Overview
We have one of New Zealand's pre-eminent insolvency and restructuring teams, consistently rated in tier 1 or band 1 on league tables.
The firm enjoys strong networks in the banking and professional services market. With a full service offering, it has remained a key participant in the restructuring market through all recent economic cycles.
Our lawyers have worked on some of the largest liquidations, receiverships, voluntary administrations, restructurings and finance company failures in New Zealand, and regularly advises on cross-border insolvency issues.
We offer restructuring and insolvency advice leveraged off regional knowledge and national networks. Our clients include all the major participants in the insolvency marketplace: Calibre Partners (formerly KordaMentha), McGrathNicol, PricewaterhouseCoopers, KPMG, BDO, Ernst & Young, Grant Thornton and Deloitte. We advise a wide range of financial institutions on a regular basis, including in particular Bank of New Zealand, ANZ Bank New Zealand, ICBC, Bank of China and Kiwibank, assisting them with recovery and restructuring assignments.
A significant part of the team's work involves acting for banks and trustee corporations in relation to borrower groups and public issuers whose financing facilities need to be restructured as a result of poor financial health. This often involves a substantial restructure of the corporate group and its balance sheet.
Majority of our notifiable work has a creditor focus, but our interest and commitment in the broad areas of restructuring, insolvency and workouts mean we can offer the full range of services, including:
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Advising banks, trustees and financial institutions on corporate restructurings, debt moratoria, debt for equity swaps and standstills
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Advising financial institutions and other creditors on receiverships, liquidations, voluntary administrations, and creditors’ compromises, including pre-appointment reviews, demands and preparation of appointment documents
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Advising receivers, liquidators and administrators on domestic receiverships, liquidations and voluntary administrations including the provision of fully resourced high level litigation support
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Assisting insolvency professionals on investigative accountant assignments
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Advising foreign creditors and working co-operatively on foreign-originated insolvencies (including insolvencies dealt with under the UNCITRAL Model Law) such as chapter 11 proceedings, liquidations and administrations
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Advising on multi-creditor priority disputes with a high degree of specialisation in resolving personal property law (PPSA) disputes
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Advising board directors on liability through the insolvency process
- Advising on a wide range of insolvency related litigation assignments, including wrongful trading claims, insolvent transactions and securities, and directions applications for receivers, liquidators, administrators and creditors.
"Having a trusted legal adviser is really important to us. Buddle Findlay gives great legal advice and service and we have a very strong relationship built over many years."
"A market leader with extensive connections in the banking and financial services sector, known for its strength in high-end receivership work. Their people are their key strength; they are accountable and show initiative. And they bring a lot of expertise to the table."
Chambers and Partners
"Their people are their key strength; they are accountable and show initiative. And they bring a lot of expertise to the table."
Chambers and Partners
"Excellent technical skills, always client focused, but sound advice that I can rely on."
IFLR1000
- Tier 1, Restructuring and Insolvency, Chambers Asia Pacific and Legal 500 Asia Pacific
Experience
Sector / Expertise
Work highlights
Advising the administrators
and liquidators of Arrow
Advising the administrators
and liquidators of EncoreFX (NZ)
Advising the liquidators
of Cryptopia
Advising on claims
in the collapse of Bitcoinica
Advising the interim liquidators
of CBL Insurance
Advising the Reserve Bank
in relation to the (interim) liquidation of CBL Insurance
Our team
Daniel Collins
Partner, Auckland
Daniel specialises in banking and finance and has extensive experience working in New Zealand, the Asia Pacific and the Middle East.…
- DDI +64 9 363 0674
- M +64 27 289 9371
David Broadmore
Partner, Auckland
David specialises in commercial litigation. He has over 17 years' experience in resolving banking and finance, insolvency, insurance, …
- DDI +64 9 358 7010
- M +64 21 022 72994
David Perry
Partner, Auckland
David specialises in banking and financial services, and restructuring and insolvency law. He represents banks and financial…
- DDI +64 9 358 7020
- M +64 21 632 268
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
Kelly Paterson
Partner, Christchurch
Kelly specialises in commercial litigation. She advises on a wide range of commercial litigation issues, including contract disputes…
- DDI +64 3 371 3547
- M +64 21 891 028
Miriam Andrews
Partner, Auckland
Miriam specialises in banking and finance. Prior to re-joining Buddle Findlay in 2013, Miriam was transaction director at an…
- DDI +64 9 363 0638
- M +64 21 491 781
Scott Abel
Partner, Auckland
Scott specialises in insolvency and debt restructuring, corporate and secured finance, and specialist personal property security and…
- DDI +64 9 357 9387
- M +64 21 229 1488
Scott Barker
Partner, Wellington
Scott specialises in litigation and insolvency law. He advises both private and public sector clients.…
- DDI +64 4 498 7349
- M +64 21 822 929
Seb Bisley
Partner, Wellington
Seb specialises in advocacy and litigation, including arbitration and mediation.…
- DDI +64 4 462 0839
- M +64 21 844 428
Willie Palmer
Partner, Christchurch
Willie specialises in commercial litigation including construction, insurance and insolvency law. He has broad experience in…
- DDI +64 3 371 3502
- M +64 21 377 961