Takeovers Panel looks to Bell Gully for new general counsel

The senior lawyer has extensive experience in corporate and commercial transactions

Takeovers Panel looks to Bell Gully for new general counsel

The New Zealand Takeovers Panel has appointed Mark Cunliffe as general counsel.

Cunliffe joins from Bell Gully, where he has been senior associate since 2012. Before joining Bell Gully, he also worked at Simpson Grierson in Wellington and at Travers Smith in London.

The corporate lawyer specialises in corporate and commercial transactions, with a particular focus on M&A and takeovers and commercial agreements. In private practice, he focused on ICT and energy sector clients.

As GC, he oversees the government watchdog’s legal and enforcement team, working closely with Andrew Hudson, the panel’s CEO, on policy and public understanding functions. Hudson, who was the panel’s GC, was named its CEO in October.

“We’re confident that Mark’s extensive experience in corporate and commercial transactions will strengthen our team’s expertise,” said Hudson.

The Takeovers Panel is an independent Crown entity enforcing New Zealand’s Takeovers Code to boost investor confidence in the country’s capital markets.