Chris Hodges

Partner, Auckland

Contact

+64 9 916 8321 +64 21 687 335 chris.hodges@bellgully.com

Expertise

Chris is a specialist corporate lawyer, with a particular focus on mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, capital markets, private equity and investment funds.

He has extensive experience advising on complex legal issues and works with both corporate clients and many of the world's largest financial institutions. He also regularly advises iwi organisations on corporate governance, structuring, joint venture arrangements and transactions.

Chris advises clients across a broad range of sectors, including energy, insurance, financial services, technology and healthcare.

Chris takes a pragmatic and client focussed approach to his work, drawing on his breadth of experience in New Zealand as well as his years spent working overseas.

Qualifications

LLB (Hons), BCom University of Auckland

2009 Admitted New Zealand

Professional experience

2013-2017 Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP London, UK

Suncorp sale of Asteron Life

Advised Suncorp on its NZ$410m sale of Asteron Life to Resolution Life.

Genesis Energy

Advised on its acquisition of Ecotricity and its investment in ChargeNet.

Tainui Group Holdings

Advised on its joint venture with Brookfield in relation to the Ruakura Superhub.

Orion Health

Advised on its NZ$200m sale to HEALWELL AI.

Waste Management

Advised Igneo Infrastructure Partners (formerly First Sentier Investors) on its acquisition of Waste Management New Zealand.

Bentley Systems acquisition of Seequent

Advised on its US$1.05bn acquisition of Seequent.

Mercury Capital

Advised Mercury Capital on the establishment and operation of its Funds 1, 2 and 3.

IPO and NZX Main Board listing of Napier Port

Acting for Hawke's Bay Regional Council and Port of Napier in connection with the NZ$234m IPO and NZX Main Board listing of Napier Port.

High Court confirms FMA does not owe investors a duty of care

Private credit: trends and opportunities

Regulators pulling available levers to boost IPO activity

Proposed new rules for overseas investment in New Zealand: is your deal in the national interest?

ESG update: consultation opens on NZ’s “Sustainable Finance Taxonomy”

Proposed new change of control regime for financial sector M&A

The Big Picture: Class Actions

Greenwashing update: rising penalties and the dawning of NZ’s Sustainable Finance Taxonomy

CBL judgment – CFO found liable as an accessory for continuous disclosure breaches

27 February 2025

ASIC ponders whether it should be worried about the emergence of private capital