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:

• Business Syndications Limited on its acquisition and syndication of each of Natural Habitats Limited and the Skyline Aviation Group.
• The New Zealand Superannuation Fund on its formation of a NZ$300m partnership with domestic property developer, Classic Group.
• 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. 
• The shareholders on the sale of a financial technology company to an ASX listed company for 100% scrip consideration.
• 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 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.
• An owner-operator of renewable energy projects in India (which is backed by several sovereign wealth funds) on its acquisition of a renewable energy company (one of the largest renewables transactions in India at the time).
• A sovereign wealth fund on its acquisition of a large commercial development in Singapore (one of the largest single-tower real estate transactions in Asia Pacific at the time).
• The management and employees of a corporate services firm on their investment into the holding vehicle for the purposes of a private equity firm acquiring the corporate services firm.
• A major Japanese corporate group on its divestment of a Singaporean company holding various water treatment assets in China.
• The owner of a major Singaporean fashion brand on its Series B fundraising.
• A leading Chinese investment management firm on its Series D investment in an online travel search company).
• The venture capital arm of a private equity fund on its Series B investment in a company which owns several key medical technology start-up brands.

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 named a Rising Star 2021 - featuring 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.