Corporate Advisory and
Commercial Transaction Experts

Strategic legal advice for governance, mergers and acquisitions, private equity, capital markets, and business growth.

Wynn Williams’ Corporate Advisory and Transactions team offers specialist expertise and advice to domestic and international clients across the full range of corporate transactions and corporate advisory matters. From multinationals, listed companies and private equity fund managers, to financial institutions, local authorities and family-owned businesses – we provide an unwavering focus on achieving the outcomes our clients require and on driving value for them. Our depth of legal and governance experience and strategic approach to problem solving, combined with our pragmatic and commercially driven focus, consistently delivers successful results. Such is our trademark.

The team is independently recognised as a leading firm for Corporate and Mergers & Acquisitions by the Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners Asia Pacific directories.

How we can help

  • Advisory: We advise directors, boards, companies, limited partners and other market participants on all corporate governance matters; equity and debt capital raisings, complex shareholder and partnership issues; and strategic planning and projects
  • M&A: Our team is highly regarded for its private M&A offering, which combines expert advice with a proven track record in precise and efficient execution capability
  • Private equity and venture capital: We have a deep understanding of the PE and VC sector from the perspective of both the fund and the vendor – we are regularly engaged by domestic and global funds to advise on acquisitions, exits and capital raises and, as an illustration of our reputation in the market, a number of funds and financial advisors frequently recommend our team to advise the management sellers on sell-downs on the basis of its pragmatic approach to problem solving and ‘getting a deal done’
  • Funds: The team includes one of New Zealand’s leading lawyers in this area and has expertise in structuring and documenting funds in range of sectors, and in delivering a diverse set of commercial outcomes
  • Capital Markets: The team is experienced in public capital markets from a transactional and advisory perspective – one of our team held a recent governance role on the NZX Board so has a unique and broad perspective to further assist clients in efficiently achieving a successful listing-related outcome
  • Complex commercial contracting: The team is the legal advisor to some of New Zealand’s largest companies and is known for its expertise, sound commercial advice and sophisticated negotiation relating to large and complex commercial contract arrangements
  • Advised the Ports of Auckland on the automation of its port
  • Advised the board of Blue Sky Meats on corporate governance matters and strategy
  • Advised multiple supply chain participants on highly complex commercial contracts with national and international suppliers/customers
  • Mergers & Acquisitions: Infrastructure Capital Group Limited on the acquisition of 49% of the Kinectic Group which included Kinetic NZ Holdings Limited, Airbus Holdings Limited, Skybus NZ Limited and the Go Bus Group
  • Mergers & Acquisitions: National end-to-end supply chain business Hall’s Group and Icepak’s sale to Talley’s Group
  • Mergers & Acquisitions: Global broadcasting and production business NEP Group’s acquisition of Sky Network Television’s outside broadcasting assets
  • Mergers & Acquisitions: ASX listed Orora on the NZ aspects of the sale of fibe business to Nippon Paper for AUD1.7B
  • Mergers & Acquisitions: The Reddy Group’s merger of its Fiji based Clyde equipment hire business with the Acrow Group, New Zealand’s largest scaffolding, formwork, falsework and event infrastructure business
  • Advising Milford Private Equity on its cornerstone investment in the Real NZ Group, Series B investment in Cluey Learning and investment into the 45 South Group, one of New Zealand’s largest vertically integrated cherry businesses
  • Agility CIS Limited share sale to private equity firm SilverTree Equity (London) and Pioneer Capital (NZ)
  • Laybuy’s partial sell-down to Pioneer Capital
  • Partial sell-down of Smart Environmental to Maui Capital
  • Advised Salus Aviation on its proposed NZX and ASX listing
  • Advising certain directors and employees in NZX listed Serko on their secondary offering
  • Adviser to NZX Listed NZ Windfarms
  • Establishment of the first New Zealand private credit fund for Aotea Asset Management
  • Establishment of KDK Ventures’ private capital fund
  • Establishment of Climate Venture Capital Fund for LWCM Limited (the manager of the Punakaiki Fund)
  • Establishment of numerous kiwifruit funds for Southern Cross Horticulture

Key Contacts

Ash Hill

Managing Partner

Hayley Buckley

Partner

Kimberley Wong

Partner

Stephen Lowe

Partner

Tom Heard

Partner

Nichola Williams

Special Counsel

Danita Ferreira

Senior Associate

Katherine Binsted

Senior Associate

Katie Green

Senior Associate

Maria Nieto

Senior Associate