Guy Lethbridge

Guy is the National Practice Group Chair for Russell McVeagh's Banking and Finance team and specialises in debt capital markets and the regulation of banks and other financial institutions. 

He advises on debt and hybrid issuances, covered bonds, securitisation, derivatives, regulatory capital instruments, NZX listing rules and regulatory issues affecting banks and other financial institutions. Guy also advises borrowers and lenders on a wide range of corporate finance facilities.

A partner since 2004, Guy acts for New Zealand and international corporate and banking clients. He has a wealth of banking and finance experience gained from both New Zealand and the United Kingdom.

Guy has advised his clients on a range of complex financial matters, including:

• ANZ, ASB, BNZ, Heartland Bank, Kiwibank, IAG, Suncorp and Westpac on their regulatory capital issues.
• ANZ, ASB, BNZ and Kiwibank on the establishment of their covered bond programmes and the issuance under those programmes.
• Retail and wholesale bond issues for ANZ, BNZ, Infratil, Meridian Energy, New Zealand Post, NZX, Spark, The Warehouse and WEL Networks.
• Kiwibank on the investment in the bank and related entities by ACC and NZ Superannuation Fund.
• Spark on the liability management aspects of its demerger.

LLB (Hons), BA, University of Otago.

Guy became a partner at Russell McVeagh in 2004. He was admitted to practice in England and Wales in 1997 and spent a number of years practicing in the United Kingdom. Guy was admitted to practise in New Zealand in 1991.

Guy is a contributor to the New Zealand chapter of the Banking Regulation Review and a Teaching Fellow at Victoria University of Wellington.

Guy is a ranked lawyer by Chambers and Partners 2020. He is listed as a Leading Lawyer for Banking & Finance and Capital Markets by Asialaw Profiles 2018, and the IFLR1000 as a leading New Zealand Banking and Finance lawyer. He's also listed in the Who's Who Legal 2020 edition as a recommended lawyer in Banking and Finance.

Guy was awarded 'Lawyer of the Year' in Banking and Finance Law by Best Lawyers® 2020 New Zealand guide, and is listed by Best Lawyers® in Capital Markets Law. Guy was also awarded the New Zealand Banking Lawyer of the Year at the 2015 ILO Client Choice Awards.