Welcome to Avid.legal – New Zealand corporate, commercial, and tech law experts
ABOUT US
We are forward thinking New Zealand lawyers specialising in corporate, commercial, finance, and technology law.
We are commercially minded, accessible, and flexible. We are focused on providing exceptional legal services and solutions that our clients deserve.
Our clients include:
- international and national companies and financial institutions;
- founders, start-ups, and high-growth businesses;
- investors (venture capital funds, corporate venture, angel clubs, and individuals).
Many of our clients are involved in the technology sector – including digital, SaaS, fintech, life sciences, design, and manufacturing.
We work at the forefront of technology transactions and market developments concerning M&A, capital raising, financial regulation, and commercial contracting.
We do not strive to be the biggest law firm – our aim is to be the New Zealand law firm of choice for our clients’ most important corporate and commercial matters.
EXPERTISE
We are experts in corporate law, finance law, commercial law, and technology law. It’s what we do, and we do it exceptionally well. Clients benefit from our expertise in:
If you require guidance outside our areas of expertise, or outside New Zealand, we can seamlessly access other experts through our networks – unrestrained by the four walls of the traditional large law firm. Where other expertise is required, we can take responsibility for coordinating other experts for you so that you have a single point of contact, or we can work within a team of advisors.
Illustrative Work
Totara Learning
M&A: working with the shareholders of Totara Learning (enterprise LMS provider) on the sale to Five V Capital.
Movac
Venture: working with Movac on the establishment of its $250m Fund 5 limited partnership, and its subsequent investments including Mint Innovation, Open, Dawn Aerospace, Tradify, and Portainer.
Unleashed Software
M&A: working with the shareholders of Unleashed Software (cloud based inventory management solution) on their sale to The Access Group.
Redshield Security
Capital Raising: working with Redshield Security (web app shielding and security services) on its $14m Series B round funding led by Pencarrow.
Tekron
M&A: working with the shareholders of Tekron (precision timing hardware) on the sale to NASDAQ listed Microchip Technology Inc.
Vend
M&A: working with the shareholders of Vend (retail POS and management solution) in a mixed cash/scrip deal on the sale of Vend to dual listed (NYSE: TSX) Lightspeed POS, Inc.
LawVu
Capital Raising: working with LawVu (legal workspace solution) in its $17m Series A round funding led by Insight Partners and Airtree Ventures.
DCVC
Venture: working with DCVC (and US counsel, Cooley LLP) lead the US$7.5M Series A investment round into Aquafortus Technologies (non-thermal recovery and crystallization technology).
Timely
M&A: working with the shareholders of Timely (appointment booking software) on the sale to NASDAQ listed EverCommerce.
WhosOnLocation
M&A: working with the shareholders of WhosOnLocation (presence management software) on the sale to MRI headquartered in the US.
Merlot Aero
M&A: working with the shareholders of Merlot Aero (airline crew operations software) on the sale to Canadian listed company CAE.
Octopus Ventures
Venture: working with Octopus Ventures in a Series A investment round into APLYiD (digital ID solutions).
TracPlus
M&A: advising TracPlus Global on its acquisition of v2track (fleet management and tracking solutions).
Coretex
M&A: advising the shareholders in the mixed cash/scrip deal for the sale of Coretex (telematics and business intelligence solutions) to NZX listed EROAD.
NTT
Commercial: advising NTT on its NZ commercial technology relationships.
PHI
Commercial: advising PHI on its NZ corporate funding and international commercial aviation and joint venture needs.
Hnry
Capital Raising: working with Hnry (tax management for self-employed) in its Seed and Series A round funding rounds including EVP (Australian VC firm), Icehouse Ventures, and AngelHQ.
Mevo
Commercial: advising Mevo (car share) on its corporate, capital raising, and commercial matters.
Ubco
Capital Raising: working with Ubco (electric bikes) in its Series A and Series B funding with investors such as GD1, Seven Peak Ventures, Nuance Capital, TPK, and Enterprise Angels.
Akahu Technologies
Commercial: working with Akahu Technologies (open finance platform) in its fintech arrangements with various NZ banks.
WNT
Venture: working with WNT on several deep tech seed investments.
Hiringa Energy
Capital Raising: working with Hiringa Energy (green hydrogen technology) in its funding with investors such as Mitsui.
Runn
Capital Raising: working with Runn (SaaS) in its Seed Series funding with investors such as Wavemaker (Singapore VC), NZGCP, K1W1, and AIM.
Marama Labs
Capital Raising: working with Marama Labs (deep tech university spin out) in its funding with investors such as Quidnet and WNT.
OUR TEAM
Bruno
Bordignon
Director
Bruno is a co-founder and director of the firm. He has a strong commercial and technology focus, and regularly advises on M&A transactions. Bruno brings energy, a keen interest in business, and a practical approach to each engagement he is involved in.
P +64 21 277 6660
E bruno.bordignon@avid.legal
L View Bruno’s LinkedIn profile here
Murray
Whyte
Director
Murray is a co-founder and director of the firm. He advises clients on corporate and commercial matters, with a special interest in venture capital, technology, high-growth businesses, and life sciences. He is known for his clear, pragmatic advice and adept handling of M&A and capital raising transactions.
P +64 27 531 3730
E murray.whyte@avid.legal
L View Murray’s LinkedIn profile here
David
Clarke
Director
Dave is a director of the firm specialising in corporate and commercial law. He provides clear and effective advice to assist clients achieve their commercial objectives.
P +64 27 244 5658
E david.clarke@avid.legal
Judith
Harper
Director
Judith is a director of the firm. She advises on a wide range of corporate and commercial matters with a special interest in technology, privacy, consumer finance, and aviation.
P +64 21 310 361
E judith.harper@avid.legal
L View Judith’s LinkedIn profile here
Katie
Carson
Director
Katie is a director at the firm, based in Auckland, and bringing expertise across fintech, ventures, regulation and funding structures. Katie is a well-respected adviser known for her commitment to client service. She offers technical excellence combined with a commercial and accessible approach.
P +64 21 669 788
E katie.carson@avid.legal
L View Katie’s LinkedIn profile here
Tony
Davis
Associate
Tony is an Associate in the firm. Tony is passionate about working alongside NZ’s high-growth businesses which bring the best of kiwi innovation and ingenuity to NZ and abroad.
P +64 27 312 2782
E tony.davis@avid.legal
L View Tony’s LinkedIn profile here
Caitlin
Ashworth
Associate
Caitlin is an Associate in the firm and is passionate about helping bright people achieve big goals for their businesses.
P +64 27 269 3359
E caitlin.ashworth@avid.legal
L View Caitlin’s LinkedIn profile here
Keshika
Durga
Solicitor
Kesh works across corporate and commercial transactions, with a keen interest in IP and M&A transactions. She enjoys advising early-stage tech start-ups and exploring legal issues related to technology and privacy.
P +64 21 116 2204
E keshika.durga@avid.legal
Alice
Sparks
Solicitor
Alice is a law graduate with our firm. Since starting, she has been involved in a wide range of corporate and commercial matters including capital raises, employee share schemes and commercial agreements. Alice is passionate about helping innovative and ambitious businesses achieve their goals.
P +64 27 389 7163
E alice.sparks@avid.legal
Sophie
Meaclem
Practice Manager
Sophie is our practice manager and is responsible for ensuring the smooth running of the firm and efficient operation of the firm’s accounting practices. She is the first point of contact for account and business queries.
P +64 27 771 8351
E sophie.meaclem@avid.legal
Nicole
Lythcott
Accounts Administrator
As our accounts administrator, Nicole is responsible for the daily management of the trust account & processing financial transactions for the firm. Nicole also handles our credit control and is the person to reach out to if you have any questions about billing or payments.
P +64 22 068 9554
E nicole.lythcott@avid.legal
INTERNATIONAL
We assist New Zealand clients with global ambitions, and international clients with their New Zealand business.
We enjoy:
- assisting New Zealand clients with global ambitions, leveraging our strong networks to work collaboratively with lawyers and other advisors in countries across the world to help achieve their goals; and
- working with international clients with respect to their New Zealand business.
We have particularly strong experience working with clients, leading law firms and other advisors in Australia, parts of Asia, North America (particularly tech hubs), the UK and Europe.
Avid.legal is a member of:
- the German-New Zealand Chamber of Commerce;
- World Tech Legal, a global association of law firms that have specific expertise in the technology sector.
BRUNO
BORDIGNON
Bruno has previously worked in Australia and the UK. He advises a wide variety of international clients on their New Zealand business, and regularly guides New Zealand clients with their foreign matters. Bruno has been a New Zealand TAGLaw contact since 2009 (including through his previous firm).
MURRAY
WHYTE
Murray has previously worked in Germany and Russia advising on international M&A transactions and contracts. He has advised on matters involving more than 50 countries. He maintains connections with clients and lawyers around the world. Murray is a member of the German-New Zealand Chamber of Commerce.
FEES
Your choice of fee structure.
We have the flexibility to structure our fees in a way to suit you or your business. Your options include:
Hourly rates: our professional time charged at agreed hourly rates.
Fixed or capped price: agreed price or cap for identified work.
Retainer: fixed price periodic fee – usually on monthly basis for identified work over an agreed period of time.
Equity: in some circumstances we will work with start-ups and early stage companies on a part fee/part equity basis.
Please contact us to arrange an obligation free meeting to discuss your matter and the various fee options outlined above with us.
CONTACT US
Avid.legal Limited
Level 2
32 Blair Street,
Wellington 6011
PO Box 11677
Wellington 6142
P +64 4 550 5315