Special Counsel, Wellington
Brannavan Gnanalingam

Contact
- Wellington office
- DDI +64 4 498 7300
- M +64 22 353 3500
Profile
Brannavan specialises in property and construction.
Brannavan has been involved in large-scale property acquisitions and infrastructure projects, including negotiating large-scale development agreements and construction contracts (including NZS 3910, 3915 and 3916, and FIDIC Yellow Book). He has also been involved in the negotiation of easements, licences, leases, sale and purchase agreements, residential developments, development finance, and providing detailed advice in respect of seismic issues, Māori land, COVID-19 implications, force majeure, the Public Works Act 1981, and trespass. He also specialises in property disputes, and has been involved when litigation, insolvency or debt recovery involve property and/or construction (including appearing in the Māori Land Court, High Court, Court of Appeal, Supreme Court, and arbitration).
Experience
Work highlights
Acting for the Department of Internal Affairs (Archives)
in the negotiation of a development agreement and long-term lease for the new National Archives Building in Wellington, and construction contracts for tender at its new Regional Shared Repository (Tāhuhu)
Acting for Ministry of Health, Ministry for Primary Industries, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Department of Internal Affairs, Vodafone New Zealand and CentrePort
in negotiating large-scale development agreements, construction agreements, and agreements to lease for major head office projects
Acting for Waka Kotahi - NZ Transport Agency
in its land acquisition process on a number of its major highway projects, including Takitimu North Link, Manawatū Tararua Highway, and the Peka Peka to Ōtaki Expressway and appearing in the Māori Land Court for key infrastructure
Acting in large-scale project finance projects
including the Ruakura Inland Port (various banks), Mt Cardrona Station development (BNZ) and Todd Property's Ormiston development (ANZ)
Acting for Ministry of Health, Auckland DHB, and Waitemata DHB
in the project finance and development of the Auckland City Mission Building at 140 Hobson Street, Auckland
Acting for various local authorities
including Tauranga City Council in its civic precinct redevelopment, Wellington City Council in the formation of a new reserve, Kāpiti Coast District Council in advice on social housing and acquisitions for infrastructure projects, and Horowhenua District Council in formalising access over Māori land
Alternate contacts
Charlotte von Dadelszen
Partner, Wellington
Board of Management
Charlotte specialises in leasing, construction and land-related property advice. She has been involved in the development…
- DDI +64 4 462 0508
- M +64 21 915 737
Stephen Whittington
Consultant, Wellington
Stephen specialises in negotiation and documentation of commercial property transactions, development and construction advice…
- DDI +64 4 498 7329
- M +64 21 845 530
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