Pick up the business section of your local newspaper and, chances are, we're working on a number of the deals and transactions you see in the headlines.
No other New Zealand law firm can match our client list. It includes iconic New Zealand companies such as Air New Zealand, ANZ, ASB, Fletcher Building, Ngāi Tahu, Vodafone, Xero, public sector bodies, the New Zealand Treasury, the Ministry of Education and Vector Gas. We are very proud of our clients and the contribution we have been able to make to their success.
We're equally as proud working with emerging and innovative companies, helping them grow their businesses and New Zealand's economic future.
Our summer clerks get the opportunity to attend client meetings and become involved in transactions. That gives them a unique insight into what's involved in the headline-making deals.
Some examples of work we've done recently:
New Zealand Capital Markets and International Deal of the Year
Advised Millennium & Copthorne Hotels New Zealand on its offer of redeemable preference shares by way of rights issue, and the subsequent capital reduction and distribution of approximately NZ$240 million worth of shares in First Sponsor Group by way of Court approved scheme of arrangement. This won the Capital Markets Deal of the Year and the International Deal of the Year at the 2015 New Zealand Law Awards.
Cola bottle litigation for PepsiCo
Successfully defended PepsiCo and Frucor Beverages (manufacturer and distributors of Pepsi, Pepsi Max and 7UP) against claims by Coca-Cola that they had infringed Coca-Cola's intellectual property rights in its contour bottle shape. Trade mark infringement, passing off and breaches of the Fair Trading Act were alleged. The case raised important issues around shape marks.
Britomart precinct redevelopment
This highly complex redevelopment is the largest historic restoration project to be undertaken in New Zealand, and includes the development of major new buildings on Auckland's waterfront.
Danone dispute with Fonterra
Acting for Danone in its dispute with Fonterra following the August 2013 whey protein concentrate botulism scare, including acting and appearing in New Zealand High Court proceedings issued by Danone.
Ross Asset Management (In Liquidation)
Acting for PwC as receivers and then liquidators of the Ross Asset group of companies, New Zealand's largest Ponzi scheme. The most significant aspect of this case in recent times has been successfully leading a test case against a former investor in order to claw back fictitious profits paid to him. Litigation against a number of former investors is now expected to follow.
Class actions
While still a relatively new development in the New Zealand legal market, Bell Gully is at the forefront of class action matters. We act for the defendant directors of Feltex Carpets in the first securities class action to have gone to trial in both New Zealand and Australia (currently on appeal). We are also acting in two other significant class actions currently before the courts: the claim by customers of all of the major trading banks that they have paid too much in fees; and the claim against Southern Response Earthquake Services brought by earthquake affected Canterbury homeowners.
