Lance Jones, Joanna Khoo, Bevan Peachey and Gareth Worthington have been promoted to Special Counsel across the Corporate and Banking & Finance teams at the leading firm.
Board Chair Malcolm Crotty says the firm is pleased to promote four senior associates to Special Counsel effective 1 December, highlighting the excellence of these highly experienced and respected senior lawyers. The promotions are further to the firm's recent announcement of its newly promoted partners.
Of the Special Counsel appointments, Mr Crotty says, "we are recognising these leaders who are trusted advisers to our clients, excelling in their respective areas and making a positive contribution throughout our teams".
Lance Jones, Corporate Advisory, Auckland
Lance has extensive corporate law experience in mergers and acquisitions, private equity transactions, joint ventures and shareholder arrangements, inbound overseas investment and complex commercial contracts. Known as an "outstanding transactional lawyer" for his commercial acumen, technical advice and deal strategy and execution capabilities, Lance regularly advises on significant and complex matters for key clients of the firm, including Fonterra, The New Zealand Superannuation Fund, Perpetual Guardian, Pacific Equity Partners and Goodman Group. Having worked at global firms in London and Sydney prior to joining Russell McVeagh, Lance brings a valuable international perspective to his advice and expertise in cross-border transactions.
Joanna Khoo, Corporate Advisory, Auckland
Specialising in funds management (including KiwiSaver and superannuation), financial services, securities law and general corporate matters, Joanna empowers her clients by simplifying complexity. She has recently advised Fidelity Life on a cornerstone investment by the New Zealand Superannuation Fund and NZX on its issue of subordinated notes. Joanna has advised both New Zealand and global fund managers in relation to their managed investment schemes and financial markets obligations, as well as Spark, Auckland International Airport and Trade Me in relation to employee and executive share schemes and other corporate governance matters.
Bevan Peachey, Banking and Finance, Auckland
Bevan has a broad corporate financing practice and brings a wealth of experience from working on innovative and complex financing, infrastructure and restructuring transactions in New Zealand and international markets. Bevan re-joined Russell McVeagh when he returned to New Zealand from the United Kingdom in 2017, and advises domestic and international financial institutions, corporate borrowers and sponsors on a wide range of complex and strategic transactions, including corporate lending, project finance, acquisition/leveraged finance, property and development finance, refinancing and restructuring. He has particular expertise in the infrastructure and energy sectors and has worked on significant transactions for many of the firm's key clients.
Gareth Worthington, Corporate Advisory, Wellington
Gareth has significant expertise in securities law, mergers and acquisitions, funds management, private equity and other corporate transactions. He advised Origin Energy on its dual-track IPO and sale process (including on the ultimate sale of its upstream oil and gas assets to Beach Energy), Tasman District Council in relation to the Waimea Dam, Bayada Inc on its acquisition of a significant minority stake in Healthvision and various social enterprises on their legal structures. His work for Origin Energy was recognised at the 2018 Australian Law Awards (Energy and Resources Deal of the Year) and the 2018 New Zealand Law Awards (New Zealand Deal of the Year and International Deal of the Year).
For more information, please contact:
Joanna Comerford
Corporate Communications Manager
[email protected]
D +64 4 819 7520 or 027 911 8369