Well-regarded for its ability to marry ‘good attention-to-detail’ with a ‘pragmatic approach’, Bell Gully‘s national, multidisciplinary practice is well-positioned to act on all aspects of large-scale projects, including planning, consenting, procurement, contracting, project management and litigation. The team counts central and local government bodies, Māori tribal organisations and private sector clients among its roster. The team’s expertise spans the energy and natural resources, infrastructure, transport, tech and telecoms sectors, and is jointly steered by David Coull, Natasha Garvan and David Chisnall. In Wellington, Coull is a key port of call for a number of key industry players, and Chisnall is noted for his specialism in the structuring, procurement and delivery of large-scale construction and development projects. In the Auckland office, the ‘clever and dedicated’ Garvan is recommended for her environmental and resource management expertise. Consultant Simon Watt fields a stellar market reputation for his work on large public sector projects. Andrew Beatson retired from the firm in July 2022.

Praised for its ‘depth of expertise’ and ‘excellent strategic advice’, Buddle Findlay boasts a stellar market reputation for its high-quality environment and resource management practice. With offices in Wellington, Auckland and Christchurch, the team is noted for its expertise in Māori law, transport and water management, and regularly assists clients on large-scale infrastructure projects. The team is jointly led by the ‘excellent’ Jennifer Caldwell and Paul Beverley. Caldwell, lauded for her ‘exceptional leadership skills and strategic oversight’, has extensive experience as a strategic adviser and specialist litigator in the Environment Court and High Court, whilst Beverley is recommended for his expertise in Māori law. Key contact Peter Owles is well-regarded for his projects and infrastructure development work and senior associate Matthew Gribben is routinely involved in some of the firm’s largest infrastructure projects.

Chapman Tripp houses a ‘highly cross-functional and collaborative’ practice, noted for its experience in legislative and regulatory issues, and approval processes. The team has a diverse roster of blue-chip clients within the energy and natural resources space on its books, and the ability to handle large-scale infrastructure projects, as well as matters involving traditional and alternative project structures. The practice is spearheaded by Luke Hinchey, Paula Brosnahan , Mark Reese and Hamish Bolland. Hinchey leads the environment, planning and resource management practice, regularly acting on major urban development infrastructure projects. Brosnahan heads the infrastructure, construction and major projects practice alongside Reese, whilst Bolland leads the construction practice and is recommended for his experience on large-scale projects. Key contact Jo Appleyard continues to play a lead role in advising on the environmental and resource management aspects of natural resources, irrigation and infrastructure projects.

MinterEllisonRuddWatts draws considerable praise from clients, who turn to the team for its ‘very good knowledge, expertise and experience’ on the full spectrum of environmental and planning issues. The team acts for central and local government bodies, blue-chip principals and developers on large-scale and complex projects and disputes. Sarah Sinclair leads the infrastructure practice at the firm and is noted for her extensive experience acting for both government and private sector clients in matters involving large-scale, complex infrastructure. Bianca Tree heads the property and environment division and is recommended for her resource management and environmental law specialism. Specialist procurement and transactional construction practitioner Travis Tomlinson is routinely engaged by public and private sector clients on a host of complex and large-scale projects. Rachel Devine departed to private practice in July 2022.

Simpson Grierson stands out as a ‘strong’ choice for its diverse range of clients, who turn to the team for its wide-ranging capabilities on all aspects of environmental law. The team regularly acts on large-scale water and wastewater projects. Urban development, energy and infrastructure issues are the flagship components of the team’s workload. The practice is jointly steered by Bill Loutit, Padraig McNamara and Matt Conway. From the Auckland office, Loutit specialises in litigation and alternative dispute resolution in the administrative law, environmental, resource management, and local government fields, whilst McNamara is a key port of call for councils and corporate clients on resource management and public body issues. Wellington-based Conway has been described as a ‘legal expert in the field of resource management’. Sarah Scott leads the firm’s South Island local government and environment group and is recommended for her focus on litigation, strategic planning and policy. Leading construction and major project specialist Michael Weatherall is also a name to note.

The environment and planning team at Dentons New Zealand is the premier choice for major clients, such as Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency, KiwiRail, Wellington Water Limited and Airbnb. Lauded for its ‘very practical and pragmatic’ approach, the team regularly handles complex infrastructure development projects and is noted for its particular expertise in water infrastructure. The practice is jointly led by Wellington-based Nicky McIndoe and Auckland-based Christina Sheard. McIndore is sought after by clients for her focus on the Resource Management Act, heritage, conservation and public works, and local government legislation relevant to infrastructure. Sheard has expertise obtaining designations and alterations to designations for projects. Paul Buetow is a key port of call for government agencies, local authorities, large principals and contractors in the construction space.

Well-regarded for its ability to combine a ‘commercial approach’ with a ‘great depth of technical expertise and skill’, the team at DLA Piper New Zealand is well-positioned to act for clients on a broad-range of resource management, planning and environmental matters. A litany of government bodies and private companies turn to practice head Stephen Quinn for his expertise in resource management, and environmental and building law. The ‘outstanding’ Diana Hartley has broad experience across the myriad of sectors. Kerry Anderson is recommended for her experience in all aspects of environment and resource management law, having advised numerous local authorities, government, private and international clients. Special counsel Emma Manohar is also a key name in the team.

‘Responsive, timely, reassuring and engaging’, the team at Russell McVeagh has demonstrable expertise advising on procurement, development, planning and environmental issues across a myriad of sectors and industries, including energy, transport, ports, utilities and telecoms. In Auckland, the ‘responsive’ Daniel Minhinnick leads the firm’s environment, planning and natural resources practice, and is noted for his experience in contentious and non-contentious matters therein. Environmental specialist Allison Arthur-Young focuses on development and large-scale infrastructure projects, whilst Simon Pilkinton is recommended for his experience in the water, wastewater, municipal waste and port sectors. The Wellington office is home to Mei Fern Johnson who is chiefly recognised for her advising on complex commercial contracting.

Spread across the firm’s Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin and Queenstown offices, Anderson Lloyd's team is noted for its expertise in project management, energy, infrastructure, forestry and resource management matters, with a particular focus on the mining sector. The multidisciplinary team is jointly led by Anton Trixl, Geoff Busch and Maree Baker-Galloway. In the Auckland office, Trixl specialises in the energy, natural resources and infrastructure sectors, whilst Queenstown-based Baker-Galloway is noted for her expertise in freshwater management, marine issues, tourism development, urban development and natural resource use. Auckland-based Busch is recommended for his expertise in project, acquisition, corporate, structured and property finance transactions.

The team at Tompkins Wake handles a range of mandates from rural infrastructure and development projects through to major city transport and wastewater projects and large-scale transactions. Based in the Waikato and Bay of Plenty regions, the practice routinely acts for local authorities, corporate clients and agri-tech companies. The practice is steered by Theresa Le Bas who is noted for her expertise in resource management and local government matters. Hamilton-based Bridget Parham is recommended for her experience in advising on resource management, environmental and local government law.

Wynn Williams houses a practice that is praised for its ‘depth of experience across a range of resource management subjects.’ The ‘professional, friendly' team regularly advises clients on issues associated with implementing Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Practice head Lucy de Latour is noted for her skill in identifying and resolving key issues in contentious resource management matters, across a wide-range of sectors. The ‘very knowledgeable and responsive’ Mike Doesburg is an environmental and resource management specialist, with particular expertise in environmental litigation, resource consenting, district and regional planning, and compulsory acquisition processes. Philip Maw, described as, ‘excellent’, is a highly skilled advocate on contentious environmental law projects.

Lane Neave houses ‘a leading South Island resource management practice’, well-regarded for its ability to provide strategic advice and representation on complex projects. The team advises on mandates ranging from large-scale commercial, industrial and residential property development, to infrastructure projects and cultural, coastal, conservation and tourism issues. The team is spearheaded by Joshua Leckie who has extensive experience across a range of projects and resource management processes, regularly advising on the development of large-scale projects.