Commercial property law and real estate | Buddle Findlay

Overview

Our team are leaders in the market

We are best known for our work on significant and technically-challenging property and real estate matters.

We collaborate with our clients' project teams and stakeholders to identify practical solutions and deliver successful outcomes.

We advise on all aspects of property and real estate law, including:

Acquisitions, disposals and all other land-related transactions, including under the Public Works Act 1981
Leasing, including leasing negotiations, documentation and management
Property development and urban regeneration projects
Property and real estate finance
Due diligence projects
Property maintenance and compliance issues
Māori land law matters, including Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993 and the protocols associated with tikanga Māori
Property documentation, including licences, easements, encumbrances and covenants.

We have international experience and expertise

We act for clients based in Asia and other parts of the World. We have expertise in the Overseas Investment Act, we help international clients navigate the Act's complex requirements. We have vast experience obtaining exemptions and consents with the Overseas Investment Office.

Our team can support you through property-related disputes

We have experience in property-related disputes including acting on:

Major rent review arbitrations
Outgoings liabilities
Maintenance obligations for landlord's
Disputed agreements for sale and purchase.

High-profile clients trust us

We have provided successful outcomes for the following clients:

Auckland Light Rail
Department of Internal Affairs
Sky Television
Contact Energy
Grand Lakes Management
Hotel Management (Featherston Street)
Olam Food Ingredients New Zealand
Precinct Properties
Landcorp Farming
Norske Skog Tasman
Auckland Council
Ministry of Education
GMP Pharmaceuticals
Generus Living Group.

Market recognition

"Buddle Findlay has a full-service nationwide practice offering a seasoned team of real estate practitioners and in-depth knowledge of complex property acquisitions and high-value leasing negotiations across an impressive range of sectors." - Chambers Asia-Pacific

"The property team at Buddle Findlay really know their stuff. They have enormous institutional knowledge which we regularly plug into. The people in the team are knowledgeable, friendly and easy to deal with and we feel valued as a client." - Legal 500 Asia-Pacific

"They provide advice based on our commercial reality, not the risk-averse law firm approach, which is good. They tailor advice to suit the client and it isn't cookie-cutter. They are very responsive, able to go above and beyond if in a tight spot, and are very thorough with legal advice." - Chambers Asia-Pacific

'Mid-market' deal of the year at the New Zealand Law Awards 2022 – for our work acting for Hotel Management (Featherston St) as well as over 150 different unit owners, on the sale of Rydges Wellington to NZ Hotel Holdings Asset LP

Experience

Sector/Expertise

Work highlights

Auckland Light Rail

We advise Auckland Light Rail on the property aspects of the Auckland Light Rail project. Read more here

Let's Get Wellington Moving

We advise the consortium of local authorities and the Crown on the property aspects of the Let's Get Wellington Moving project. Read more here

Auckland Council and Eke Panuku Development Auckland

We advised Auckland Council and Eke Panuku Development Auckland on the Aotea Station Over Station Development project above and adjacent to Te Wai Horotiu as part of the City Rail Link project. Read more here

Auckland Council and Auckland Transport

We advised Auckland Council and Auckland Transport on Precinct Properties' Commercial Bay development, including the disposal of QE Square and the acquisition of the subterranean title for the City Rail Link project.

Contact Energy

We advise Contact Energy on a variety of property issues, including mitigation agreements, access licences, leases, easements, encumbrances, and negotiations with iwi.

Department of Internal Affairs

We advised the Department of Internal Affairs on the development and leaseback of a bespoke archives facility to house Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga Archives New Zealand, on the site of the old Defence House on Aitken Street in Wellington. Read more here

Tauranga City Council

We advised Tauranga City Council on its Te Manawataki o Te Papa Civic Precinct project.

Auckland Council and Eke Panuku Development Auckland

We advised Auckland Council and Eke Panuku Development Auckland on urban renewal and town centre renewal projects including Britomart, Bledisloe House, Takapuna, Manukau, New Lynn, Hobsonville and the adaptive reuse of the Civic Administration Building.

Olam International

We advised Olam International (and its New Zealand subsidiary Olam Food Ingredients New Zealand) on all property and construction matters in relation to the development of its first New Zealand dairy processing plant in Tokoroa.

Hotel Management (Featherston St)

We advised Hotel Management (Featherston St), as well as over 150 different unit owners, on the sale of Rydges Wellington to NZ Hotel Wellington Asset LP (a partnership between Russell Property Group, Lockwood Property Group and the New Zealand Superannuation Fund). Read more here

The Foundation Partnership

We advised the Foundation Partnership on the property and construction matters in relation to the development of The Foundation Parnell.

Morrison & Co

We advised Morrison & Co on its purchase of Shell New Zealand's downstream assets, including a large scale due diligence of Shell New Zealand's retail and property interests.

Precinct Properties Holdings

We advised Precinct Properties Holdings on the acquisition of Bowen House, Wellington and the disposal of SAP Tower, Auckland and ANZ Centre, Wellington.

Greater Wellington Regional Council and Hutt City Council

We advised Greater Wellington Regional Council and Hutt City Council on the property aspects of the RiverLink project. Read more here

Crown tenants

We have advised a range of Crown tenants on their head office leasing projects and development agreements in Wellington including the Ministry of Health, Department of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Ministry for Primary Industries, Commerce Commission, Tertiary Education Commission, and Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority.

BNZ Branch Properties

We advise BNZ Branch Properties on all matters relating to its property portfolio including leasing documentation and development agreements, its new Wellington office tower project, its Christchurch head office project, and the sale and leaseback of part of its portfolio.

Our team