We are pleased to acknowledge the appointments of seven senior lawyers across our competition, banking and finance, litigation, environment and planning and projects and infrastructure teams: Penny Pasley, Colleen Cheong, Finnbahr Boyle, David Northfield, James Ruddell, Megan Exton and Meika McHardy.
“These recent appointments reflect our commitment to excellence, and to delivering advice that makes a clear difference to our clients.” said Bell Gully Chair Torrin Crowther.
Penny Pasley, competition – Special Counsel
Penny is an experienced competition lawyer who advises on a broad range of competition matters including mergers and joint ventures, collaborative activities, cartel investigations and misuse of market power. Penny brings a wealth of experience and understanding of international competition law, from advising high profile clients in the European Union and from completing a Postgraduate Diploma in EU Competition Law at King's College in London.
Colleen Cheong, banking and finance – Senior Associate
Colleen has experience focusing on structured finance, including securitisations, and derivatives. As a member of our market-leading banking and finance team, Colleen advises a range of domestic and international banking and capital market participants and offers experience that spans a range of asset-backed structures and asset classes. She previously worked at international law firm Simmons & Simmons in Singapore and London, as well as in-house at global banks.
Finnbahr Boyle, banking and finance – Senior Associate
Finnbahr is an experienced finance lawyer with expertise advising sponsors, borrowers, fund managers and lenders on leveraged finance, private credit, fund finance and general corporate lending transactions. He is also experienced in debt restructurings. Prior to joining Bell Gully, Finnbahr was a partner at leading Irish firm Matheson LLP. He also spent time at Dentons (London) and on secondment to Lloyds Bank’s debt finance team. He is qualified in Ireland and New Zealand, and attended the University of Otago.
David Northfield, litigation and dispute resolution – Senior Associate
David specialises in regulation, dispute resolution and litigation, and has significant experience in financial services, public, and regulatory law. Prior to joining Bell Gully from the UK in late 2024, David worked at the independent bar, in the Government Legal Department, at international firm Fieldfisher, and most recently as Senior Counsel at the UK’s Financial Ombudsman Service. He has acted in cases at all levels of the UK courts, including in both the UK House of Lords and Supreme Court, and his extensive experience gives him deep insight into resolving complex commercial and public law related disputes.
James Ruddell, litigation and dispute resolution – Senior Associate
James is an experienced litigator and advocate with particular expertise in complex commercial disputes, banking and finance, cross-border litigation and insolvency. He began his career at Bell Gully in 2013. From 2016, James practised as a commercial barrister at One Essex Court, a top-tier barristers’ chambers in London. From 2023, he was also a member of Shortland Chambers in Auckland. While in practice as a barrister, James acted in market-leading commercial disputes, including in several appeals to the UK Supreme Court.
Megan Exton, environment and planning – Senior Associate
Megan specialises in environment and planning law with a focus on major infrastructure projects. She works in all areas of environment and planning law, including planning and enforcement processes as well as obtaining approvals for large-scale infrastructure and development projects. Megan has particular experience in the renewable energy, port and roading sectors and in consenting projects in coastal and freshwater environments.
Meika McHardy, projects and infrastructure – Senior Associate
Meika is a specialist construction, major projects and infrastructure, and energy lawyer. She advises a range of clients including government entities and local councils, power and renewable energy companies, developers, contractors and publicly listed companies. Meika’s experience includes advising on public private partnership (PPP) projects, as well as an extensive range of construction project contracts, including NZS and FIDIC standard form construction contracts, EPC contracts, supply agreements, operation and maintenance agreements, consultancy agreements, and other project agreements and documentation for residential and commercial developments.
We are delighted to welcome lawyers of this calibre to our team, who bring with them local and international expertise across major practice areas.
Disclaimer: This publication is necessarily brief and general in nature. You should seek professional advice before taking any action in relation to the matters dealt with in this publication.
