Corporate

Our team comprises market-leading corporate lawyers who work with a wide-range of clients and businesses on a broad range of complex and strategic corporate and commercial matters, including:

mergers and acquisition transactions
equity capital markets transactions
private equity and venture capital mandates
corporate advisory and governance advice
takeovers and schemes of arrangement (for both acquirors and targets), and
listed company advice.

The bench strength of our offering across the full spectrum of corporate matters sets us apart from others. Our corporate team works in a co-ordinated way, together with other specialist lawyers within Bell Gully where required for a particular matter, as part of our client’s wider team to deliver exceptional outcomes for our clients and to complete transactions and advisory work on time and within budget.

We pride ourselves on understanding our client's business and strategic objectives, providing commercial and innovative solutions, and assisting with project management across all aspects of small and large scale corporate matters. We work with our client’s lawyers and business teams in an integrated and no fuss manner.

^{Chambers Asia Pacific 2025 Corporate/Commercial, 'Band 1'.}

^{The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2025 Corporate and M&A, 'Tier 1'.}

^{IFLR 1000 2024 M&A, 'Tier 1'.}

^{Clients describe our team as "The premier NZ firm for big ticket M&A. Strong across the board."}

Nippon Life's acquisition of Resolution Group

Advised Japan's largest life insurer, Nippon Life, on the New Zealand aspects of its US$8.2bn transaction to acquire Resolution Life Group Holdings Ltd – this is the largest overseas acquisition by a Japanese insurer to date.

Stonepeak's acquisition of Arvida

Acquisition of NZX-listed retirement village operator Arvida Group by way of court-approved scheme of arrangement. This was the largest take private transaction in New Zealand in recent years.

Establishment of the First Cape wealth advisory business

Advised Jarden on the merger of the Jarden Wealth, Harbour Asset Management, JBWere New Zealand and BNZ Investment Services wealth advisory, asset management and KiwiSaver businesses, and the related equity investment by Pacific Equity Partners, to form the new entity FirstCape Group.

Chemist Warehouse's acquisition of Sigma Healthcare

Advised Chemist Warehouse on its merger with retailer Sigma Healthcare to create a leading ASX-listed wholesaler, distributor and retail pharmacy franchisor with a market cap of more than A$30bn.

Contact Energy's proposed acquisition of Manawa Energy

Advising Contact Energy on its proposed acquisition of NZX-listed Manawa Energy, through a court-approved scheme of arrangement.

Igneo Infrastructure Partners

Advised Igneo on its NZ energy and infrastructure transactions and investments, including the acquisition of the Vector and Maui gas transmission assets, the Ultra-Fast Fibre business, Waste Management Eastland’s electricity network and the development of New Zealand's largest solar project, the Tauhei solar farm.

FountainVest Funds

Advised FountainVest on the acquisition of New Zealand premium pet food company Ziwi – one of the largest private M&A transactions in New Zealand in recent years.

Seequent acquisition

Advised Bentley Systems, a NASDAQ-listed software company, on its US$1.05bn acquisition of Seequent Holdings, a global leader in 3D modelling software for geosciences.