Banking and Finance

The Banking and Finance practice group suits people who are good communicators, logical thinkers and enjoy dynamic workflows. There are three broad arms to the work we do:

  • corporate finance (being counsel for lenders or corporate borrowers, whether for acquisition finance, project finance or general financing purposes);

  • debt capital markets (working for both corporate and public sector bond issuers); and

  • financial regulation advice (advising financial institutions on navigating New Zealand's financial regulatory landscape).

Other banking and finance-related work we get involved with are advising private credit funds, carrying out due diligence for finance-related M&A transactions, drafting consumer-facing loan documents for the banks and public sector clients, advising on, and drafting derivative contracts, and setting up securitisation structures.

We work for all the major banks, many NZX listed companies and several government entities. Seniors in the banking and finance team work hard to ensure juniors continue to develop their technical legal and client-facing skills – juniors have exposure to complex legal work, and play a critical role in major transactions, from the get-go, which enables us to come to work each day with a purpose.

Nathan Tse, Senior Solicitor

Corporate Advisory Group

A day in the life of a Corporate Advisory law clerk is never the same. Our particular team works predominantly in the private equity space, undertaking due diligence research and investigations on and for large companies seeking investment. Through this process, you learn a lot of niche facts about different business sectors and have the opportunity to speak to a variety of different clients.

In addition, corporate advisory juniors are always reviewing and drafting contracts, completing work for pro-bono clients, managing companies act compliance for ongoing clients, researching corporate and commercial law updates and attending client meetings.

Our team is incredibly supportive of junior lawyers and tries to ensure you understand the work you are completing. I feel very lucky to be part of such a social team that is involved in such an exciting and diverse range of work.

Jess Juby, Solicitor

Environment, Planning, and Natural Resources

The EPNR team works at the forefront of the environment and planning sector. A large portion of the team's work is assisting in the consenting and legal preparation of large-scale projects, including housing developments, railroads and infrastructure. This also means you have the opportunity to work alongside other teams in the firm such as Litigation, with many projects reaching Court level hearings, and Property and Corporate with due diligence. As a law clerk on these projects you are often researching caselaw, drafting court documents, evidence, and letters to clients. Other aspects of the team include providing advice on policy and law reform, judicially reviewing Council-level decisions, and assisting in local government affairs such as liquor licencing.

As a law clerk, you have the opportunity to work with some of the most talented and experienced senior lawyers in the environment field and while we are a large team, everyone is incredibly supportive and wants to help you succeed.
 

Julia Fraser, Solicitor

General Litigation

The Litigation team at Russell McVeagh is a dynamic and diverse practise group. It provides an opportunity for you to be directly involved with complex and high-profile cases that alter the course of the law.

The work is extremely varied and often intersects with other groups in the firm which allows you to be exposed to a range of different workflows. Some key workflows include research, discovery, drafting court documents, letters to clients and case management.

Litigation also provides the unique opportunity for you to get first hand courtroom experience.

Luka Letica, Solicitor

Real Estate and Construction

The Real Estate and Construction team is regarded as New Zealand's best commercial property team. The team works with some of New Zealand's largest commercial, industrial and residential property developers. One day you will be assisting with leasing matters for an industrial property, the next you will be working towards settlement of apartments in a luxury apartment complex or helping progress the sale of a large shopping centre while finishing off the week by advising your client on a large commercial office development in the Auckland CBD. The team is involved in a broad variety of exciting work which you are able to see progress when looking out of our office windows.

The collaborative nature of the work fosters a strong team spirit which means as a law clerk, you will be working across the team on multiple matters at any one time. The team is incredibly supportive, and we get strong guidance from seniors within the team to help grow our legal careers.

The team has a strong focus on training and development which means that as a law clerk you will not just be learning on the job but prepared for future legal issues in the property and construction space. As a law clerk, you will be working alongside market leaders in the industry working on real estate and construction projects that have a tangible impact on Auckland and New Zealand.

Nick Van Royen, Solicitor

Tax

Russell McVeagh's Tax team is one of the strongest legal tax practices in New Zealand. The team provide advice on all types of direct and indirect tax – meaning that team members have the opportunity to work on a wide variety of matters. 

The team regularly advises on the tax implications of financing and capital raising transactions, mergers and acquisitions, business establishment and reorganisations, investment products, PPPs, employee remuneration packages, customs and excise, transfer pricing and disputes. The team also regularly advises investment funds, businesses or individuals looking to invest in New Zealand or move into the New Zealand market for the first time. 

Our clients range from large multi-national corporates to local in-house legal/tax teams and high-net worth individuals. The team is smaller than most practice groups at Russell McVeagh and is particularly tight-knit and supportive.

Solicitor