Russell McVeagh promotes four to special counsel

Russell McVeagh has promoted four to special counsel, enhancing the firm’s corporate and banking and finance teams.

The promotions, which became effective at the start of the month, highlight the excellence of the former senior associates, said Malcolm Crotty, Russell McVeagh board chairman. “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,” he said.

The promotions were also announced after the firm welcomed four to the partnership.

The newly promoted special counsel are:

Lance Jones - Corporate advisory

Jones has extensive corporate law experience in M&A, private equity, joint ventures and shareholder agreements, inbound investments, and complex commercial contracts. He regularly advises on significant and complex matters for key clients, which include Fonterra, The New Zealand Superannuation Fund, Perpetual Guardian, Pacific Equity Partners, and Goodman Group, Russell McVeagh said. Jones brought international experience to the firm when he joined in 2014 from Norton Rose Fulbright in London. Before that, he was also with legacy Freehills in Sydney.

Joanna Khoo - Corporate advisory

A funds management, financial services, securities law, and general corporate matters specialist, Khoo has been with the firm since the start of her legal career in 2006. Russell McVeagh said that she recently advised Fidelity Life on a cornerstone investment by the New Zealand Superannuation Fund, as well as NZX on its issue of subordinated notes. She is experienced in advising fund managers both in New Zealand and abroad on managed investment schemes and financial markets obligations. She has also advised Spark, Auckland International Airport, and Trade Me on corporate governance matters, including employee and executive share schemes.

Bevan Peachey - Banking and finance

Peachey is another internationally experienced lawyer who joined Russell McVeagh last year from London, where he practised at Slaughter and May and Norton Rose Fulbright. He has extensive corporate finance experience, including working on innovative and complex financing, as well as on infrastructure and restructuring transactions. He advises on a wide range of transactions, including corporate lending, project finance, acquisition/leveraged finance, property and development finance, refinancing and restructuring. He has a focus on the infrastructure and energy sectors.

Gareth Worthington - Corporate advisory

Worthington is an expert in securities law, M&A, funds management, private equity, and corporate transactions. He is also internationally experienced, having practised at Norton Rose Fulbright and Herbert Smith in Dubai. He has acted on major transactions, including Origin Energy’s dual-track IPO, Tasman District Council’s Waimea Dam project, and Bayada’s acquisition of a stake in Healthvision. The Origin Energy deal was awarded the New Zealand Deal of the Year and International Deal of the Year at the New Zealand Law Awards this year.

(L-R) Lance Jones, Gareth Worthington, Joanna Khoo, and Bevan Peachey