Eight senior appointments announced by Bell Gully

Bell Gully has appointed eight to senior roles, including three elevations to partner and two to special counsel.

Jennifer Coote, Glenn Shewan, and Toni Forrest have joined the partnership.

“The trio have contributed significantly to the firm over a long period of time, working on some of the largest matters in New Zealand and internationally,” Bell Gully chair Anna Buchly said.

She said all of the new partners have outstanding reputations in their respective fields and will add new skills to the partnership. Buchly highlighted Coote’s reputation as a dealmaker.

“Jennifer is a well-respected corporate lawyer both in New Zealand and around the world, having performed important roles in a number of significant recent transactions including the sale of Formica Group by Fletcher Building and the sale of Vodafone New Zealand by the Vodafone Group,” she said.

Shewan, who specialises in competition, is an industry leader in New Zealand’s Overseas Investment Act process, Buchly said.

“Glenn, a special counsel since 2018, is vastly experienced across competition law and regulatory matters, advising on many of New Zealand's major transactions, cartel, misuse of market power and the commission's first-ever market study. Glenn recently acted on high profile competition matters including the sale of Vodafone to a consortium of Brookfield and Infratil and GlaxoSmithKline's acquisition of pharmaceutical brands from Pfizer,” she said.

Buchly noted Forrest’s important client relationships.

“As part of our growing projects and real estate practice, Toni is a trusted advisor to several of Bell Gully's key clients including Wellington City Council, Ngāi Tahu and SkyCity Entertainment Group. Toni brings her background as a corporate lawyer to the department, providing valuable expertise to clients,” she said.

Bell Gully has also elevated Susannah Shaw and Campbell Pentney to special counsel.

Buchly said that Shaw is an expert in the ICT and private- and public-sector contracting and that her promotion reflects considerable work in these fields. Buchly also said that Pentney specialises in indirect taxes and custom duties. In recent years, Pentney has become one of the firm's key personnel in emerging technologies such as blockchain and cryptocurrencies.

Taylor Wood has been promoted to senior associate. Part of the Auckland litigation department, she acts on contentious matters that include regulatory investigations, product liability proceedings, and adjudication proceedings. She has particular experience in construction and property matters.

Bell Gully has also appointed Kate Redgewell as consultant. Based in Wellington, she returned to the firm after five years at Transpower New Zealand. She boosts the firm’s government and corporate teams. She is also an expert on climate change-related matters.

Rupert Rouch has also been appointed as a senior associate in the firm’s Wellington corporate team. He is well-respected and works with some of the largest companies in New Zealand, Buchly said.