Two firms welcomed new senior lawyers, while another two firms tackled significant deals
Recently, Anthony Harper and Chapman Tripp strengthened their partner and special counsel ranks, respectively; meanwhile, MinterEllisonRuddWatts and Bell Gully confirmed their involvement in million-dollar deals.
The firm announced the addition of former Canterbury Chambers barrister Cecil Hanafin to its litigation partnership yesterday 3 September.
Hanafin focuses on commercial litigation, trust and estate litigation, insolvency, and governance and shareholder disputes. Her clients have included individuals, companies, creditors, beneficiaries, directors and business owners.
At one point, she practised with Wynn Williams as a senior associate on its dispute resolution team. Presently, she works from Anthony Harper’s Ōtautahi office.
Earlier today 4 September, the firm elevated senior associate Jana Hitchcock to special counsel.
Hitchcock is an expert on securitisation and structured finance transactions as well as project finance transactions. She has guided banks and other financial institutions, sponsors and corporate borrowers, including the likes of Challenger, BNZ, ANZ, Société Générale, Westpac, New Zealand Guardian Trust and the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan Board.
She logged stints with Baker McKenzie and King & Wood Mallesons (now Mallesons) in Sydney, as well as with Linklaters in London. At present, she operates from Chapman Tripp’s Auckland office.
A team led by corporate partner Isaac Stewart helped Zealandia to raise about $500m across Zealandia Fund I LP and Te Aka Haumi LP.
The firm guided the launch and fundraising for the two entities. It also assisted with acquiring seed investments and with the funds’ co-investment arrangements.
According to Stewart, the deal “highlights the increasingly important role that iwi investors and KiwiSaver funds are playing in funding New Zealand's infrastructure pipeline”.
“As demand for investment in critical infrastructure continues, domestic capital pools are becoming a significant part of the funding solution. Zealandia is a fantastic example of a home-grown New Zealand fund successfully competing alongside global investors for ownership of strategic infrastructure assets, while ensuring investment returns remain connected to New Zealand investors and communities”, Stewart said in a media release.
Stewart worked alongside partners Jeremy Muir, Natasha Hood and Tom Fail, as well as solicitor Nick Stewart.
A team spearheaded by construction and projects partner Scott Lochhead and corporate partner Chris Hodges advised Genesis on the development of the Canterbury-based 70MWp renewable energy project Leeston solar farm.
The farm is valued at $125m and marks Genesis’ fifth solar project either in operation or development. Lochhead and Hodges received support from lawyers Kate Johnson and Taumata Toki.
