China Desk

We have a team of legal experts who are able to speak, read and write in Chinese. We can advise on cross-border issues, developing new distribution channels, establishing e-commerce strategies and assist in the development of contingency plans in the event that trading or investment related issues arise.

EXPERTISE & EXPERIENCE:

Cooney Lees Morgan is a leading New Zealand law firm with expertise across a broad range of disciplines. Founded in 1918, our firm has over 110 legal and support staff structured into four main practice areas - Corporate & Commercial, Property & Development, Litigation & Local Government and Private Client & Trust. We service local, national and international clients.

With more than 100 years of history, Cooney Lees Morgan has experienced first-hand the increasing level of bi-lateral economic integration between New Zealand and China, and also New Zealand’s changing demographics. Many of our commercial clients, including Zespri, Rockit Global and Silver Fern Farms, have deep connections to the Chinese market. We’ve also helped numerous Chinese inbound investors enter or grow their presence in New Zealand.

Campbell Izzard leads the China Desk having worked in China for over a decade as one of the few Western trained, Mandarin speaking, lawyers advising multinational clients at the time, namely, on market entry / exit strategies, the structuring and negotiation of joint ventures, foreign direct investments, trade and investment disputes and helping foreign investors to navigate often complex Chinese regulatory requirements.

Murray Denyer has had extensive legal and commercial involvement with China. A former diplomat and international trade lawyer, Murray led Zespri’s legal team for over 5 years, including managing their IP protection strategy in China, and has since applied that experience to the boards of Comvita and Rockit Global, companies which generate significant China revenue.

The Cooney Lees Morgan team now advises New Zealand businesses large and small on their China cross-border issues, whether developing new distribution channels, establishing their China E-commerce strategies, coordinating with local Chinese counsel or assisting in the development of contingency plans in the event that trading or investment related issues arise.

TALK TO US ABOUT:

We are big enough to have the expertise and resources to manage complex cross-border deals, and small enough to provide each of our clients with personalised services and attention.

We have a team of legal experts with deep China market experience and we have genuine Chinese language capability to assist you in building genuine relationships with your in-market counterparties and resolving any in-market China related issues you are facing.

The areas we routinely advise on include:

Cross-border acquisitions, divestments and joint ventures
Distribution partnering
Establishing E-commerce channels
Corporate structuring
Overseas Investment Act advice
Trade related matters

Contact our team:

Campbell Izzard

A partner in our Corporate & Commercial team, Campbell has worked as a lawyer for top international law firms in mainland China for over 10 years. Some of the landmark transactions Campbell was involved in included managing the first business divestment order made by the Chinese Anti-monopoly Bureau and advising Pfizer on the establishment of the first large scale branded pharmaceutical generics joint venture in China. Campbell is fluent in Mandarin, having studied the language in Beijing for over two years in the mid-1990s and having practised as a foreign lawyer in the language for many years since. Campbell is also a Beachhead’s Advisor to New Zealand Trade and Enterprise on China-related matters.

Murray Denyer

A former partner and now consultant in our Corporate & Commercial team, Murray has been approaching China market legal and commercial issues from the perspective of New Zealand businesses for over two decades. In his role as General Counsel of Zespri, Murray was deeply involved in the early stages of establishment and growth of Zespri’s business in China in the early/mid-2000s. Murray is a director of and founding investor in Rockit Global, where issues of market access, IP protection, supply chain security and channel development in the China market, are often on his radar. Murray’s commercial legal experience is also underpinned by government and trade policy experience from his service as a New Zealand diplomat and international trade lawyer.