New Zealand's Aluminium Smelter at Tiwai Point produces the world’s highest purity primary aluminium, contributing more than $600 million annually in export income for New Zealand.
Tiwai Point is New Zealand's largest single user of electricity by a very large margin and is an integral part of the electricity market and system – employing 800 people directly with a flow-on employment profile of over three thousand jobs.
Greenwood Roche advises New Zealand's Aluminium Smelter and Pacific Aluminium on all aspects of the Tiwai Point Aluminium Smelter electricity supply, including the 2013 and 2015 renegotiations with Meridian Energy.
New Zealanders are well aware of the severe challenges Bathurst Resources has overcome in progressing its West Coast coal mining project.
Greenwood Roche has been part of the Bathurst team on some important parts of the Buller Project, advising on land acquisition and land rights for the coal handling and preparation facility and the proposed aerial conveyor, and obtaining requisite Overseas Investment Office approvals.
We have also been acting jointly for Bathurst Resources and Westport Harbour on their joint arrangements for the siting, construction and operation of a coal handling facility at Westport Port.
Greenwood Roche advised L&M Energy on its acquisition of a 50% stake in the Waihapa Production Station and related petroleum producing and infrastructure assets. This was a joint acquisition with New Zealand Energy Corp.
Victoria University recently acquired Callaghan Innovation’s carbohydrate chemistry and superconductivity and energy research teams, setting up the Ferrier Research Institute and the Robinson Research Institute.
Greenwood Roche advised Victoria University on most aspects of the transfer arrangements, including the relevant people, asset and liability transfers, extensive implementation and transitional arrangements, financial arrangements including treatment of funding contracts, specialist premises leasing and also associated joint venture arrangements and downstream acquisitions around particular research product and technology.
Winstone Aggregates, which is part of the Fletcher Building group of companies, has recently acquired a strategic parcel of land for a proposed significant quarry development in New Zealand.
Greenwood Roche assisted Winstone Aggregates in relation to its acquisition of the land, including the obtaining of the consent of the Overseas Investment Office to the transaction (Winstone Aggregates is considered an ‘overseas person’ by virtue of the shareholding of its parent company Fletcher Building, which is publicly listed on both the NZX and ASX).
About Winstone Aggregates:
Australasian utility contractor Electrix, part of McConnell Dowell, has been acquired by French construction giant VINCI Energies. Electrix has approximately 2,000 employees located in New Zealand and Australia and provides a range of maintenance and construction services for utility providers.
Greenwood Roche assisted VINCI in respect of New Zealand aspects of the transaction, working closely with VINCI Energies’ international legal teams from Baker McKenzie (Sydney) and Bolze Associés (Paris). Greenwood Roche is proud to have worked with VINCI and its legal team on this project.
About VINCI:
UK listed oil and gas explorer Mosman Oil & Gas was successful in striking a deal with Origin Energy to purchase the Taranaki Rimu, Kauri and Manutahi (RKM) petroleum fields and associated petroleum production infrastructure.
Alas, with oil prices falling below US$40 per barrel for a sustained period, Mosman and its joint venture partners were forced to cancel the sale and purchase agreement. Reportedly, the assets may still be available for purchase.
Partner Brigid McArthur and solicitors Susan Baas and Kurt McRedmond worked with Mosman on its acquisition project, including on its due diligence, sale and purchase negotiations and applications for New Zealand Petroleum & Minerals and Overseas Investment Office consents.
Ecotricity is New Zealand’s only “carboNZero” certified, 100% renewable electricity retailer. This means that it sources electricity only from sustainable and renewable sources, such as hydro and wind.
Partner Brigid McArthur recently acted for Ecotricity Limited on the establishment of the joint venture, by way of limited partnership, with Pioneer Generation Limited. Pioneer owns and operates some significant renewable generation projects in the South Island. The Ecotricity Limited Partnership is also investing in electric vehicles and associated infrastructure.
Together, Ecotricity and Pioneer are championing the case for investment in renewables and we congratulate them on their venture. They are at the forefront of what is a growing trend away from conventional fossil fuel based technologies. Your support can be enhanced by visiting the Ecotricity website and checking the deals on offer. www.ecotricity.co.nz
Partner, Greenwood Roche 2010 –
Partner, Chapman Tripp 1996 – 2010
Principal, Chapman Tripp 1995 – 1996
Solicitor, Chapman Tripp 1986 – 1996 (with 2 years’ absence overseas)
Graduate lawyer, Clifford Chance (Paris) 1985 – 1986
Chair, Energy Law Association
Member of Petroleum Exploration and Production Association, Straterra, AMPLA, Institute of Directors
Member of the Attorney General’s Legislation Advisory Committee
Recommended by Legal Media Group Guide to World’s Leading Energy and Natural Resources Lawyers and Guide to World’s Leading Corporate Governance Lawyers, Asia/Pacific Legal 500 and Chambers Asia Pacific
LLB (Hons), BA (Victoria University of Wellington)
DDI: +64 4 471 8528
Mobile: +64 27 447 5147
Phone: +64 4 494 8500
Fax: +64 4 494 8501
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Brigid is primarily based in Wellington.
Physical: Level 13
36 Customhouse Quay
Wellington 6011
Mail: PO Box 25501
Wellington 6146
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