Infrastructure and Projects

Bell Gully's infrastructure and projects group draws together leading specialists into an experienced multi-disciplinary team. It aims to be New Zealand's pre-eminent legal advisory group providing seamless advice on all aspects of planning, documenting, project managing and implementing major infrastructure projects.

The establishment of the specialist group coincides with New Zealand's entry into what is shaping up to be an era of heightened infrastructure development. It also comes as one of New Zealand's leading resource management lawyers, Andrew Beatson, joins Bell Gully, bringing demonstrated experience and success at gaining consent for major projects.

The group includes a core team of partners with legal skills and experience in commercial and contractual work for major projects, construction, resource management/planning, and project financing.

The group is also able to call on the full services of other Bell Gully partners, staff and consultants in areas including tax, Maori services, climate change/emissions trading, outsourcing and litigation.

The core members of the infrastructure and projects group are:

Garry Downs

Garry leads the group from the Auckland office and is recognised as one of New Zealand's leading major project lawyers. He has been involved in some of the firm's key projects over the last 15 years, recently including the redevelopment of Auckland's waterfront and the commercialisation of geothermal fields in the central North Island.

Chris Gordon

Chris leads the group from Bell Gully's Wellington office and has significant infrastructure development and project experience, including project management of large-scale, multi-faceted projects. Chris has particular expertise in the electricity sector and has recently acted on the Kupe gas field development by Origin Energy.

Andrew Beatson

Andrew, a resource management partner, based in Wellington, has been leading all resource consenting planning work for Meridian Energy wind-farm generation strategy.

Tom Bennett

Tom is a partner specialising in local government, construction and infrastructure projects and is currently acting for Auckland Regional Transport Authority in procuring new electric rolling stock and an integrated fare system.

Hugh Kettle

Hugh is a banking and finance partner who, before returning to Bell Gully in 2005, spent three years in the project finance group in the London office of Allen & Overy LLP. While overseas Hugh worked on a wide range of infrastructure projects, including PPPs/PFIs in the transport, Government accommodation and education sectors, electricity generation projects and LNG liquefaction plants.

Murray King

A senior banking and finance partner, Murray has extensive experience advising on all aspects of project financing.

Andrew Petersen

Andrew is in the commercial property team and is fast being recognised as one of New Zealand's leading construction lawyers on major property developments. He is currently leading Bell Gully's work in the redevelopment of Auckland City's historic Britomart precinct.

Clive Taylor

One of New Zealand's leading commercial lawyers, Clive has led projects in the forestry, energy and primary production areas.

For more information please contact any member of the infrastructure and projects group.