The firm also elevated eight to special counsel
Buddle Findlay has grown its partnership to 45 in its first promotions cycle for the new year.
Each of the firm’s three offices in Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington saw the addition of a new partner, with Daniel Collins, Julia Gabrielle and Renee Stiles taking on their new roles beginning Friday.
“Buddle Findlay's new partner appointments continue to build depth and expertise across banking and finance, corporate transactions and corporate law and commercial property,” the firm said. “The three new partners receive praise from clients and the wider Buddle Findlay team for their talent and collaborative approach to working. Each bring a focus that enhances the firm's ability to deliver the highest level of service to clients and demonstrate the qualities that Buddle Findlay looks for in their leaders.”
Collins focuses on banking and finance, handling domestic and cross-border financing transactions, from front-end structuring and implementation to back-end refinancing solutions, restructuring and insolvency. He has practised in other parts of the APAC region, as well as the Middle East.
He was part of the team that advised on Fiji’s largest syndicated financing transaction, and recently helped guide ANZ in the funding of Asia Pacific Healthcare Group’s acquisition by the New Zealand Superannuation Fund and the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan board for $550m.
Gabrielle has specialist knowledge in general commercial and corporate law, banking and finance and commercial and residential property. She often handles commercial property acquisitions, leasing and corporate and private structuring, as well as financing matters such as refinancing, commercial and private lending.
She has guided clients on associated development funding and leasing arrangements in the property market following the Christchurch earthquake.
Stiles is a specialist in a number of areas, namely, information and communication technology, corporate transactions and regulatory compliance, payments, procurement and outsourcing in the financial sector.
As a lawyer in Buddle Findlay’s corporate and commercial practice, she was part of the team that played a role in Vodafone NZ’s $3.4bn acquisition.
In a promotions round that was dominated by female lawyers, the following eight lawyers were also elevated to the role of special counsel:
- Lara Wood, Auckland – insolvency, finance and Asia business
- Benjamin Sutton, Auckland – corporate and commercial
- Fiona Heiford, Auckland – tax
- Damien Steel-Baker, Wellington – TMT
- Frances Wedde, Wellington – resource management and Māori law
- Bridie McKinnon, Wellington – commercial litigation and insolvency
- Rebecca Green, Christchurch – corporate and commercial
- Bassam Maghzal, Christchurch – corporate and commercial
