The appointments boost two of the firm's practice groups
DLA Piper is boosting two practice groups with the appointments of two Auckland lawyers to the partnership.
Michael Thompson has been appointed to partner after joining the firm's finance, projects, and restructuring team in January as a special counsel. He moved from MinterEllisonRuddWatts, where he was a senior associate.
Thompson, who was recognised as a “Next Generation Lawyer” in The Legal 500 Asia Pacific in 2017 and 2018, has extensive experience Australian, European, and New Zealand markets. He acts for local and international banks and borrowers on domestic and cross-border financing. He has a particular focus on property and development finance, acquisition finance, corporate finance and debt restructuring.
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Michael Thompson
Heath Brunton has also joined the DLA Piper partnership. He joined the firm’s real estate team from Chapman Tripp, where he was a senior associate.
Brunton has extensive national and international experience in property matters, with a particular focus on large integrated housing and mixed developments and property investment and transactions. He has also advised in numerous urban regeneration and affordable and social housing projects. Brunton has particular experience in design-build leasing arrangements for large developments, agriculture, hotels and construction.
The new partner said that in New Zealand, the market is rapidly shifting to a mixed-model of offices, retail, and apartments in one project.
Heath Brunton
“Being the only global law firm operating in New Zealand, we continue to attract top talent to our business,” said Martin Wiseman, DLA Piper New Zealand country managing partner.
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