Deemple Budhia

Deemple specialises in debt capital markets, securitisation (including covered bonds) and structured finance, financial markets regulation (including bank regulation, AML/CFT, consumer credit) and derivatives.

Deemple is an expert in navigating clients through complex financial transactions, and is regarded by her clients and peers as a focused partner and confident communicator. She acted on the establishment of the New Zealand Local Government Funding Agency (LGFA), its listing on the NZX in 2015 and its listed debt programme and AUD programme. Deemple has also advised on the establishment of numerous securitisation and covered bond programmes and issuances under those programmes.

In addition to Deemple’s capital markets experience, Deemple has a highly regarded financial markets regulation practice, with a focus on consumer credit, bank regulation and AML/CFT.

Deemple is a trusted advisor to major banks, listed companies and government clients including ANZ, ASB, Bank of New Zealand, Heartland Bank, Westpac, NZBA and LGFA. She regularly acts as issuer, arranger or manager counsel for capital markets transactions. 

Her transaction experience includes:

• Acting for Goodman Property Trust on its $150 million green bond issuance.
• Acting for UDC Finance on the establishment of its $2 billion warehouse securitisation and its inaugural term securitisation.
• Acting for SG Fleet on the establishment of its New Zealand securitisation programme.
• Advising various banks on consumer protection law, including the transition into the amended CCCFA regime.
• Acting for Argosy Property on the first green bond issuance by a New Zealand corporate.
• Acting for ANZ, ASB, BNZ and Westpac on the joint submission on the Reserve Bank's proposed RMBS structure for registered banks.
• Acting for ASB on the establishment of its 144A programme.
• Acting for Heartland Bank on its wholesale AUD Tier 2 issue.
• Acting for ASB and CBA on both their retail Tier 2 issues and Additional Tier 1 issues.

LLB (Hons), BA, University of Auckland.

Prior to joining Russell McVeagh, Deemple spent several years in London working in the securitisation team at Allen & Overy and then as an originator in Citibank’s European commercial property and securitisation team. She was admitted to practise in New Zealand in 1998.

Deemple is a member of the New Zealand sub-committee for the Australian Securitisation Forum, and a member of the NZ Markets Disciplinary Tribunal (NZMDT) – an independent regulatory body that ensures the integrity in our markets is maintained through determining whether an issuer or market participant has breached NZX’s market rules. 

She is author of the New Zealand chapter in The International Capital Markets Review 9th Edition; the New Zealand Securitisation chapter for the 2022 and 2023 Chambers and Partners Global Practice Guides and the New Zealand chapters within The Law Review's Virtual Currency Regulation Review (editions 1, 2, 3 and 5).

Deemple is recognised as a 'Band 1' lawyer by the Chambers and Partners Asia-Pacific Guide 2023 and is 'Highly Regarded' for Capital Markets: Debt and Capital Markets: Structured Finance and Securitisation by the IFLR1000 2022 Guide. She is also recognised by Legal 500 2022 Asia Pacific Guide as a 'Leading Lawyer' in Banking and Finance. Deemple was named 'Lawyer of the Year' for 2023 and 2022 by the Best Lawyers® New Zealand Guide for Structured Finance Law, and was also recognised in the fields of Banking and Finance, Capital Markets, Debt and Equity Practice and Structured Finance Law in the 2024 Guide.

Deemple is one of IFLR1000's 'Women Leaders' in 2022, and was named 'Best in Structured Finance and Securitisation' two years in a row by Euromoney's Women in Business Law Awards APAC 2021 and 2020.

Client feedback in the Legal 500 and Chambers Guides emphasised Deemple's expertise in Banking and Finance, stating that Deemple:

• "is really good at focusing on the main points and giving clear advice with technical legal and analytical skills"
• "is highly competent"
• ''has in-depth knowledge of the New Zealand market and all its participants. She provides quality and pragmatic advice and is a strong advocate for her clients.''