Australasia - New Zealand

MinterEllisonRuddWatts

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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.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘Very good depth and experience across the team that I worked with. They really know their practice areas very well which inspired confidence in us also.’

  • 'They have very good knowledge, expertise and experience and as a client this is comforting knowing that the advice has that backing.’

  • ‘Minters have an excellent stable of partners and associates that have an excellent knowledge of our business over many years of providing advice on a wide range of commercial matters.'

  • ‘MERW has a small but highly skilled resource management team. Their knowledge of the consenting process has been very valuable to us as a client. ’

  • ‘Bianca Tree's attention to detail and quick responses to queries that we have encountered through the consenting process has been outstanding. Her scanning across Territorial Authorities across New Zealand as they review District Plans has been very helpful.'

  • 'The team are intelligent, strategic and provide a great service.’

Key clients

  • Auckland Council | Te Kaunihera o Tāmaki Makaurau
  • Channel Infrastructure
  • Department of Internal Affairs | Te Tari Taiwhenua
  • Fisher & Paykel Healthcare
  • Fulton Hogan
  • Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga
  • Jacobs New Zealand
  • Kiwi Property Group
  • Mercury New Zealand
  • Metlifecare
  • Ministry for Primary Industries | Manatū Ahu Matua
  • Ministry for the Environment | Manatū Mō Te Taiao
  • Ministry of Education | Te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga
  • Ministry of Justice | Te Tāhū o te Ture
  • Ministry of Transport | Te Manatū Waka
  • Rau Paenga (formerly Ōtākaro)
  • Southern Cross Healthcare
  • Stride Property
  • Wellington Gateway Partnership
  • Z Energy

Work highlights

  • Advising the New Zealand Government on its comprehensive and transformational reform of the country’s resource management system. The work is planned over several years covering wthe policy development, drafting, and select committee stages of the various Bills.
  • Advising Ministry for Primary Industries on the delivery of the Plant Health and Environment Capability project. The largest biosecurity project to ever be delivered by the New Zealand Government.
  • Advising Southern Cross Healthcare on its request for a private plan change to the Auckland Unitary Plan, and a concurrent resource consent application, to enable the expansion of Brightside Hospital.

Lawyers

Leading individuals

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Sarah Sinclair, Bianca Tree

Other key lawyers

Steve Gallaugher, Travis Tomlinson, Scott Thompson