Qualifications

• BCom/LLB
• Admitted as Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand
• Admitted as a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales

Professional experience

• Director, Johnston Prichard Fee Limited, 2011 - present
• Senior Associate, Harmos Horton Lusk Limited, 2006 - 2010
• Solicitor, Ogier & Le Masurier, Jersey, Channel Islands, 2002 - 2005
• Senior Associate, Simpson Grierson, 1997 - 2002

Michael's specialisation

Michael specialises in mergers and acquisitions, securities law, joint ventures, corporate governance, corporate reconstructions, foreign investment in New Zealand and other general corporate advisory and compliance matters.

Michael has acted for a wide variety of clients both in New Zealand and overseas including public companies, multinational groups of companies, private companies and banks.

Michael is the author of the New Zealand chapter of Getting the Deal Through - Foreign Investment Review 2013.

Recent transactions

In recent years Michael has been involved in a number of complex and challenging transactions including:

• RealNZ's capital raising activities.
• Sale of majority ownership of New Zealand Mint to syndicate of investors.
• Laybuy's capital raising activities and listing on the ASX
• ChargeNet's capital raising and introduction of cornerstone investor.
• Sale of Ross Roof Group to IKO Enterprises.
• Sale of interest in Two Islands to Sanford
• Joint venture between Generator and Precinct Properties.
• Global restructuring of the Ross Roof Group of companies.
• Capital raising for Wing Acoustics including cornerstone shareholding.
• Merial's acquisition of certain assets and shares of the Ancare group of companies in New Zealand and offshore.
• Vital Healthcare Management Limited's pro-rata renounceable rights issue to raise $150 million for the NZSX listed Vital Healthcare Property Trust and the acquisition of a portfolio of Australian hospital and healthcare properties by the trust.
• The acquisition by ISS, a global facility services provider, of the security business of Chubb New Zealand Limited through its New Zealand subsidiary, First Security.