Matthew Kersey

Matt is an experienced Litigation/Restructuring & Insolvency partner and a general commercial litigator who specialises in restructuring and insolvency and navigates complex matters for his clients. Matt advises creditors, investors and other stakeholders in relation to enforcement of security, restructuring, recovery and insolvency strategies.

Matt’s varied practice also extends to acting for insolvency practitioners in all aspects of corporate insolvency appointments such as voluntary administration, receiverships and liquidation. Many of his matters have a cross-border element.

Matt has more than 25 years of experience, delivering excellent results for his clients. Matt has worked in New Zealand, the United Kingdom and Australia, and he brings this international experience to the many complex matters he acts on at Russell McVeagh. His experience includes:

• Acting for the liquidators of the Halifax Group, cross border insolvency of online broking business.
• Acting for the receivers of the Tamarind Taranaki Limited oilfield.
• Advising voluntary administrators of CBL Corporation, listed insurance entity.
• Advising listed entities and financiers on large-scale restructuring and insolvency assignments.
• Acting for the receivers of the Pumpkin Patch retail group.
• Acting for Bath Street Capital in proceedings brought by Pyne Gould Corporation in respect of the sale of shares in Perpetual Trust Limited.

LLB (Hons: First Class), BA, University of Otago

Matt returned to Russell McVeagh in 2009 from Henry Davis York in Sydney, where he was a partner from 2002. He also spent a number of years at Herbert Smith in London.

Matt is ranked as a top tier Restructuring and Insolvency lawyer by the Chambers and Partners 2024 Guide and features in the 'Hall of Fame' in the Legal 500 2024 Guide. He is named an Elite Practitioner by Asialaw Profiles 2022; Highly Regarded by IFLR1000 2024; a 'Litigation Star' by Benchmark Litigation 2022; and is listed in the Expert Guides 2019 and in the peer-reviewed Doyles Guide 2021  

Matt was named 'Lawyer of the Year' in Best Lawyers^® 2023 Guide for Insolvency and Reorganisation Law and is recognised in the 2024 Guide for Insolvency and Reorganisation Law, Corporate Law and Litigation. Matt is also ranked a 'Litigation Star' in the Benchmark Litigation Asia Pacific 2021 guide and a 'Global Leader', Restructuring and Insolvency, and Litigation by Who's Who Legal. 

Client feedback in the Legal 500 2022 Guide emphasised Matt's expertise in the Litigation and R&I sector, stating Matt "is an outstanding practitioner and a clear leader in the New Zealand restructuring and insolvency market", "his approach to contentious matters is consistently pragmatic and constructive. His advice is always clear, accurate and well considered."

Matt has co-authored the New Zealand Securitisation chapter for the 2022, 2023 and 2024 Chambers and Partners Global Practice Guides. 

He is a member of Insol: the International Association of Insolvency professionals, and has previously been a Russell McVeagh Board member and a Board member of Restructuring, Insolvency & Turnaround Association New Zealand (RITANZ).

Matt was admitted to practise in New Zealand in 1993, England and Wales in 1997 and New South Wales (Australia) in 2000.