the Year

M&A Deal of the Year

Insolvency and Restructuring Deal of the Year

Mid-Market Deal of the Year

IN-HOUSE AWARDS Financial Service In-House Team of the Year

Lane Neave In-House Lawyer of the Year

James & Wells Young In-House Lawyer of the Year (35 or Under)

Russel Mcveagh In-House Team of the Year

FIRM AWARDS Employment Law Specialist Firm of the Year

Litigation & Dispute Resolution Specialist Law Firm of the Year

Artemis Executive Recruitment Employer of Choice (<50 Lawyers)

Artemis Executive Recruitment Employer of Choice (51–100 Lawyers)

Artemis Executive Recruitment Employer of Choice (>100 Lawyers)

Intellectual Property Specialist Law Firm of the Year

Property & Construction Specialist Law Firm of the Year

Insurance Specialist Law Firm of the Year

Boutique Law Firm of the Year

Resolution Institute Mediator of the Year

Managing Partner of the Year (≤100 Lawyers)

Managing Partner of the Year (>100 Lawyers)

Regional/Suburban Law Firm of the Year

Mid-Size Law Firm of the Year

Large Law Firm of the Year

offerings, events and print titles.

Young Private Practice Lawyer of the Year (35 or Under)

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Diversity & Inclusion Initiative of the Year

JUSTIN KENNEDY Managing director, Key Media

Key Media is an award-winning global media company. Its growing portfolio of focused, market-leading products connects business communities across seven key verticals through a combination of innovative online

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CELEBRATING THE BEST IN NZ LAW Despite COVID’s domineering presence, New Zealand’s legal industry remains focused on change. The New Zealand Law Awards recognised 2021’s leaders in the law

THIS PAST NOVEMBER, New Zealand’s legal profession celebrated its latest triumphs, and the lawyers behind them, at the 17th annual New Zealand Law Awards. Hosted by Kiwi news and radio personality Ryan Bridges, the 2021 awards night highlighted law firms, in-house teams, significant transactions and individual lawyers across 27 award categories. Making the most of the intractable conditions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the event once again took place as a comprehensive virtual awards program, complete with official prize announcements, live virtual panel discussions with excellence awardees and sponsors, and online networking with the wider legal community. Being crowned a winner at the New Zealand Law Awards during such a challenging period was a big deal for those who received such recognition, given that many had been through significant changes to how they operated and delivered quality service to clients.

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Trying times How lawyers and firms performed under the extraordinary circumstances affecting the world was a key consideration for one of the judges of the 2021 Awards. “Obviously the way nominees have responded to the pandemic was a focus for me, in terms of the way they looked after their staff, customers and other stakeholders,” says David Bricklebank, general counsel and company secretary at ANZ Bank New Zealand. And respond effectively they did, says another judge, group general counsel Anna Thorburn at Oceania Healthcare. “It was evident that members of the profession have continued to provide exceptional services to their clients and remain focused on delivering outstanding results, despite the ongoing challenges presented by COVID-19.” COVID and the business challenges and regulatory changes it has spawned have piled work onto in-house legal teams, says Thorburn. And she expects this to continue in 2022.

METHODOLOGY NOMINATIONS Members of the legal profession were invited to nominate and provide details of the most significant individuals, firms and deals in each category based on their performance and achievements during the period 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2021. All nominations were submitted via the online nomi nation portal on the New Zealand Law Awards website.

RESEARCH The New Zealand Law Awards team conducted research and drew on industry knowledge and information gained through NZ Lawyer to supplement and support nominations received.

EXCELLENCE AWARDEES Once research was completed, excellence awardees were selected in each category and announced on the New Zealand Law Awards website and by NZ Lawyer.

JUDGING The New Zealand Law Awards team sent all completed excellence awardee submissions to an independent panel of judges. The panel then assessed and gave each excellence awardee a score based on the relevant category criteria.

WINNERS “Many New Zealand in-house legal teams are continuing to navigate the challenges presented by COVID-19 – including providing advice on vaccination of employees, suppliers, clients, etc., as well as providing advice on the constantly evolving policies as a result of the government ‘traffic light system’ – on top of their usual workload. “With ongoing government regulation in a number of areas and continued upheaval created by COVID-19, I expect that in-house legal teams will continue to be very busy over the next year,” Thorburn says.

Using a simple points system to aggregate judges’ scores, the excellence awardees with the highest scores were identified and named as the winners in each category. The winners were announced at the awards ceremony in November and published on the New Zealand Law Awards website and by NZ Lawyer.

Ongoing commitment to diversity and inclusion Despite the event having to be broadcast virtually for the second consecutive year, with the Omicron wave about to envelop the world, the virus was only one of many industry trends highlighted by winners and judges. Diversity and inclusion has maintained momentum and remains a key concern for New Zealand’s legal profession. Taking 2021’s Diversity & Inclusion Initiative of the Year award was Simpson Grierson. “Diversity, inclusion and belonging is not something you tick off and say, ‘we’re done’,” says Jo Stevenson, Simpson Grierson’s people and culture director. “Our vision is to grow a workplace where everyone can thrive and be themselves. It’s something we all need to be working at continuously,

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because we all deserve respect, acknowledgement and support.” Over the last year, Simpson Grierson relaunched its Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging Group, she says. The firm aimed to expand the group’s representation of people of different ages, genders, ethnicities and religious beliefs, and of the LGBTTQI+ population, and has added 23 new members. It also rolled out more LGBTTQI+ training, made it easier for its people to use pronouns in their email signatures, and now has non-binary toilets in its offices. In 2020, Simpson Grierson introduced Nga Matapono o te reo Maori – the firm’s te reo Maori Principles. This initiative included te reo lessons for staff, and the firm plans to continue to normalise the use of te reo Maori among employees, says Stevenson. “We also continue to embed our pro bono practice, which is led by Shan Wilson, NZ’s first dedicated pro bono partner. “We’ve been working hard to make Simpson Grierson a safe place for Rainbow identifiers, so they feel they can bring their whole selves to work,” she says. “We’re delighted that we’ve had our Rainbow Tick certification renewed once again. We were the first organisation in Aotearoa to receive the Rainbow Tick certification in 2014, and are very proud to be allies of the Rainbow Communities.” Next year, Stevenson says all employees will receive a $500 wellness benefit and get five extra days of sick leave. Simpson Grierson will also take a “more focused approach” to unconscious bias training, allyship and micro-inequities in the workplace, she says. “Celebrating our differences helps us appreciate the things we all hold in common and creates a workplace that people love being part

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of,” says Stevenson. “In order to attract and retain talent, it’s crucial to have a workplace where everyone feels a sense of belonging.”

The rise of in-house lawyers Also trending in New Zealand’s legal profession is the increased demand for in-house lawyers, which is making that career path more attractive to young people, says ANZ’s Bricklebank. “Regulatory change and society’s expectations of companies have increased the role and importance of in-house lawyers, so we will be more in demand,” he says. “We’re seeing a number of private practice lawyers move to in-house earlier in their careers, which is great, and I believe there will be a continued trend in that direction.” There is a growing recognition among young lawyers that in-house legal roles provide valuable experience and can lead to other roles, says Thorburn. “Some in-house roles offer more flexibility than roles in private practice, which can also be attractive to young lawyers. It will be interesting to see how this evolves in the next 12 to 24 months with the opening of New Zealand’s borders and other options for overseas travel and work experience opening up again for young lawyers.” On the other hand, a greater recognition of the usefulness of in-house legal departments is adding to their already heavy workload, says Thorburn. “[In-house legal teams are juggling resourcing and budgets with increasing workloads as commercial teams within businesses see the value that the legal team can add.”

2021 JUDGING PANEL

Thank you to our esteemed judges for lending their time and expertise to help recognise and celebrate excellence in the legal profession

AIMEE SANDILANDS

ALEX NICHOLSON

Associate general counsel, Contact Energy

People and culture director, MediaWorks

ANDREW CORDNER

ANDREW MATTHEWS

Director of legal, Fonterra Co-operative Group Ltd

Principal, Matthews Law

ANN BRENNAN

ANDREA VUJNOVICH Assistant vice chancellor – corporate and general counsel Auckland University of Technology

ANITESH GOVIND Senior solicitor and vice president, In-house Lawyers Association of New Zealand (ILANZ), Auckland Council

ANNA BUCHLY

ANNA THORBURN

Partner, Bell Gully

Group general counsel, Oceania Healthcare Ltd

ANNE CALLINAN

CHRIS BOUGEN

COURTNEY DICK

Chair, Simpson Grierson

General counsel and company secretary, The New Zealand Refining Company

Senior legal counsel, Rocket Lab

DAVID BRICKLEBANK

DEBRA BLACKETT

ELAINE CAMPBELL

General counsel and company secretary, ANZ Bank New Zealand

General counsel and chief governance officer, Z Energy

Chief corporate officer and general counsel, Chorus

Chief legal advisor and chief privacy officer, legal services, Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment

ERIN JUDGE

HAYLEY CASSIDY

JACKIE FLOYD

Chief legal officer, Oranga Tamariki, Ministry for Children

Executive chief general counsel, Bank of New Zealand

General counsel co-operative affairs, Fonterra

KRISTY REDFERN

MALCOLM HURLEY

MARCUS MARTIN

General manager and company secretary, AIA

Managing partner, Anthony Harper

Chief executive officer, The College of Law New Zealand

MARK WEENINK General manager, regulatory affairs, corporate legal services and general counsel NZ, Westpac NZ

REBECCA ROBERTSHAWE Director, EIS Legal at Education Infrastructure Service, Ministry of Education of New Zealand

MELISSA ANASTASIOU

PHILLIPA MUIR

General counsel, Spark NZ

Partner, head of the National Employment Law Group, Simpson Grierson

ROBYN HEYMAN

ROGER PARTRIDGE

Head of legal and company secretary, Summerset Group Holdings

Chair, The New Zealand Initiative

ROWENA BOEREBOOM

SARAH GILLIES

SASHA DANIELS

Senior legal counsel, Metlifecare

GM legal, monitoring and compliance, Electricity Authority (previously CoreLogic)

Lead legal business partner – technology, competition, regulation, Spark New Zealand

SCOTT MORAN Partner, Duncan Cotterill

SETAREH STIENSTRA

TANIA TE WHENUA

Barrister and strategist, Public Law Chambers

Legal and cultural adviser, Multicultural New Zealand

TOM LANE

TREVOR WAIREPO

TROY SWAN

General Counsel Rockit Global

General counsel and company secretary, Kiwi Property

General counsel and company secretary, Winc Australia

www.lawawards.co.nz

DEBT MARKET DEAL OF THE YEAR

EQUITY MARKET DEAL OF THE YEAR

PROJECT FINANCE DEAL OF THE YEAR

This award recognises the best debt market deal that reached completion between 1 April 2020 and 31 March 2021. Deals were judged on their NZ aspects according to size, complexity, breadth and innovation.

This award recognises the best equity market deal that reached completion between 1 April 2020 and 31 March 2021. Deals were judged on their NZ aspects according to size, complexity, breadth and innovation. The gold winner in this category automatically progressed to become an excellence awardee for New Zealand Deal of the Year.

This award recognises the best project finance deal that reached completion between 1 April 2020 and 31 March 2021. Deals were judged on their NZ aspects according to size, complexity, breadth and innovation. The gold winner in this category automatically progressed to become an excellence awardee for New Zealand Deal of the Year.

WINNER

Mercury NZ Finance $200m seven-year green bond offer

Auckland International Airport NZ$1.2bn capital raise

Lead firm: Chapman Tripp Other organisations that worked on the deal (firms, banks and accountants): ANZ, Bell Gully, BNZ, DNV GL

Lead firm: Chapman Tripp, Russell McVeagh Other organisations that worked on the deal (firms, banks and accountants): Citi, Credit Suisse, Jarden, King & Wood Mallesons

Cardrona Valley Wastewater Treatment Plant NZ$16.5m project financing

EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

EXCELLENCE AWARDEE

Kiwibank issue of NZ$275m in subordinated notes

Kathmandu Group NZ$207m capital raise

NZ $18.4m refinancing of Electric Kiwi debt facilities

My Food Bag IPO and NZ$342m capital raise

Transmission Gully public-private partnership NZ$1.25bn project financing

NZ$2bn warehouse facilities to assist Shinsei Bank acquisition of UDC Finance

NZ$98m block trade sell-down of shares in Pushpay

Scentre Group US$3bn subordinated hybrid note issue

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Sky Network Television NZ$157m placement and non-renounceable accelerated rights entitlement offer

Lead firm: Anderson Lloyd, Buddle Findlay Other organisations that worked on the deal (firms, banks and accountants): BNZ, Spencers Chartered Accountants

M&A DEAL OF THE YEAR

INSOLVENCY AND RESTRUCTURING DEAL OF THE YEAR

MID-MARKET DEAL OF THE YEAR

This award recognises the best M&A deal that reached completion between 1 April 2020 and 31 March 2021. Deals were judged on their NZ aspects according to size, complexity, breadth and innovation. The gold winner in this category automatically progressed to become an excellence awardee for New Zealand Deal of the Year.

This award recognises the best insolvency and restructuring deal that reached completion between 1 April 2020 and 31 March 2021. Deals were judged on their NZ aspects according to size, complexity, breadth and innovation. The gold winner in this category automatically progressed to become an excellence awardee for New Zealand Deal of the Year.

This award recognises the best mid-market deal (one with a value not exceeding $200m) that reached completion between 1 April 2020 and 31 March 2021. Deals were judged on their NZ aspects according to size, complexity, breadth and innovation.

WINNER

Metlifecare NZ$1.3bn sale to Asia Pacific Villages Group

Liquidation of Pacific Aerospace assets

Lead firm: Bell Gully, Chapman Tripp, Harmos Horton Lusk Other organisations that worked on the deal (firms, banks and accountants): Calibre Partners (formerly KordaMentha), Colliers International, Deloitte, Goldman Sachs, Jarden, Jones Lang LaSalle, King & Wood Mallesons, Meredith Connell, NERA Economic Consulting, Russell McVeagh, Simmons Corporate Finance, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, Stout Street Chambers

Lead firm: Tompkins Wake Other organisations that worked on the deal (firms, banks and accountants): Bell Gully, Holland Beckett, Khov Jones, Quigg Partners

Centuria Capital Group NZ$175m takeover of Augusta Capital

EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

Discovery Inc. acquisition of MediaWorks TV

Claymark Group receivership

Abano Healthcare Group NZ$136m take-private transaction

Fonterra NZ$592m sale of China dairy farms Resolution Life A$3bn acquisition of AMP’s wealth protection and mature life businesses WEL Networks and Waipa Networks sale of stake in Ultrafast Fibre Holdings

Distressed sale of Smiths City Group for NZ$60m in assumed debt and cash to Polar Capital LP Restructuring, insolvency and exit of Jucy Group Tahua Capital NZ$30m purchase of Burger King New Zealand under receivership

Lead firm: Chapman Tripp, Harmos Horton Lusk Other organisations that worked on the deal (firms, banks and accountants): WL Ebsworth, Mayne Wetherell

Freightways NZ$117m acquisition of Big Chill Distribution Price Industries purchase of Holyoake New Zealand and Australian operations The a2 Milk Company NZ$268m investment in Mataura Valley Milk

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FINANCIAL SERVICES IN-HOUSE TEAM OF THE YEAR

LANE NEAVE IN-HOUSE LAWYER OF THE YEAR

This award recognises the most outstanding in-house legal team in a banking, insurance or financial services organisation operating in New Zealand. Excellence awardees were judged on the quantity, quality, importance and innovativeness of the work they completed between 1 April 2020 and 31 March 2021.

This award recognises the best lawyers permanently employed within the in-house legal function of an organisation operating in New Zealand. Excellence awardees were judged on the quantity, quality, importance and innovativeness of their work between 1 April 2020 and 31 March 2021.

AWARD SPONSOR

LANE NEAVE WINNER

Westpac NZ Regulatory Affairs, Corporate Services and Legal team (RACLS)

WINNER

Natalie Bryant Sharesies

EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

AIA New Zealand

Anton Shead, Goodman New Zealand

ANZ

Beth Keightley, Wellington City Council

ASB Bank Bank of New Zealand Legal Team at Sharesies Suncorp New Zealand Legal Team

Chris Bougen, The New Zealand Refining Company Hayley Cassidy, Bank of New Zealand Katharine Armstrong, Metlifecare Kathryn Mitchell, Crown Infrastructure Partners Mary-Elizabeth Tuck, Auckland International Airport Melissa Anastasiou, Spark New Zealand

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Lane Neave is a national law firm with a proud history of providing specialist advice as a trusted adviser to its clients for more than 150 years. The firm solves problems and realises opportunities for clients – from government agencies and listed companies to entrepreneurs, developers and individuals – from its offices in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown. Contact details: Peter Dwan Chief executive officer E: peter.dwan@laneneave.co.nz P: +64 21 888 290 W: www.laneneave.co.nz/person/ peter-dwan/

2021

NEW ZEALAND LAW AWARDS

FEATURED WINNER

Natalie Bryant Sharesies A fintech success story, Sharesies started in 2017 as a webbased micro-investing platform and now has over 500,000 customers across New Zealand and Australia and over $2bn in funds under management. Natalie Bryant, general counsel at Sharesies, has extensive in-house experience leading global banking and financial institutions. Bryant was the first person employed by Sharesies and is an integral part of the company, described as a major contributor to its success as she has guided it through challenging legal issues. Full of creativity, energy and commitment to change, she is a talented leader working in a highly regulated industry. With Bryant leading its in-house legal team, Sharesies has become an NZX participant, an FMA-licensed financial advice provider, and made its platform available to the Australian market. Bryant fosters a supportive environment and seeks input from stakeholders to ensure the direction and culture of her team is aligned to business priorities. Bryant’s work with external legal advisers and other champions for the business is crucial to meeting Sharesies’ key strategic goals.

Inspired by the innovative business she’s helped to grow, Bryant isn’t afraid to try new things. Her team meets the business where it works – using Slack to stay involved, for example – and instead of reinventing the legal wheel, built out an automated legal intake system and created automated agreements, which led to greater efficiency and higher engagement from the business. Bryant and her team supported Sharesies through volatile market events such as COVID-19 and GameStop, and navigated its response to a public warning from the FMA in relation to AML/CFT requirements. With Bryant at the helm, the team delivered an incredible amount of high-quality work over the last year, blazing a trail with ways of partnering with the business which would be the envy of many legal teams. Contact details: P: +64 2771 77964 W: nat@sharesies.co.nz

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JAMES & WELLS YOUNG IN-HOUSE LAWYER OF THE YEAR (35 OR UNDER)

Open to qualified lawyers not exceeding 35 years of age as at 31 March 2021 and permanently employed within the in-house legal function of an organisation operating in New Zealand.

WINNER

Courtney Dick Rocket Lab

EXCELLENCE AWARDEES Brooke White, Calder Stewart Charlotte Moll, Warren and Mahoney Georgina Sanders, Mainfreight Jemimah Giblett, Sharesies Jeremy Jones, AIA New Zealand Jordan Levesque, Westpac Bank New Zealand Matt Morgan, Spark New Zealand Stephen Drysdale, ZURU

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AWARD SPONSOR

JAMES & WELLS James & Wells provides a full suite of intellectual property services, including patents, trademarks, litigation, and IP strategy. We are champions of innovation and the people who create it. With offices across Australia and New Zealand, our award-winning team enables businesses to own, control and commercialise their intellectual property on a global scale. Contact details: P: 0800 466 688 E: info@jamesandwells.com W: www.jamesandwells.com

RUSSELL MCVEAGH IN-HOUSE TEAM OF THE YEAR

This award recognises the most outstanding in-house legal team in a non-financial-services organisation operating in New Zealand. Excellence awardees were judged on the quantity, quality, importance and innovativeness of the work they completed between 1 April 2020 and 31 March 2021.

WINNER

Air New Zealand Legal Team

EXCELLENCE AWARDEES Airways Corporation NZ Legal Team Crown Infrastructure Partners Fonterra Legal Team Genesis Energy Legal Team

AWARD SPONSOR

RUSSELL MCVEAGH Russell McVeagh is committed to operating on the cutting edge of legal practice in New Zealand. Characterised by a dynamic network of specialists who are champions of clients’ strategic goals, the full-service commercial law firm is known for outstanding client relations and teamwork. The firm’s practice groups are respected as leaders in the market and assist New Zealand’s top organisations with their most complex, challenging and high-profile matters. Contact details: Jo Avenell CEO P: +64 9 367 8091 E: jo.avenell@russellmcveagh.com W: w ww.russellmcveagh.com

EMPLOYMENT LAW SPECIALIST FIRM OF THE YEAR This award recognises the most outstanding firm in New Zealand that derives at least 50% of its revenue from employment law matters. Excellence awardees were judged on the expertise they demonstrated between 1 April 2020 and 31 March 2021

WINNER

Dyhrberg Drayton Employment Law

EXCELLENCE AWARDEES Dundas Street McBride Davenport James Richard Upton SBM Legal

Serko In-house Legal Team Sky Team Legal

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LITIGATION & DISPUTE RESOLUTION SPECIALIST LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

ARTEMIS EXECUTIVE RECRUITMENT EMPLOYER OF CHOICE (<50 LAWYERS)

ARTEMIS EXECUTIVE RECRUITMENT EMPLOYER OF CHOICE (51–100 LAWYERS)

This award recognises the most outstanding firm in New Zealand that derives at least 50% of its revenue from litigation and dispute resolution matters. Excellence awardees were judged on the expertise they demonstrated between 1 April 2020 and 31 March 2021.

This award recognises a law firm employing no more than 50 lawyers on a full-time basis. Excellence awardees were judged on their performance in the areas of employee engagement and retention, diversity and inclusion, remuneration and benefits, training and development, leadership, reward and recognition, and work-life balance during the period from 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2021.

This award recognises a law firm employing between 51 and 100 lawyers on a full-time basis. Excellence awardees were judged on their performance in the areas of employee engagement and retention, diversity and inclusion, remuneration and benefits, training and development, leadership, reward and recognition, and work-life balance during the period from 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2021.

WINNER

Gilbert Walker

Norris Ward McKinnon

EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

K3 Legal

James & Wells

AJ Park

Morris Legal

Juno Legal

Lane Neave

Norling Law

Wynn Williams

Rice Speir

PwC Legal

Shine Lawyers

Smith and Partners Lawyers

Wilson Harle

Webb Henderson Wotton + Kearney WRMK Lawyers

Tompkins Wake

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ARTEMIS EXECUTIVE RECRUITMENT EMPLOYER OF CHOICE (>100 LAWYERS) This award recognises a law firm employing more than 100 lawyers on a full-time basis. Excellence awardees were judged on their performance in the areas of employee engagement and retention, diversity and inclusion, remuneration and benefits, training and development, leadership, reward and recognition, and work-life balance during the period from 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2021.

WINNER

MinterEllisonRuddWatts

EXCELLENCE AWARDEES Anderson Lloyd Anthony Harper Bell Gully Buddle Findlay Chapman Tripp Russell McVeagh Simpson Grierson

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SPECIALIST LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

AWARD SPONSOR

ARTEMIS EXECUTIVE RECRUITMENT Artemis is an award-winning premium executive search and recruitment firm that specialises in legal, human resources and executive leadership appointments. Offering bespoke recruitment and search services across a range of functional disciplines, including general counsel, partners, lawyers, CEOs, managing directors, general management, senior to midmanagement and non-executive directors, Artemis offers national, trans-Tasman and international search capability. The Artemis legal team specialises in all legal and legally related roles – from legal support roles (legal secretary, EA/PA, legal executive, etc.) to partner and general counsel appointments. If you have a legal recruitment need – we can assist. Artemis is proud to support the ongoing development of the New Zealand legal profession. Contact details:

This award recognises the most outstanding firm in New Zealand that derives at least 50% of its revenue from intellectual property law matters. Finalists were judged on the expertise they demonstrated between 1 April 2020 and 31 March 2021.

WINNER

AJ Park

EXCELLENCE AWARDEES Ellis Terry Henry Hughes Law James & Wells Zone Law

Kathryn Cross Managing director P: +64 9 354 3543 M: +64 27 700 8049 E: k athryn.cross@artemisnz.com

www.lawawards.co.nz

PROPERTY & CONSTRUCTION SPECIALIST LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

INSURANCE SPECIALIST LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

This award is open to law firms that derive at least 50% of their revenue from property and construction law matters.

This award recognises the most outstanding firm in New Zealand that derives at least 50% of its revenue from insurance law matters. Excellence awardees were judged on the expertise they demonstrated between 1 April 2020 and 31 March 2021.

WINNER

Thompson Blackie Biddles

Wotton + Kearney

EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

AlexanderDorrington

Fee Langstone

Domain Legal

Gilbert Walker

Kate Sheehan

Robertsons Shine Lawyers

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BOUTIQUE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

RESOLUTION INSTITUTE MEDIATOR OF THE YEAR

This award recognises the most outstanding firm in New Zealand that derives at least 50% of its revenue from a single practice area. Excellence awardees were judged on the expertise they demonstrated between 1 April 2020 and 31 March 2021.

This award recognises the most outstanding mediator in the New Zealand legal industry. Eligible nominees must be a member of Resolution Institute (formerly LEADR), AMINZ or both. Finalists were judged on their achievements and performance between 1 April 2020 and 31 March 2021.

AWARD SPONSOR

RESOLUTION INSTITUTE WINNER

Webb Henderson

WINNER

Wi Pere Mita Laidlaw Consultants & Tuhono Collective

Resolution Institute is a leading trans-Tasman association for mediators, arbitrators and adjudicators. In New Zealand it is approved to grant mediation accreditation for family dispute resolution and farm debt mediation. Resolution Institute provides an appointment process for individuals or organisations that require the services of a mediator, adjudicator and arbitrator, as well as training, accreditation and continuing professional development for mediators. Contact details:

EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

Trevor Slater FRI Chief operating officer

BlackmanSpargo Rural Law

Hayden Wilson, Dentons Kensington Swan

P: 0800 453 237 P: +64 4 974 8051 M: +64 21 232 2027 E: w ww.resolution.institute A: L evel 4, 69–71 The Terrace, Wellington 6011

Couch Harlowe Kovacevich Flacks & Wong Franks Ogilvie

Matthew Clayton, Talk-Meet-Resolve

Hudson Gavin Martin Morrison Mallett Sykes Legal

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MANAGING PARTNER OF THE YEAR (≤100 LAWYERS)

MANAGING PARTNER OF THE YEAR (>100 LAWYERS)

REGIONAL/ SUBURBAN LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

This award recognises the most outstanding managing partner or CEO of a New Zealand law firm with no more than 100 lawyers employed on a full-time basis. Excellence awardees were judged on their achievements and performance between 1 April 2020 and 31 March 2021.

This award recognises the most outstanding managing partner or CEO of a New Zealand law firm with more than 100 lawyers employed on a full-time basis. Excellence awardees were judged on their achievements and performance between 1 April 2020 and 31 March 2021.

This award recognises an outstanding New Zealand law firm headquartered outside the central business districts of Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. Excellence awardees were judged on their expertise across a range of practice areas between 1 April 2020 and 31 March 2021.

WINNER

Sam Hood Norris Ward McKinnon, Hamilton

Norris Ward McKinnon

EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

Angela Parlane, Shine Lawyers

Anne Callinan, Simpson Grierson

BlackmanSpargo Rural Law

Edwin Morrison, K3 Legal

Haydn Wong, Bell Gully

Dean & Coleman Law

Philip Maw, Wynn Williams

Jennifer Caldwell, Buddle Findlay

WRMK Lawyers

Sally Morris, Morris Legal

Malcolm Hurley, Anthony Harper

Tim Walden, James & Wells

Richard Greenaway Anderson Lloyd

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MID-SIZE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

LARGE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

This award recognises an outstanding New Zealand law firm with six to 24 partners. Excellence awardees were judged on their expertise across a range of practice areas between 1 April 2020 and 31 March 2021.

This award recognises an outstanding New Zealand law firm with 25 partners or more. Excellence awardees were judged on their expertise across a range of practice areas between 1 April 2020 and 31 March 2021.

WINNER

Tompkins Wake

Chapman Tripp

EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

Cavell Leitch

Anderson Lloyd

Harmos Horton Lusk

Anthony Harper

Martelli McKegg Lawyers

Bell Gully

Mayne Wetherell

Buddle Findlay

Norris Ward McKinnon

Lane Neave

WRMK Lawyers

MinterEllisonRuddWatts

Wynn Williams

Russell McVeagh Simpson Grierson

www.lawawards.co.nz

YOUNG PRIVATE PRACTICE LAWYER OF THE YEAR (35 OR UNDER)

DIVERSITY & INCLUSION INITIATIVE OF THE YEAR

This award recognises the most outstanding lawyer under the age of 35 who is permanently employed at a New Zealand law firm. Excellence awardees were judged on the quantity, quality, importance and innovativeness of the work they completed between 1 April 2020 and 31 March 2021.

This award is open to all New Zealand-based law firms and in-house legal teams.

WINNER

Nick Valentine DLA Piper EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

EXCELLENCE AWARDEE

Anna Cherkashina, Norling Law

Buddle Findlay

Ashton Goatley, Webb Henderson Beatrix H Woodhouse, John Miller Law Brad Ward, Bell Gully Ed McGimpsey, Buddle Findlay Michelle Needham, Lane Neave Stephanie de Groot, MinterEllisonRuddWatts Tom McLaughlin, Dentons Kensington Swan Will Irving, Russell McVeagh

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Simpson Grierson

A LOOK BACK: 2020 WINNERS DEBT MARKET DEAL OF THE YEAR Acquisition financing of Vodafone New Zealand

EQUITY MARKET DEAL OF THE YEAR

PROJECT FINANCE DEAL OF THE YEAR

Napier Port IPO

City Rail Link

M&A DEAL OF THE YEAR

INSOLVENCY AND RESTRUCTURING DEAL OF THE YEAR

Vodafone New Zealand acquisition

Receivership of Ebert Construction retention fund

Synlait acquisition of Dairyworks

NEW ZEALAND DEAL OF THE YEAR

YOUNG IN-HOUSE LAWYER OF THE YEAR (35 OR UNDER)

IN-HOUSE LAWYER OF THE YEAR

Vodafone New Zealand acquisition

Leah Taylor, Fisher & Paykel Healthcare

Julian Benefield, Foodstuffs North Island

SIMPSON GRIERSON FINANCIAL SERVICES IN-HOUSE TEAM

RUSSELL MCVEAGH IN-HOUSE TEAM OF THE YEAR

LITIGATION & DISPUTE RESOLUTION SPECIALIST LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

BNZ

Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Legal Team

MID-MARKET DEAL OF THE YEAR

Gilbert Walker

Dyhrberg Drayton Employment Law

WESTERN UNION BUSINESS SOLUTIONS INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SPECIALIST LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

INSURANCE SPECIALIST LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

BOUTIQUE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

Fee Langstone

Gilbert Walker

ARTEMIS EXECUTIVE RECRUITMENT EMPLOYER OF CHOICE (51–100 LAWYERS)

ARTEMIS EXECUTIVE RECRUITMENT EMPLOYER OF CHOICE (>100 LAWYERS)

Tompkins Wake

Russell McVeagh

YOUNG PRIVATE PRACTICE LAWYER OF THE YEAR (35 OR UNDER)

MANAGING PARTNER OF THE YEAR (<100 LAWYERS)

MANAGING PARTNER OF THE YEAR (>100 LAWYERS)

Jon Calder, Tompkins Wake

Anna Buchly, Bell Gully

NZ LAWYER DEAL TEAM OF THE YEAR (>100 LAWYERS)

DEAL TEAM OF THE YEAR (<100 LAWYERS)

REGIONAL/SUBURBAN LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

Bell Gully Corporate Team

Webb Henderson

WRMK Lawyers

EMPLOYMENT LAW SPECIALIST FIRM OF THE YEAR

PROPERTY & CONSTRUCTION SPECIALIST LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR Thompson Blackie Biddles

AJ Park

Angela Harford, Bell Gully

MID-SIZE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR Harmos Horton Lusk – Corporate Team and Tompkins Wake

ARTEMIS EXECUTIVE RECRUITMENT EMPLOYER OF CHOICE (<50 LAWYERS) Juno Legal

RESOLUTION INSTITUTE MEDIATOR OF THE YEAR Paul Sills, Mediator & Barrister

LARGE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR Russel McVeagh

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AWARD SPONSORS

OFFICIAL MEDIA

ORGANISER

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