David Chisnall

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David is Bell Gully’s lead commercial property partner in Wellington and specialises in the structuring, procurement and delivery of large-scale construction and development projects.

David has a wealth of negotiating experience, including in the highly political Te Tiriti o Waitangi/the Treaty of Waitangi settlement area, and is also the trusted direct New Zealand negotiator for international clients such as Host Hotels & Resorts, the largest hotel accommodation company in the US.

David's strength is to contribute his negotiating and legal experience in a straight forward way to facilitate transactions and obtain commercially valuable outcomes for clients. This is recognised by Asia Law Business who has described him as "client-focused, outcome focused and having vast experience in projects."

David has led external legal teams advising public and private sector clients on many nationally significant projects and joint ventures across various industries, including infrastructure (roading, rail, ports and hydro-schemes), tourism and hospitality, forestry and large-scale development and construction projects.

He is also an expert in Te Tiriti o Waitangi/the Treaty of Waitangi issues, having acted for Ngāi Tahu on its historic Treaty Settlement and as legal advisor to the Government on the "Treelords" Central North Island Forests Settlement.

David is ranked as a leading lawyer for real estate in Chambers Asia Pacific 2021, recognised for his “active practice assisting clients in relation to development and redevelopment projects." Clients noted that David is “very experienced, innovative and detail-focused, and he has the ability to convey a wide range of thoughts clearly." In previous editions, clients have commented that David is "a very practical and commercial lawyer" who is praised for his ability in both property transactions and construction matters.

The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2021 ranks David as a leading individual for real estate and construction. David is also recognised as highly regarded for his project development work by the IFLR 2022.

David is recognised by Doyles Guide 2021 as a preeminent lawyer for Construction, Projects and Infrastructure in New Zealand. Doyle’s Guide 2020 also recognised David as recommended in Māori Land & Treaty of Waitangi Law.

Work highlights

Tainui Group Holdings
Advised Tainui Group Holdings on its completed purchase of a half share in Centre Place North, a large retail shopping centre in central Hamilton, as part of a complex joint venture arrangement with Kiwi Property, and on its completed deal for a new office build accommodation for the Accident Compensation Corporation in Hamilton City.

Precinct Properties
Advised Precinct Properties on its significant office redevelopment projects in the Central Government Precinct, Wellington, including finalising the development of Defence House and MPI House and the construction of two new buildings in the precinct, and on the sale of Pastoral House, Wellington.

Wellington City Council projects
Advising Wellington City Council on the planned combined movie museum and convention centre and on its plans to revitalise the Civic Square Precinct and strengthen the Town Hall.

Host Hotels & Resorts property portfolio
Advising Host Hotels & Resorts (the US's largest hotel accommodation company) on its New Zealand hotel portfolio, including the redevelopment of the Novotel Hotels in Christchurch and Queenstown and the subsequent sales of all of its properties in New Zealand.

Housing New Zealand (HNZ)
Advising HNZ on the Government's social housing programme and associated commercial contracting and transition issues relating to the proposed transfer to Tamaki Redevelopment Corporation of up to 2,800 HNZ properties in Tamaki, Auckland, as well as on all aspects of the procurement of maintenance and repair services to its entire portfolio of 69,000 homes, under a comprehensive performance maintenance contract with a core contractual value of over NZ$1 billion.

Ngāi Tahu strategic property advice
Advised Ngāi Tahu Property Limited Property on its “partnering agreement” with Queenstown Lakes District Council to redevelop central Queenstown on issues relating to its strategic property interests, including the administration of Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu statutory right of first refusal.

ANZ strategic property projects
Advising ANZ on its strategic property projects throughout the country, including the ANZ Centre development in Christchurch, and acquisition and development and construction of ANZ's new data centre in Albany, the NZ$150 million redevelopment of the ANZ Centre in Auckland, and on the redevelopment of the former Telecom Head Office Wellington (to accommodate ANZ's consolidated Wellington office and call centre).

LT McGuiness construction contracts
Advised LT McGuiness on its construction contract for the construction and development of Clyde Quay in Wellington, including significant marine environment issues.

Forestry

Central North Island Forests iwi settlement
Advised the New Zealand Government on the Central North Island Forests iwi settlement (Treelords). This was the first, and arguably the largest ever, collective settlement (approx value of NZ$500 million) relating to the Central North Island forestry estate (approx 185,000 ha involving eight separate forests).

Port of Marlborough initiatives
Advising Port Marlborough on strategic business initiatives, including arrangements with local iwi on foreshore, reclamation and development opportunities.

KiwiRail outsourcing
Advised KiwiRail (then Tranz Rail) on the extensive outsourcing of various engineering divisions including track infrastructure, locomotives, rolling stock and telecommunications.

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Work highlights

Forestry

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