Tavendale + Partners welcomed an ex-FMA director, top-tier firms participated in significant deals
Recently, Tavendale + Partners and Wynn Williams welcomed new senior lawyers while MinterEllisonRuddWatts and Bell Gully participated in significant deals.
The Financial Markets Authority’s (FMA) director of markets, investors and reporting, John Horner, has made the jump to Tavendale + Partners as its new corporate commercial partner.
Horner specialises in matters involving financial markets regulation and M&A. He has also handled business regulation issues such as those related to financial markets, takeovers, competition law, consumer protection and overseas investment.
“John has been both a dealmaker and a regulator. That’s a rare combination, and it will be invaluable to our clients in regulated markets. His appointment further deepens our regulatory and M&A offering”, said Tavendale + Partners managing partner Mark Tavendale.
While with the FMA, Horner spearheaded the strategic transformation of frontline teams over a stint that lasted more than five years. He also spent nearly 20 years at Quigg Partners, where he headed up transaction teams and practised with the corporate M&A team.
In his new role, Horner will provide guidance on financial markets regulation and M&A. He will work with global businesses either entering or operating in New Zealand.
Jayne Wiltshire has transitioned from Meredith Connell to Wynn Williams, where she takes up the special counsel role.
She has guided private and public sector clients on complex property transactions, particularly those involving local government property law and related statutory and strategic issues. Wynn Williams managing partner Ash Hill highlighted Wiltshire’s connections with local government clients as an asset.
Moreover, Wiltshire has worked on matters involving property acquisitions and disposals, commercial leasing, property development, infrastructure projects, and the creation and interpretation of easements, covenants, and other land interests. She has assisted councils with access and utility arrangements, leasing and development projects, and statutory property matters.
A multidisciplinary team from MinterEllisonRuddWatts has guided international creative company Special in relation to a strategic investment from local private equity firm Waterman Capital.
Waterman Capital’s investment is expected to aid in the global expansion of Special, which was established in Auckland as an independent agency in 2007. The investment will go into the development of Special’s design, public relations and strategic consultancy services; its technology and talent investment, and possible acquisitions.
The deal covers seven entities across New Zealand, Australia, the UK and the US. It was inked on 28 October and is set to complete in December.
MinterEllisonRuddWatts’ team, led by corporate M&A partner Neil Millar, guided key legal and tax workstreams across the jurisdictions by collaborating with advisers from the different markets. It also supervised a substantial vendor group, backed the due diligence and data room process, and aligned the necessary legal elements for signing.
Millar worked alongside tax partner Andrew Ryan, corporate M&A senior associate Jasmin Matthews, tax senior solicitor Nancy Chen, and solicitor Oscar England. Partners Aimee Mitchell (tax) and Allison Hancock (banking and finance) pitched in as well, along with senior associates Steven Liu (tax), Maysie Chan (private wealth), Sean Dolan and Sophie Coggan (banking and finance); solicitors Caitlin Read and Kotaro Ishii (corporate M&A); and law clerk Charlotte Print (corporate M&A).
A Bell Gully team helped Ngāi Tahu Holdings sell its 19.9% cornerstone stake in NZX lister seafood company Sanford Limited.
The firm advised Ngāi Tahu Holdings as it divested a 9.6% tranche of Sanford shares in a fully underwritten block trade in June. The firm also helped Ngāi Tahu Holdings unload the remaining 10.3% interested to Umios Corporation in a transaction publicised on 27 October in the wake of an unsolicited approach for the remaining shares.
The Bell Gully team consisted of corporate partners Chris Hodges and Chris Goddard, who worked alongside lawyer Fergus Wilkes. They handled all legal aspects of the Sanford stake’s divestment; this interest was held by Ngāi Tahu Investments Limited, which oversees Ngāi Tahu Holdings’ direct, private equity, listed equity and ‘new economy’ investments.
