Scott Goodwin

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Leaders in Law endorses Scott Goodwin as our exclusively recommended Franchise Law expert in New Zealand. If you wish to get in touch with Scott please use the contact information provided above.

Scott is a commercial lawyer with a particular passion for franchising and intellectual property.

Scott provides strategic commercial advice to a wide range of businesses on all aspects of franchising with a particular focus on creating “bankable” franchise arrangements.

He is recognised by key service providers and bankers to the franchise industry as a leader and specialist in his field and through these strategic alliances he is able to add value to his clients far beyond the provision of legal services.

Scott is part of a franchise leadership group made up of key industry service providers, bankers and the Franchise Association of New Zealand, all of whom have been instrumental in establishing New Zealand’s first bi-annual franchise survey in conjunction with Massey University.

He also assists clients with the creation of intellectual property bunkers so as to put in place effective structures for the protection of all aspects of his clients’ intellectual property relevant to the franchise system.

Scott has provided effective strategies for the protection of trade marks, logos and brands to his clients in both New Zealand and Australia and has project managed the global protection of trade marks.

Indicative Previous Work

  • Assisting a client with the completion of a high level due diligence investigation relating to the $6million acquisition of a “going concern” master franchise opportunity for an internationally recognised “coffee” franchise
  • Negotiating a master franchise agreement and regionalising sub-franchise and offer documentation for a New Zealand based client relating to a UK based franchise opportunity
  • Advising a client on the proposed acquisition of a master franchise opportunity  to export a New Zealand based system into Malaysia – including liaising with a Malaysian based solicitor experienced in franchising
  • Assisting a franchisor with the performance management and subsequent termination of a multi site franchisee including creating a commercial solution to mitigate the exposure of the franchisee’s bankers and suppliers
  • Assisting a regional master franchisee with the acquisition of a franchisor’s intellectual property including the subsequent review of the franchise structure and redrafting of appropriate franchise documentation
  • Assisting a franchisor with achieving the mutual surrender and termination of its poor performing master

Firm Description:

Goodwin Turner Commercial Lawyers was established to provide specialist legal services tailored to the needs of businesses and their owners.

To us, being commercial lawyers requires more than just legal expertise. It also requires a commercial mindset, to ensure that any advice and services provided are realistic and practical for that client.

Our main practice areas are commercial and corporate law, commercial property, intellectual property and franchising. In addition, to support the personal requirements of our business owner clients, we also assist with trust-related matters and private-client type services.

Clients may notice that our approach is somewhat different to other firms they might have encountered. We judge our success by the relationships we build with our clients and we look for opportunities to add value.

We also understand that when clients trust a lawyer to provide their legal services or advice, they want to know that the lawyer can deliver the right results for them, but also what those services will cost. We don’t believe in hidden fees, and want to ensure there is as much clarity as possible at all times about what work is being done and what it will cost. For that reason, we don’t add “standard office expenses” or “administration” charges to our bills like some other firms.

The firm as a whole is committed to providing a modern, friendly, client focused, efficient approach to your legal business requirements with a focus on adding value to your business. Goodwin Turner has been winners of the  Global Law Experts award every year since 2014.

 

Steve Keall

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Leaders in Law endorses Steve Keall as our exclusively recommended Civil Litigation Law expert in New Zealand. If you wish to get in touch with Steve please use the contact information provided above.

Steve is an experienced civil and commercial disputes lawyer based in Auckland, New Zealand.

Steve Keall provides legal advice and advocacy for civil and commercial disputes. Steve has a particular interest in insurance. He has qualified as a barrister and solicitor in New Zealand, and as a solicitor in England. He now practises as a barrister sole in New Zealand.

A full list of Steve’s expertise can be found below:

  • General civil and commercial litigation including disputes of a commercial nature
  • Breach of contract claims:
  • Shareholder/partnership disputes including joint ventures
  • Commercial drafting, including terms and conditions
  • Advice in relation to equity and trusts, including the rights and responsibilities of trustees and beneficiaries
  • Companies Act matters including
  • Advice on New Zealand law for non-New Zealand businesses
  • Negligence claims (bringing and defending) with a focus on professionals, such as lawyers, accountants, valuers, architects and engineers
  • Procurement issues: general advice as well as assisting with disagreements and disputes
  • Debt recovery
  • Insurance advice and representation
  • Defamation
  • Personal litigation, such as relationship property disputes and challenging a will
  • Fraud
  • Enforcement in New Zealand of foreign judgments
  • Caveat matters
  • Legal and strategic advice regarding the termination of contracts
  • Professional discipline including advising and representing lawyers in respect of claims and complaints against them
  • Public Works Act advice
  • Personal injury advice

Steve welcomes enquiries from new clients. As previously mentioned, please get in touch using the contact details listed above.

 

John Miller

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John Miller Law (JML) was founded in 2001 by New Zealand’s leading ACC law expert and former senior law lecturer at Victoria University. John Miller has represented injured people for the last 40 years and is a tireless campaigner for ACC claimants’ rights. He is a sought-after media commentator and author on personal injury law.

Our egalitarian philosophy inspires a different kind of interaction with our clients. John has been awarded many accolades for his work, including the Millennium Human Rights Award (2000) and Wellingtonian of the Year (2002) for his long-term efforts on behalf of injured claimants. In 2006, Victoria University of Wellington dedicated an annual John Miller Community Service Award for law students demonstrating an outstanding contribution to the community.

JML has represented thousands of clients. We are well known for our effective results in resolving accident compensation disputes from Tribunal Reviews right through to the Court of Appeal. As well as personal injury compensation matters, JML also specialises in Mental Health Law in the Wellington region.

The Personal Injury Law Practice:

If you have been injured in anyway, in New Zealand or overseas, JML can help ensure you are getting your full cover and compensation entitlements. We can review your ACC file, tell you your rights and represent you at a Tribunal review or a Court appeal. Although we are based in Wellington, we can help you wherever you live in New Zealand. When you are dealing with the Accident Compensation Corporation, it is easy to feel overwhelmed. Because we know ACC law and procedures inside out, we can help you navigate the system and ensure you are getting your full compensatory entitlements.

Our experts can help you with claims/disputes concerning your Lump Sum/Independence Allowance, Weekly Compensation, Cover, Vocational Independence, Surgery, Home Help, Attendant Care, Rehabilitation and many other entitlements. If you have received a recent decision from ACC that you wish to challenge, it is important that you get in touch with us as soon as possible to protect your legal rights. The first step is to download our ACC Application Pack. Complete it, sign the Authority to Act (so that we can access your ACC file) and send the Application Pack back to us. A JML representative will then be in contact with you to properly advise you of the next steps in the progression of your ACC dispute.

John Miller Law:

John Miller Law’s reputation in obtaining excellent results for ACC claimants is second to none. We have successfully represented thousands of claimants, both here in NZ and overseas. Whether it is mediation, or a review hearing with ACC, or an appeal to the District or High Court, John Miller Law can assure you of expert legal advice and representation with compassion and empathy to your situation.

Our staff are highly trained ACC medico-legal specialists with additional expertise in Mental Health and Criminal Law. We look forward to working with you and looking after your interests.

Stewart Germann

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Leaders in Law endorses Stewart Germann as our exclusively recommended Licensing Law expert in New Zealand. If you wish to get in touch with Stewart please use the contact information provided above.

Stewart is a Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand and he attended the University of Auckland. He has the qualifications of B.Com, LLB, FCIS, CFInstD and Notary Public and he specialises in franchising, licensing, sale and purchase of businesses and commercial law.

Stewart has over 35 years’ experience in franchising law and has acted for many franchisors in New Zealand and overseas. He also acts for franchisees advising them about a particular franchise and commenting on the form of franchise documents.

From 1997 to 1999 Stewart was the Chairman of the Franchise Association of New Zealand. He has spoken at franchising conferences in New Zealand, Australia and USA and is very interested in international franchising. He has also written numerous articles on franchising for New Zealand and international publications.

Stewart is a member of the International Franchise Association (IFA) based at Washington DC and of the International Bar Association (IBA).

Stewart Germann is a qualified mediator and is a member of AMINZ. He is also on the Panel of Mediators of the Franchise Association of New Zealand.

 

Heather Ash

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Leaders in Law endorses Heather Ash as our exclusively recommended Dispute Resolution Law expert in New Zealand. If you wish to get in touch with Heather please use the contact information provided above.

Heather is a partner and heads the firm’s local government and environment group in Auckland. She specialises in all areas of resource management and environmental law, with a particular focus on the development and implementation of district plans. This includes providing advice in the areas of strategic growth planning, management of the rural environment and natural resources, urban intensification, and subdivision. She is widely regarded for her expertise in plan development. She also advises a range of clients on their responsibilities under the Resource Management Act, including designations and large infrastructure projects.

Heather has extensive advocacy experience and regularly appears on appeals under the Resource Management Act on resource consents and district plans in the Environment Court, as well as proceedings in the High Court. Heather has also participated in many successful mediations, particularly resolving appeals on district plans.

Heather Ash led the Simpson Grierson team advising Auckland Council on the new Unitary Plan for the Auckland region – the first ever combined regional policy statement, regional plan and district plan for Auckland. This was the largest and most complex planning document to be undertaken in New Zealand. It will ensure Auckland meets the economic and housing needs of a growing population not only for the city but for New Zealand.

 

Chris Moore

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Leaders in Law endorses Chris Moore as our exclusively recommended Commercial Property Law expert in New Zealand. If you wish to get in touch with Chris, please use the contact information provided above.

Our Commercial Property team was evaluated by New Zealand’s Ministry of Economic and Development and given the ranking of no. 1 for “value for money” out of the “large” law firms across the country.  This “value for money” ranking takes into account quality and cost scores.

The services we offer include:

Acquisitions and disposals: Advising both buyers and sellers on the acquisition and disposal of commercial property including due diligence and structuring advice. The team also regularly assists with the property aspects of commercial sales and acquisitions.

Landlord and tenant matters: Advising landlords and tenants in relation to agreements to build and lease, leases, licences and associated documentation. We also advise corporate tenants and landlords on the day-to-day management of their property portfolios.

Development projects: Acting for developers, funders and investors on a range of large, medium and small developments with advice across all aspects from the acquisition of a site, structuring, financing, due diligence, and subdivision, through to the sell-down or longer term hold, through appropriate structuring.

Infrastructure projects: Acting for a number of national and regional network utility operators and other infrastructure organizations in relation to substantial infrastructure projects and other property and commercial matters.

Hotels: The team has particular expertise in advising on structuring, acquisition and disposal of leisure stock, particularly hotels,
structured real estate/managed funds and structuring real estate ownership by working closely with other teams within the firm on design, build, finance and operating agreements, property investment structures and development vehicles.

Co-ownership/Fractional: The team advises on a wide range of co-ownership projects including fractional and residents’ clubs for both domestic and international clients.

Financing: The team advises on all aspects of property finance and secured and unsecured lending.

Syndication and Securities Law: The team has extensive experience in advising on property syndication in all its forms including advising on the Securities Law requirements for offering property investments to the public and the regulatory framework for managed funds generally.

RECENT MANDATES INCLUDE ADVISING:
• An Australian property fund on the disposal of its property portfolio.
• A hotel/tourism investment fund in relation to a $200M fractional ownership project in Australia.
• Several blue-chip national retail chains in relation to all aspects of their leasehold and freehold property portfolios.
• A national electricity operator in negotiating property rights for a $400M project to reinforce electricity supply to Auckland.
• Central and local governments through conducting internal reviews on their commercial property arrangements.
• A developer in respect of its redevelopment, refurbishment and leasing of a CBD luxury retail precinct.
• International investor on the acquisition of two complex investments including drafting and negotiating key documents and undertaking detailed due diligence.
• On the acquisition of a diverse, distressed property portfolio involving compliance with certain regulatory requirements including the Takeovers Code.