Jennifer Gunser

Partner, Auckland

Contact

+64 9 916 8757 +64 21 704 923 jennifer.gunser@bellgully.com

Expertise

Jennifer is a specialist debt finance lawyer focussing on acquisition financing and leveraged lending, senior and subordinated transactions, sustainable finance and asset-based financings. Jennifer also leads the securitisation and structured finance practice.

Jennifer has extensive domestic and international experience advising private equity sponsors, their portfolio companies, other public and private companies and financial institutions in connection with complex debt financing transactions. She routinely represents clients across industries, asset classes and jurisdictions, including Fletcher Building on its multi-jurisdictional financing arrangements, BGH Capital on the financing for the acquisition of Pushpay Holdings, the agent and lender syndicate in connection with Queensland Investment Corporation's acquisition of Evolution Healthcare and the financiers and bond supervisor of Spark New Zealand.

Jennifer also represents issuers, arrangers, trustees and other financial institutions on securitisation transactions involving a variety of asset classes, including advising each of Motor Trade Finance, humm group, Bluestone New Zealand and Speirs Finance on the establishment on their New Zealand securitisation programmes and issuances under those programmes, advising The New Zealand Guardian Trust Company as trustee under Avanti Finance's securitisation programme and advising the arrangers and financiers under the Latitude securitisation programme.

Jennifer began her career at Bell Gully and returned in 2015, after practicing in New York and London.

Qualifications

LLB (Hons), BA University of Otago

Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar

LLM Columbia University School of Law, New York

2006 Admitted New Zealand

2013 Admitted New York

Professional experience

2022 - current Member New Zealand sub-committee for the Australian Securitisation Forum

2013-2015 Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP New York, USA

2012-2013 Shearman & Sterling LLP New York, USA

2010-2011 Shearman & Sterling LLP London, UK

^{Chambers Asia Pacific 2025 Banking and finance, 'Leading lawyer'.}

^{The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2025 Banking and finance, 'Next generation partner'.}

^{IFLR 1000 2024 Banking and finance, 'Highly regarded' and 'Women leaders'.}

^{Women in Business Law Awards APAC 2023 Debt capital markets, 'Lawyer of the year', shortlist.}

^{Clients say "Jennifer Gunser is our go-to partner for lending to large corporates. Her ability to pick out commercial issues within the legal context is second-to-none and enables her to assist her clients to quickly and efficiently close transactions."}

Pushpay Holdings acquisition

Advised BGH Capital on the acquisition financing in connection with the purchase of Pushpay Holdings.

Bluestone securitisation programme

Advised Bluestone Group in connection with its New Zealand securitisation programme (warehouse, private placement and term transactions) and subsequent divestment of its New Zealand business to Challenger Life.

Evolution Healthcare acquisition

Advised Lead Arrangers, Agent and Lenders on the acquisition financing in connection with QIC's purchase of Evolution Healthcare.

Restaurant Brands

Advised Restaurant Brands on the establishment of global multi-currency facilities across New Zealand, Australia and the United States.

Spark funding and sustainable bonds

Advised Lead Arrangers, Agent and Lenders in connection with Spark New Zealand's senior funding, and the Supervisor in connection with Spark New Zealand’s sustainably linked bonds.