Tom Gillespie

Tom is a Corporate lawyer who has extensive experience advising on mergers and acquisitions, private equity transactions, joint ventures and venture capital transactions.

Before joining Russell McVeagh in January 2020, Tom worked at another large New Zealand law firm and previously worked in Singapore for international law firm Linklaters, where he advised on several high profile cross-border transactions. 

Tom's recent experience includes advising:

• ForthCo on its acquisition and syndication of each of Natural Habitats Limited, the Skyline Aviation Group, NZ Mint Limited and Phoenix Metal Recyclers NZ Limited.
• Pioneer Capital on its acquisition of each of Optimal Workshop and Supreme Coffee.
• Pacific Equity Partners on the New Zealand aspects of the sale of 50% of Intellihub to Brookfield.
• Pacific Equity Partners (PEP) on the New Zealand aspects of the sale of 50% of Intellihub from one PEP fund to a newly formed continuation fund.
• The New Zealand Superannuation Fund on its formation of a NZ$300m partnership with domestic property developer, Classic Group.
• Re-Leased Software Company Limited on its US$15 million capital raise in a funding round led by JLL Spark.
• National Australia Bank (parent company of BNZ) on the sale of BNZ's life insurance business to Partners Life for $290 million.
• Advent International on its acquisition, through its portfolio company Industria Chimica Emiliana, of New Zealand Pharmaceuticals.
• The founders of Mondiale on the divestment of a 50% stake to Direct Capital. 
• Cedar Pacific on its acquisition of a student accommodation concession at the University of Canterbury.
• The shareholders of 180 Degrees crackers on the sale of a 100% stake to Arnotts (owned by funds advised by KKR).
• The shareholders on the sale of a financial technology company to an ASX listed company for 100% scrip consideration.
• The shareholders on the proposed sale of a luxury New Zealand lodge to an overseas private equity firm.
• A large US private equity firm on the proposed sale of several of its New Zealand property assets.

LLB, BCom (Accounting), University of Otago.

Tom was admitted to practise in 2010. Tom is part of our Corporate Advisory team, which was named New Zealand's top deal firm at the 2019 New Zealand Law Awards.

Tom has been recognised by IFLR1000 2022 Guide as a Rising Star Partner in Corporate and M&A.  He was also named a Rising Star 2021 on NZ Lawyer's Rising Stars list, which recognises lawyers demonstrating leadership and achievement within New Zealand's legal profession.

Tom ​is co-editor of Russell McVeagh's Energy Blog, which puts a spotlight on the renewable energy sector in New Zealand and the regimes other countries have used to boost generation in this growing sector.