Russell McVeagh advises on the full range of construction and real estate work. Sarah Blackmore specialises in advising on the sale and acquisition of forestry assets, while Ed Crook assists institutional property owners with major commercial property development mandates. Anna Crosbie and David Butler are also active in high-profile construction and property instructions. Natalie Steur and Michael Taylor are other key practitioners in the department. After the research concluded, former joint practice head Polly Pope departed to Bankside Chambers.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'Russell McVeagh is the market leader in real estate legal advice.'
- 'The partners are highly accessible, professional and experienced.'
- 'Exceptional access to partners within the firm to provide ongoing and specific advice when required. Relevant partners worked well together to provide balanced advice.'
- 'Natalie Steur managed her team very well and was able to get things completed on time and under extreme pressure .'
- 'Top quality advice, industry knowledge and a communicative team.'
- 'Ed Crook, the best property lawyer in the country in our opinion. Excellent advice, trusted and responsive. Natalie Steur is excellent at communication, management of transactions and general property advice.'
- 'The team are the full package: from drafting for the most complex transactions, to listening, engaging and negotiating the best outcome from difficult situations. The team is the best in the business.'
- 'Michael Taylor is exceptionally good at listening to the client and seeking out what questions and solutions are important to clients in disputes or getting to a negotiated solution. Quite exceptional turnaround times. '
Key clients
- Precinct Properties
- PSPIB Waiheke
- Wellington Water Limited
- Infratec New Zealand Limited
- Auckland International Airport Limited
- WEL Networks Limited
- Argon Construction Limited
- Teak Construction Group
- Summerset Group
- Goodman Property Trust
- T&G Global
- Woolworths New Zealand Limited
- Vector
- RF CorVal
- KiwiRail Limited
- Winton Land
- Charter Hall Wholesale Management
- Kiwi Property
- Stamford Land Corporation
- Genesis Energy
- BNZ Investment Services
- Summerset Group
- The shareholders of Waipapa Pine Limited and Renewable Wood Fuels Limited
- Goodman Property Trust
- Precinct Properties
- Auckland International Airport
- Mobil Oil
- Woolworths New Zealand Limited
- Accident Compensation Corporation
- Spark New Zealand Trading Limited
Work highlights
- Acting for Infratec as EPC contractor in its EPC arrangements with Lodestone Energy, for the design and construction of five large scale solar power stations.
- Advised Auckland International Airport Limited on its development of Mānawa Bay, a NZD200m, 100-store premium outlet shopping centre.
- Acting for Precinct Properties on Stage 3 of its Wynyard Central development.
Lawyers
Hall of Fame: Real estate and construction
The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.
Leading partners: Real estate and construction
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Sarah Blackmore