Buddle Findlay is highlighted for its ‘wide commercial experience, with specialist knowledge in finance, restructuring and insolvency areas’. The team benefits from the non-contentious restructuring expertise of Auckland-based practice head David Perry, particularly in workouts. Litigation expert Scott Barker has experience in assisting clients with complex and contentious liquidation matters. Scott Abel is a key name for insolvency, debt restructuring and securities advice, and well-regarded commercial litigator David Broadmore has particular expertise in disputes arising from insolvency situations. Also specialising in commercial litigation, Kelly Paterson has experience acting in cases involving insurance, contract disputes, insolvency and credit recovery. Myles O’Brien is also a notable member of the team, providing expertise in corporate transactional banking and property finance. January 2023 saw the promotion of Bridie McKinnon and Luke Sizer to partner.

Clients of the restructuring and insolvency practice at Chapman Tripp appreciate the team's ‘deep experience, innovative solutions and breadth of disciplines‘. The team balances a broad workload, regularly assisting its clients with debt restructuring, voluntary administration, distressed debt transactions and receiverships. The team is jointly led by the Auckland-based Michael Harper and Michael Arthur. Harper is ‘outcome focused and widely respected', and Arthur is commended for being a ‘strong advocate‘ and possessing ‘deep knowledge’. Also based in the Auckland office, Janko Marcetic is well versed in receiverships and liquidations.

The ‘very practical and responsive’ practice at Minter Ellison regularly acts for leading banks and insolvency practitioners. The practice has standout expertise in the agribusiness sector, specifically in farm debt mediation, where it regularly acts for major domestic banks. Auckland-based partners Sean Gollin and Michael Langdon jointly lead the practice: Gollin has expertise in solvent and insolvent restructurings, selling distressed debt and securities, security enforcement, and recovery strategies; and Langdon frequently advises on directors’ duties and security reviews. In the Wellington team, Richard Gordon advises the main trading banks, and Charlotte Carey is a name to note at the senior associate level.

Handling the full range of restructuring and insolvency-related matters, clients consider the practice at Russell McVeagh to be ‘at the top of the market in this field in New Zealand’. The team’s workload features cross-border liquidations, receiverships, voluntary administrations, secured creditor enforcement and distressed investments. The practice is noted in particular for its expertise in the real estate and construction, retail, hospitality, financial services and forestry industries. Matthew Kersey leads the practice, which benefits from his ‘brilliant commercial mind‘ and expertise in cross-border insolvency. John Powell is experienced in advising banks and corporates on restructuring matters. Wellington-based litigator Nathaniel Walker focuses his practice on cross-border matters. All lawyers are based in Auckland unless stated otherwise.

Forming part of the firm’s wider banking and finance practice, the restructuring and insolvency team at Simpson Grierson is praised for being ‘technically sound on very complex matters’. The firm's specialists advise on the full spectrum of corporate distressed situations and insolvency-related matters, security enforcement, cross-border insolvency and distressed debt trading. James Caird and Josh Cairns co-lead the practice from the Auckland and Wellington offices, respectively. Caird is a key contact for cross-border insolvencies and Cairns focuses his practice on debt restructurings and formal insolvency assignments. In Wellington, special counsel Steve Flynn is praised for his ‘wealth of knowledge‘, and Auckland-based partner Ben Upton is a specialist in asset recovery, banking and insolvency litigation.

Operating from its offices in Auckland and Christchurch, the practice at Anthony Harper is ‘highly regarded by those in the insolvency field’. The team is regularly instructed by insolvency practitioners, banks and finance companies, and has particular strength in the areas of mortgagee sales, asset recovery, debt factoring and personal insolvency. Crispin Vinnell heads the practice from the Christchurch office and is a key contact for banking and insolvency matters. In Auckland, expert litigator Dan Hughes handles insolvency litigation and Lynne Van is well versed in acting on matters before the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal and High Court. Chloe Jolliffe is also a key contact in the Christchurch office for matters related to real property.

The team at Dentons New Zealand is frequently instructed by banks, trade creditors, directors and insolvency practitioners. The practice works closely alongside the firm’s construction and major projects practice to assist with debt recovery and enforcement work and has particular expertise in this area. Auckland-based practice head James McMillan draws on 19 years of experience acting for banks, insolvency practitioners, directors and construction companies. David Shillson and Liz Lim have a corporate focus, specialising in banking and finance matters from the Wellington and Auckland offices, respectively.

Based primarily in Auckland, the restructuring and insolvency team at DLA Piper New Zealand regularly acts for insolvency practitioners and secured creditors in large-scale corporate insolvencies. The multifaceted practice combines expertise in insolvency, litigation and corporate law to assist clients with a range of insolvency matters.  Alicia Murray and Michael Thompson jointly lead the practice, which benefits from Murray’s litigation experience for contentious insolvency matters and Thompson’s corporate experience for major corporate insolvencies. Iain Thain is also an active member in the team.

With ‘some of the leading and most respected minds in insolvency‘, Auckland-based restructuring and insolvency boutique TWA Legal Limited has significant expertise in insolvency-related litigation. The firm regularly acts for specialist insolvency practitioners in the region, as well as for its banking and finance clients. The team is jointly led by Mike Whale, Jennifer Tunna and Michael Anderson. Whale has extensive experience acting for domestic and international clients, as well as specialised financial institutions; Tunna is well versed in executing business and asset sales across a range of industry sectors, particularly in distressed situations; and Anderson is particularly experienced in advising corporate trustees and public security issuers in respect of debt issues and managed funds. Special counsel Kerry Puddle is also a key member of the team.

Praised for its ‘depth of experience’, Bell Gully is a popular choice among domestic banks and accounting firms. The Auckland-based restructuring and insolvency practice is regularly tasked with a range of contentious and non-contentious matters, including receiverships, liquidations and contentious enforcement issues. Tim Fitzgerald is well versed in advising lenders and insolvency practitioners on claims against debtors, directors and auditors. David McPherson is a key contact for advice on distressed debt acquisitions and receiverships. Together, McPherson and Fitzgerald lead the practice.

Mayne Wetherell is praised for its ‘deep experience‘ and ‘innovative solutions to complex situations‘. The restructuring and insolvency practice is often involved in matters connected to the firm’s corporate and finance practices. Clients include domestic and international financial entities. Practice head Will Tipping is a ‘legal powerhouse‘ and has significant expertise in acquisition financing and special situations.

Boutique law firm Norling Law Limited is a popular choice for creditors and shareholders, liquidators and receivers, as well as directors of distressed and insolvent companies. Practice head Brent Norling leads the Auckland-based team and has particular experience in disputes and business restructurings. At the senior associate level, Anna Cherkashina is a name to note.