Overview
Successful project financing involves the proper identification, allocation and management of project risks. Our lawyers have extensive experience assisting our clients to structure and manage risk in all types of project financing in the New Zealand and overseas market.
Our project finance team comprises experts in finance, construction, property, resource management, regulatory, taxation, and corporate and commercial law. We regularly act for project finance lenders, sponsors, contractors and borrowers on public private partnership's (PPP) and project finance transactions in many different industries including energy, roading and transport, telecommunications, health, water and wastewater and other public infrastructure as well as limited recourse commercial property developments.
Our team has specific experience advising on PPP transactions under the New Zealand government's PPP regime, advising both bidders and financiers on PPP projects.
We also regularly act for financiers on various cross-border lease and other asset finance transactions for aircraft, transport assets, training simulators and other major industrial assets.
Peter Owles is "recognised as the New Zealand expert in project finance, structured finance, and anything that requires a high degree of technical expertise," one referee states.
Chambers Asia Pacific 2019
Buddle Findlay has "a very, very strong finance practice, in which all of the partners are excellent in their own right and together make a formidable team"
Legal 500 2019
“A very commercial firm that understands the requirements of its clients. They have a high level of technical expertise and always act with the highest level of integrity. They always deliver, even during times when timeframes are unreasonable - which are often very short in New Zealand on transactions"
IFLR1000 2019
- Member of Infrastructure New Zealand
Work highlights
Acting for the project finance lenders
to the Southern Cross Next fibre optic cable project linking Australia, New Zealand, the US and several Pacific Islands
Advising lenders
in relation to project financing for various social housing projects
Acting for Central Plains Water
in relation to the project financing for its irrigation scheme project in Canterbury
Acting for a short listed bidder
on the Wiri Prison PPP project and a potential lender in relation to the Auckland Prison PPP project
Advising lenders to short listed bidders
on the NZ Schools PPP projects
Advising the project finance lender
in relation to the development and finance of a new radiotherapy facility at Tauranga hospital
Our team
Daniel Kelleher
Partner, Auckland
Daniel specialises in property law and has extensive experience in property sector, corporate, banking and commercial transactions…
- DDI +64 9 358 7022
- M +64 21 618 535
Jan Etwell
Partner, Christchurch
Jan specialises in banking and finance, commercial and company law. Her experience includes acting as instructing solicitor…
- DDI +64 3 371 3514
- M +64 21 655 604
Paul Farrugia
Partner, Auckland
Board of Management
Paul specialises in banking and finance and has a broad range of experience in domestic and cross-border financings with an emphasis on…
- DDI +64 9 358 7042
- M +64 21 763 476
Peter Owles
Partner, Auckland
Peter specialises in all aspects of banking and financial services law, with over 30 years' experience.…
- DDI +64 9 358 7047
- M +64 21 750 509
Tom Bennett
Partner, Auckland
Tom specialises in real estate, construction, procurement and local government.…
- DDI +64 9 363 0665
- M +64 21 622 228
