Asialaw Profiles
The Guide to the legal markets of the Asia-Pacific

With Bell Gully’s market-leading corporate practice advising on most of New Zealand’s significant commercial transactions, its taxation team has been busy advising on the tax aspects of such transactions. This includes on mergers and acquisitions, various ... [more]

With Bell Gully’s market-leading corporate practice advising on most of New Zealand’s significant commercial transactions, its taxation team has been busy advising on the tax aspects of such transactions. This includes on mergers and acquisitions, various cross border transactions and funding arrangements.

The team acted for Alesco New Zealand in tax avoidance litigation regarding the use of optional convertible note (OCN) hybrid funding arrangements. It is also advising subsidiaries of a number of other Australian-listed companies on a dispute with the Commissioner of Inland Revenue over the use of OCN.

Yet another highlight was advising Crown Fibre Holdings (CFH) on all of the tax aspects of the New Zealand Government’s ultra-fast broadband (UFB) initiative, valued at US$1.08 billion.

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“Chapman Tripp’s taxation strength is to read the appropriateness of each case,” says one client. The firm retains its top tier position having strengthened the team’s core with the arrival of consultant David Patterson from Minter Ellison Rudd Watts ... [more]

“Chapman Tripp’s taxation strength is to read the appropriateness of each case,” says one client. The firm retains its top tier position having strengthened the team’s core with the arrival of consultant David Patterson from Minter Ellison Rudd Watts and the internal promotion of Graeme Olding to partner status.

The firm advised the New Zealand Treasury on a range of tax issues in connection with Crown’s support package for AMI Insurance. The Christchurch-based insurance company ran into difficulties following the second of the Canterbury earthquakes in February this year.

The Chapman Tripp team advised on the tax aspects of the Heartland merger between MARAC Finance, CBS Canterbury and Southern Cross Building Society to form a US$1.83 billion listed financial services group intended to become New Zealand’s only listed registered bank.

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Russell McVeagh’s tax team continues to command a formidable share of the New Zealand market’s most complex, cutting edge tax work. Partner Campbell Rose is “very innovative and professional”, says one client, while a rival lawyer praises Rose’s “strong ... [more]

Russell McVeagh’s tax team continues to command a formidable share of the New Zealand market’s most complex, cutting edge tax work. Partner Campbell Rose is “very innovative and professional”, says one client, while a rival lawyer praises Rose’s “strong technical ability”.

The firm provided tax advice to Telecom New Zealand on its successful proposal to Crown Fibre Holdings to deliver the Government’s national fibre network. In this complex case, the Government proposed legislative amendments providing demerger tax relief specifically for this project.

The firm also advised Auckland Transition Agency in relation to the structure of the Auckland ‘Supercity’, and asset and liability transfers occurring from the amalgamation of Auckland’s council authorities.

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Buddle Findlay’s tax practice, led by partner Neil Russ, had a busy year building on its previous stellar performance despite a tight market. This energetic and motivated team continues to reap the rewards of years of experience and expertise on international ... [more]

Buddle Findlay’s tax practice, led by partner Neil Russ, had a busy year building on its previous stellar performance despite a tight market. This energetic and motivated team continues to reap the rewards of years of experience and expertise on international tax, government entity taxation and tax controversy work.

The firm’s team advised on several high profile transactions, notably on the offshore bond issuances under Kiwibank’s Euro-commercial paper programme and updates of the Australian bond programme. Other notable tax instructions included advising HRL Morrison & Co, the manager of the Public Infrastructure Partnership Fund, on various aspects of the establishment and operation of the fund.

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Stuart Hutchinson is the sole partner at Simpson Grierson’s tax division, but he works closely with experienced senior associates Paul Windeatt, Barney Cumberland and Nicholas Bland to maintain the firm’s highly reputed tax practice. The team specialises ... [more]

Stuart Hutchinson is the sole partner at Simpson Grierson’s tax division, but he works closely with experienced senior associates Paul Windeatt, Barney Cumberland and Nicholas Bland to maintain the firm’s highly reputed tax practice. The team specialises in corporate and commercial taxation, structuring and tax disputes.

The firm provided tax advice to New Zealand’s largest local government authority, Auckland City Council, prior to its amalgamation into Auckland Council. The ongoing advice to Auckland Council covers various income tax, GST and gift duty issues relating to the Council’s activities and those of its subsidiary entities.

The firm also acted for Toll Group (New Zealand) in opposing tax assessments by the New Zealand tax authority.

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DLA Phillips Fox’s global network connections allow the firm to routinely provide advice on the New Zealand tax implications of global restructurings to multinationals wishing to operate in this jurisdiction.Highly regarded partner Lynette Smith led ... [more]

DLA Phillips Fox’s global network connections allow the firm to routinely provide advice on the New Zealand tax implications of global restructurings to multinationals wishing to operate in this jurisdiction.

Highly regarded partner Lynette Smith led the firm’s taxation team on the transition of TOWER Group’s transactional banking arrangements from ANZ National Bank to Westpac New Zealand, and the subsequent grant by Westpac Banking Corp of a US$20 million standby liquidity.

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The Minter Ellison Rudd Watts taxation team is run from both Auckland and Wellington and is led by tax partners Andrew Ryan and John Peterson. Although the team suffered the loss of partner David Patterson in the last year, it continues to work closely ... [more]

The Minter Ellison Rudd Watts taxation team is run from both Auckland and Wellington and is led by tax partners Andrew Ryan and John Peterson. Although the team suffered the loss of partner David Patterson in the last year, it continues to work closely with Minter Ellison in Australia and enjoyed another strong year.

For example, the firm advised Village Roadshow Melbourne on the tax complexities in selling the tourism assets of Sydney Attractions Group and Kelly Tarlton’s Underwater World to Merlin Entertainments Group.

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