In August 2019, Kensington Swan combined with global firm Dentons in a rare international entry into New Zealand’s legal market, easily becoming the largest international firm in the country. The firm has offices in Auckland and Wellington.
Focusses / specialisms
When it comes to transactional matters, Dentons Kensington Swan is solid across the board. The firm’s corporate and finance practice is diversified, and it has a specialised China business group that assists Chinese entrants into the New Zealand market.
Key clients
Key clients of the firm include ANZ Bank New Zealand, Artemis Capital, Craigs Investment Partners, HSBC, Deloitte, KPMG, PWC, McDonald Vague, Johnson & Johnson, and Wellington City Council.
Research period review:
32nd edition (2022/2023)
During the research cycle, the firm was active in banking, capital markets, M&A, projects, and restructuring.
The finance team was very active last year in real estate financing. The team was also involved in financing and regulatory work in corporate financing, asset, and asset back financing.
The capital markets practice acted in fund formations, IPOs, equity offerings, block trade, private placement of shares, securitisations, investment grade bonds, and green bonds in the automotive, retail sectors, technology and telecommunications.
The corporate team was particularly active in advising on private acquisitions and divestment work. The team also handled asset acquisitions and financial investment works for both the buy and sell sides.
In the projects space, the firm is continually busy advising in transport, utilities, energy, PPPs, government and public policies, real estate, and constructions and materials sectors.
The restructuring team was preoccupied with advising restructuring and insolvency proceedings as well as receivership works.
The firm strengthened its corporate team by adding partner Gerard Dale from Lane Neave, senior associates Sarah Gibbs and Keegan Toft.
Deal highlights: 32nd edition (2022/2023)
GreenMount NZ$130 million co-investment Fund
WELL Health C$19.25 million acquisitions of Intrahealth
The LGWM programme
Waikeria Prison PPP project
Receivership of Pyne Holdings
Client Feedback: 32nd edition (2022/2023)
Banking and finance
"Excellent preparation. Good client relationships. Pragmatic advice and dispute resolution approach."
Capital markets: Debt
"Knowledgeable, willing to share their understanding, timely and accurate."
M&A
"Expertise in the sector and professional advice provided to manage potential risks associated with the transaction."
"Extremely professional, very commercial approach to the negotiations, skilled and practical drafting of the SPA and available at all times. "
"They are result-driven, pragmatic and highly professional."
"Timely, constructive, value-add advice."
PPP/PFI
"Sound PPP knowledge & experience in the NZ market. Very good service, legal advice and guidance on negotiation strategies."
Project Development
"They know the resource management act well and provide good advice. Experienced with providing assistance to experts to write their technical assessments and expert evidence and step in to manage the process to achieve project timelines."
"They have provided very pragmatic advice to provide direction through the resource consenting process. I have had a high level of confidence that we are getting value for money - not just through the calibre of the technical advice received, but they check regularly about the level of involvement they should be providing."
Insolvency
"Cost-effective. Responsive."
"The firm responds very promptly to queries. The advice they provide is considered and clear. "
"The firm was thorough and quick to respond to queries. Provided good commercial advice on how best to progress matters. "
"They provided detailed and timely advice on the specific issues raised but also identified other areas of concern."
"Very knowledgeable, experienced and professional in their approach. Willing to make themselves available when required and able to work to strict deadlines."
M&A
"Committed. Attention to detail. Hardworking."
"Insolvency testing and legal advice around the sales structure, process and SPA."
"Solid, business-oriented advice and guidance."
Chris Parke
"He is approachable, responsive and provides quality advice. He is great to work with and focuses on solutions for the business."
"Very commercial and practical approach to the transaction, always available, provides practical solutions to issues that arise, adept organiser and very pleasant to deal with."
"He led the team and is very knowledgeable, focused on the big picture, pragmatic, sharp and very easy to deal with. Nothing is too much trouble."
"Committed. Attention to detail. Hardworking."
"Personable, accessible, meets deadlines, knowledge, ability to communicate succinctly, all whilst a full schedule."
Ezekiel Hudspith
"Very open and collaborative, a genuine pleasure to work with. Very considered in his approach and a strong technical knowledge."
Heida Donegan
"Professional, good customer relationship skills, strong network, good sense of risk identification and control."
"She always takes extra time to understand our business targets; is solution-focused, result-driven, professional and easy to deal with; has great communication and interpersonal skills."
James McMillan
"Very approachable, good communicator. Able to find pragmatic solutions."
"Has a very good knowledge of insolvency and related issues and is very approachable."
"His subject-matter knowledge is excellent and he responds promptly to queries. Ahis advice is always considered and clear. He has the ability to explain complex issues in simple terms."
"Professional, approachable, knowledgeable, efficient."
"Very responsive. Knowledgeable on technical insolvency matters."
Liz Lim
"Clear communication, happy to engage to explain issues and legal processes."
Nicky McIndoe
"Responsive. Manages her team well."
Paul Buetow
"Very experienced. Reputation for problem-solving between parties rather than defaulting to formal dispute process in the first instance."
Patrick Glennie
"His advice was clear and concise. Legal advice was practical and commercial. Kept updated on progress and flagged when potential issues could arise. "
Wook Jin Lee
"Timely, thoughtful and business-oriented advice and guidance."
