The 2026 listing of leading New Zealand Insolvency & Restructuring Lawyers details solicitors practising in insolvency, debt recovery and reconstruction matters across all Australian legal markets who have been identified by clients and peers for their expertise and abilities in these areas.
Preeminent
Scot Abel, Buddle Findlay – Auckland
Michael Harper, Chapman Tripp – Auckland
Matthew Kersey, Russell McVeagh – Auckland
Leading
Scott Barker, Buddle Findlay – Wellington
David Broadmore, Buddle Findlay – Auckland
James Caird, Simpson Grierson – Auckland
Dan Hughes, Anthony Harper – Auckland
Jacqueline Lethbridge, Martelli McKegg – Auckland
James McMillan, Dentons – Auckland
Jennifer Tunna, TWA Legal – Auckland
Crispin Vinnell, Anthony Harper – Christchurch
Mike Whale, TWA Legal – Auckland
Recommended
Tim Fitzgerald, Bell Gully – Auckland
Sean Gollin, MinterEllisonRuddWatts – Auckland
Richard Gordon, MinterEllisonRuddWats – Wellington
Ben Johnston, Anderson Lloyd – Christchurch
Alex MacDuff, Russell McVeagh – Auckland
James Nolen, Nolen Walters – Auckland
Brent Norling, Norling Law – Auckland
Ben Upton, Simpson Grierson – Auckland
Lynne Van, Lane Neave – Auckland
Previous editions
2025 edition published May 2025
Preeminent
Michael Arthur, Chapman Tripp
Matt Kersey, Russell McVeagh
Leading
Scot Abel, Buddle Findlay
Scott Barker, Buddle Findlay
Sean Gollin, MinterEllisonRuddWatts
Michael Harper, Chapman Tripp
Jennifer Tunna, TWA Legal
Crispin Vinnell, Anthony Harper
Mike Whale, TWA Legal
Recommended
David Broadmore, Buddle Findlay
James Caird, Simpson Grierson
Josh Cairns, Simpson Grierson
Tim Fitzgerald, Bell Gully
Liz Gellert, Lowndes Jordan
Richard Gordon, MinterEllisonRuddWats
Dan Hughes, Anthony Harper
Michael Langdon, MinterEllisonRuddWatts
Jacqueline Lethbridge, Martelli McKegg
Alex MacDuff, Russell McVeagh
James MacGillivray, Tompkins Wake
James McMillan, Dentons
David McPhersonBell Gully
Kathleen Morrison, Meredith Connell
Brent Norling, Norling Law
David Perry, Buddle Findlay
Lynne Van, Anthony Harper
2022 edition published October 2022
Preeminent
Scot Abel, Buddle Findlay
Michael Arthur, Chapman Tripp
Michael Harper, Chapman Tripp
Matt Kersey, Russell McVeagh
Mike Whale, TWA Legal
Leading
Scott Barker, Buddle Findlay
James Caird, Simpson Grierson
David Friar, Bell Gully
Sean Gollin, MinterEllisonRuddWatts
David Perry, Buddle Findlay
Polly Pope, Russell McVeagh
Jennifer Tunna, TWA Legal
Crispin Vinnell, Anthony Harper
Recommended
Michael Anderson, TWA Legal
Josh Cairns, Simpson Grierson
James Cochrane, Stace Hammond
Liz Gellert, Lowndes Jordan
Richard Gordon, MinterEllisonRuddWats
Michael Langdon, MinterEllisonRuddWatts
Jacqueline Lethbridge, Martelli McKegg
Nick Malarao, Meredith Connell
James MacGillivray, Tompkins Wake
James McMillan, Dentons
David McPherson, Bell Gully
Kathleen Morrison, Meredith Connell
Alicia Murray, DLA Piper
James Nolen, K3 Legal
Brent Norling, Norling Law
Kelly Paterson, Buddle Findlay
Philip Shackleton, Meredith Connell
Lynne Van, Anthony Harper
2021 edition published October 2021
Preeminent
Michael Arthur, Chapman Tripp
Matt Kersey, Russell McVeagh
David Perry, Buddle Findlay
Mike Whale, TWA Legal
Leading
Scot Abel, Buddle Findlay
Scott Barker, Buddle Findlay
James Caird, Simpson Grierson
Sean Gollin, MinterEllisonRuddWatts
Michael Harper, Chapman Tripp
Nick Malarao, Meredith Connell
Polly Pope, Russell McVeagh
Jennifer Tunna, TWA Legal
Crispin Vinnell, Anthony Harper
Recommended
Michael Anderson, TWA Legal
David Broadmore, Buddle Findlay
Josh Cairns, Simpson Grierson
David Friar, Bell Gully
Richard Gordon, MinterEllisonRuddWats
Dan Hughes, Anthony Harper
Michael Langdon, MinterEllisonRuddWatts
Jacqueline Lethbridge, Martelli McKegg
James McMillan, Dentons
David McPherson, Bell Gully
Kathleen Morrison, Meredith Connell
James Nolen, K3 Legal
Lynne Van, Anthony Harper
2020 edition published May 2020
Preeminent
Michael Arthur, Chapman Tripp
Michael Harper, Chapman Tripp
Matt Kersey, Russell McVeagh
David Perry, Buddle Findlay
Leading
Scot Abel, Buddle Findlay
Scott Barker, Buddle Findlay
James Caird, Simpson Grierson
Sean Gollin, MinterEllisonRuddWatts
David McPherson, Bell Gully
Mike Whale, Lowndes
Recommended
Michael Anderson, Lowndes
Seb Bisley, Buddle Findlay
David Broadmore, Buddle Findlay
Josh Cairns, Simpson Grierson
Tyrone Cooley, Brookfields
David Friar, Bell Gully
Richard Gordon, MinterEllisonRuddWats
Robert Hucker, Hucker & Associates
Dan Hughes, Anthony Harper
Michael Langdon, MinterEllisonRuddWatts
Jacqueline Lethbridge, Martelli McKegg
Nick Malarao, Meredith Connell
James McMillan, Dentons
James Nolen, K3 Legal
Polly Pope, Russell McVeagh
Ben Russell, lane Neave
Jennifer Tunna, Lowndes
Crispin Vinnell, Anthony Harper
2018 edition published June 2018
Preeminent
Michael Arthur, Chapman Tripp
Matt Kersey, Russell McVeagh
Leading
Sean Gollin, MinterEllisonRuddWatts
Michael Harper, Chapman Tripp
David McPherson, Bell Gully
David Perry, Buddle Findlay
Michael Robinson, Simpson Grierson
Mike Whale, Lowndes
Recommended
Michael Anderson, Lowndes
Scott Barker, Buddle Findlay
Seb Bisley, Buddle Findlay
James Caird, Simpson Grierson
Tyrone Cooley, Brookfields
Allison Ferguson, Wilson Harle
Richard Gordon, MinterEllisonRuddWats
Michael Langdon, MinterEllisonRuddWatts
Jacqueline Lethbridge, Lowndes
Nick Malarao, Meredith Connell
James McMillan, Kensington Swan
Gareth Neil, Meredith Connell
James Nolen, K3 Legal
Laura O'Gorman, Buddle Findlay
Polly Pope, Russell McVeagh
Mark Sandelin, MinterEllisonRuddWatts
Crispin Vinnell, Anthony Harper
2017 edition published October 2017
Preeminent
Michael Arthur, Chapman Tripp
Michael Harper, Chapman Tripp
Matt Kersey, Russell McVeagh
David Perry, Buddle Findlay
Michael Robinson, Simpson Grierson
Mike Whale, Lowndes
Leading
Scott Barker, Buddle Findlay
Sean Gollin, MinterEllisonRuddWatts
Laura O'Gorman, Buddle Findlay
David McPherson, Bell Gully
Crispin Vinnell, Anthony Harper
Recommended
Michael Anderson, Lowndes
Seb Bisley, Buddle Findlay
James Caird, Simpson Grierson
Dan Hughes, Anthony Harper
Michael Langdon, MinterEllisonRuddWatts
Nick Malarao, Meredith Connell
Gareth Neil, Meredith Connell
James Nolen, K3 Legal
Polly Pope, Russell McVeagh
Mark Sandelin, MinterEllisonRuddWatts
Jennifer Tunna, Lowndes
Ben Upton, Simpson Grierson
2016 edition published August 2016
Preeminent
Michael Arthur, Chapman Tripp - Auckland
David Perry, Buddle Findlay - Auckland
Michael Robinson, Simpson Grierson - Auckland
Murray Tingey, Bell Gully - Auckland
Leading
Scott Abel, Buddle Findlay - Auckland
Michael Harper, Chapman Tripp - Auckland
Matt Kersey, Russell McVeagh - Auckland
David McPherson, Bell Gully - Auckland
Laura O'Gorman, Buddle Findlay - Auckland
Justin Toebes, JT Law - Wellington
Mike Whale, Lowndes - Auckland
Recommended
Michael Anderson, Lowndes - Auckland
Seb Bisley, Buddle Findlay - Wellington
James Caird, Simpson Grierson - Auckland
Steve Flynn, Simpson Grierson - Wellington
Sean Gollin, MinterEllison Rudd Watts - Auckland
Richard Gordon, MinterEllison Rudd Watts - Wellington
Michael Langdon, MinterEllison Rudd Watts - Auckland
Nick Malaro, Meredith Connell - Auckland
John Powell, Russell McVeagh - Auckland
Crispin Vinnell, Anthony Harper - Auckland