Partners Leave Russell McVeagh to Establish Anderson Lloyd Auckland Office
In one of the legal fraternity’s most significant moves in recent years, three Russell McVeagh partners have joined forces to form the new Auckland office of Anderson Lloyd, one of the South Island’s largest law firms.
From Monday (28 July) Geoff Busch, Chris Bargery and David Holden will lead a primarily transactions-focused practice, concentrating on corporate, mergers and acquisitions, banking and finance, infrastructure and public private partnerships (PPPs). These specialisations will be complemented by the strengths of the wider firm in environmental, planning and natural resources; corporate and commercial; property; insurance; energy; agribusiness and irrigation.
All three partners have worked offshore and their expertise is recognised in a number of international legal directories.
Geoff Busch says the trio felt it was time for a change involving a fresh approach to transactions and projects.
“There’s a lot of synergy between Anderson Lloyd’s expertise and the transactional and infrastructure focused work that the three of us do. Their partner base has a uniformly high quality and includes some leading corporate and infrastructure lawyers who’ve worked on very significant transactions.
“We liked the fact that our clients will get the best of both worlds – the efficiency and attention of a smart boutique, backed by the horsepower of a large national firm.”
Holden says he was attracted to the culture of Anderson Lloyd.
“Anderson Lloyd is very different – they’re exceptionally collaborative and approach projects by forming lean, expert teams. The internal culture actively encourages people to pool their specialist expertise.
“This approach will allow us to work on a wider range of deals and have more time to focus on the work we enjoy.”
Anderson Lloyd was established in Dunedin in 1862 and also has offices in Christchurch and Queenstown.
Bargery said the firm’s size and leverage means Auckland clients will have access to more senior people and more experience.
“Our combined specialisations – particularly in banking and finance, PPPs, M&A, corporate, agribusiness, and environmental, planning and natural resources – means Anderson Lloyd is now a credible alternative in Auckland to the ‘big three’ firms.
He confirmed that several members of their Russell McVeagh team will be joining the three lead partners on Monday.
For more information please contact:
Richard Greenaway – CEO, Anderson Lloyd, ph 027 487 2626
Geoff Busch – partner, Anderson Lloyd Auckland, ph 021 484 184
GEOFF BUSCH
- Banking and finance specialist, with particular expertise in acquisition finance, project (including PPP) finance, corporate finance, property finance, and structured asset finance. Acts regularly for international and domestic banks, financial institutions and borrowers on high-profile transactions across a range of sectors, with a particular focus on infrastructure. Also provides general advice on banking and finance, debt restructurings, Personal Property Securities Act and financial services regulatory issues.
- Rated as a leading or expert New Zealand banking and finance and project finance lawyer by a number of international legal directories including Chambers & Partners Asia Pacific, IFLR 1000, asialaw PROFILES, Who’s Who Legal and the Euromoney Guide to the World’s Leading Lawyers. Geoff is also one of two lawyers on the New Zealand committee of the Asia Pacific Loan Market Association.
DAVID HOLDEN
- Infrastructure and construction specialist. Has worked in NZ and UK advising on social and economic infrastructure, power generation and construction projects. Particular expertise in PPPs – led the legal team advising the successful consortia on the two pathfinder New Zealand PPP projects (Wiri Prison and Hobsonville Points Schools) and advised on the Transmission Gully PPP project.
- Listed in Best Lawyers in New Zealand 2014-15 as a leading lawyer in Project Finance and Development Practice.
CHRIS BARGERY
- Corporate and commercial specialist. Has considerable experience advising on mergers and acquisitions, including private equity investments, shareholder and joint venture agreements, general corporate matters and a wide variety of commercial contracts.
- Chris advises clients that include private equity firms and other institutional investors, and leading domestic and international corporates. His clients are spread across a number of industries including forestry, agriculture, energy and insurance.
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