Buddle Findlay beefs up with new senior associates

Buddle Findlay has beefed up its teams with three new senior associates.

Jacey McGrath made her return to the firm this month, joining the commercial litigation and insolvency team in Wellington after a stint with the Ministry of Justice as senior legal specialist in the Court of Appeal. As registrar, she held quasi-judicial decision-making powers that enabled her to issue written determinations on complex applications related to security for costs, fees, and time extensions.

Moreover, she assisted judges with the resolution of jurisdictional and procedural issues in civil cases. She also helped to draft amendments to the Court of Appeal (Civil) Rules 2005 with the aim of enhancing procedures and providing clarity for litigants.

McGrath focuses on commercial litigation and insolvency, representing private and public sector clients in contractual claims, debt recovery, negligence, lease disputes, breach of confidence, product liability, and misrepresentations. She has appeared as counsel in the Privy Council, Court of Appeal, High Court, and District Court; she has also been involved in mediations.

In addition, she provided guidance on possible legal violations and helped with director prosecutions while involved in the investigations of failed finance companies.

Mace Gorringe joined the Auckland financial services team in July after stints in London and Auckland. He brings extensive experience in restructuring, insolvency, and general finance law.

He has worked on the full spectrum of restructuring, insolvency, and finance matters. His clients include insolvency practitioners, borrowers, lenders, companies and their boards, purchasers, trustees and supervisors, and government entities. Moreover, he has worked on issues involving infrastructure, housing, and private M&A.

As with Gorringe, Andrew Suggate commenced with the Auckland financial services team last month. He brings over 15 years of experience working with financial institutions in New Zealand and internationally on all aspects of financial services and capital markets law, such as investment structuring, financial product issuance and distribution, financial advice, and regulatory law related to prudential conduct and financial services.

He has advised banks, fund managers, non-bank deposit takers, financial advisers, insurers, NZX participants, platform providers, and fintech companies. He also gleaned in-house experience through his work across New Zealand and the UK.