About
We are a law firm practising in the areas of corporate and financing law. We are specialists in asset financing including aircraft financing and leasing.
Previously practising as the corporate/aviation subgroup at Buddle Findlay, Frank and Rishalat are a dynamic and strong team, having worked together for nearly eight years.
Our technical excellence and leading industry knowledge allow us to achieve outcomes which meet the commercial objectives of our clients. We pride ourselves on delivering responsive and dedicated service.
Our reputation is our benchmark. Let’s see what we can do for you.
Expertise
We work with local and foreign clients including banks, leasing companies, insurers and airlines advising on a range of corporate, commercial and financing matters. We regularly assist foreign law firms as local counsel on New Zealand law issues.
Here are some of the things we do.
Corporate / commercial
- Our expertise spans from commercial contracting, corporate restructuring and governance to mergers and acquisitions both at a global and local level. We provide regulatory advice and are experienced in dealing with most regulators.
Financing
- We act for lenders and borrowers on transactional and regulatory matters involving corporate and consumer financing.
- We have a wealth of experience in the sale and purchase of loan portfolios and asset financing and leasing. Our work also includes receivables financing.
Aviation
- We are leaders in financing and leasing, sale and purchase and repossession of aircraft. We act on the sale and purchase of aviation related businesses as well as other commercial arrangements within the aviation industry.
- We advise on Cape Town Convention matters including IR filings.
Frank Porter is one of New Zealand’s leading corporate and financing lawyers with over 25 years’ experience delivering expert legal advice. Frank has an established reputation as a trusted and respected legal adviser having previously been a senior partner at Buddle Findlay. His extensive experience enables him to advise across a broad range of matters and transactions.
Frank is also one of New Zealand’s leading aircraft financing and leasing lawyers and the New Zealand contact for the Aviation Working Capital Group, a worldwide industry body advising on Cape Town Convention compliance matters. Frank, throughout his career, has advised various aviation industry participants including airlines, manufacturers, banks, lessors and export credit agencies.
Frank has worked on mergers and acquisitions, structured and project financing as well as providing both transactional and regulatory advice. Notably, of recent times Frank advised GE on the sale of its New Zealand consumer finance business which was a finalist for the Australasian M & A Deal of the Year and winner of the New Zealand International Deal of the Year.
His attention to detail, tenacity and in-depth industry knowledge are integral to his professional approach.
'Frank Porter has a wealth of experience with aircraft financing and he is calm under pressure' - Asia Chambers Pacific
Rishalat is an experienced corporate and financing lawyer having advised over the years local and foreign clients on a wide range of corporate and general financing matters. Rishalat was previously a Senior Associate at Buddle Findlay.
Rishalat advises on mergers and acquisitions and has acted for international financial institutions on various matters including the sale and purchase of businesses in New Zealand. She has advised on deals such as GE Capital’s sale of its consumer finance business which has been recognised by the industry both as a finalist in the Australasian Law Awards and as the winner of the New Zealand International Deal of the Year.
As part of her financing expertise, Rishalat is a specialist in areas of aircraft financing and leasing and other aviation-related areas. She has co-authored New Zealand chapters and articles in various air transport and financing publications.
Rishalat is known for her calm and pragmatic approach and sound legal advice.
Team
Our team is dedicated to providing hands-on, responsive service using their technical expertise and experience to deliver clear solutions to all of your legal needs.
Team
Our team is dedicated to providing hands-on, responsive service using their technical expertise and experience to deliver clear solutions to all of your legal needs.
Frank Porter is one of New Zealand’s leading corporate and financing lawyers with over 25 years’ experience delivering expert legal advice. Frank has an established reputation as a trusted and respected legal adviser having previously been a senior partner at Buddle Findlay. His extensive experience enables him to advise across a broad range of matters and transactions.
Frank is also one of New Zealand’s leading aircraft financing and leasing lawyers and the New Zealand contact for the Aviation Working Capital Group, a worldwide industry body advising on Cape Town Convention compliance matters. Frank, throughout his career, has advised various aviation industry participants including airlines, manufacturers, banks, lessors and export credit agencies.
Frank has worked on mergers and acquisitions, structured and project financing as well as providing both transactional and regulatory advice. Notably, of recent times Frank advised GE on the sale of its New Zealand consumer finance business which was a finalist for the Australasian M & A Deal of the Year and winner of the New Zealand International Deal of the Year.
His attention to detail, tenacity and in-depth industry knowledge are integral to his professional approach.
'Frank Porter has a wealth of experience with aircraft financing and he is calm under pressure' - Asia Chambers Pacific
Rishalat is an experienced corporate and financing lawyer having advised over the years local and foreign clients on a wide range of corporate and general financing matters. Rishalat was previously a Senior Associate at Buddle Findlay.
Rishalat advises on mergers and acquisitions and has acted for international financial institutions on various matters including the sale and purchase of businesses in New Zealand. She has advised on deals such as GE Capital’s sale of its consumer finance business which has been recognised by the industry both as a finalist in the Australasian Law Awards and as the winner of the New Zealand International Deal of the Year.
As part of her financing expertise, Rishalat is a specialist in areas of aircraft financing and leasing and other aviation-related areas. She has co-authored New Zealand chapters and articles in various air transport and financing publications.
Rishalat is known for her calm and pragmatic approach and sound legal advice.
Recent Work
Here is a selection of some recent work Frank and Rishalat have been involved in.
M & A
We have acted for:
- GE Capital on the sale of its New Zealand consumer finance business including GE Money, GEM Visa and OneCard with assets in excess of NZ$1b
- Citibank on the sale of its New Zealand merchant acquiring business to Wirecard
- Gate Gourmet on the acquisition of the Pacific Flight Catering business
- GE Capital on the sale of Custom Fleet NZ and its fleet and equipment financing business as part of its global US$6.9b sale
- Air National on the sale of its Skycare ground handling business to AeroCare (Australia) and the management shareholders on the subsequent sale of Aerocare by Next Capital to Archer Capital
- Latitude Financial Services on the acquisition of an afterpay business from Genoapay
Financing
We have acted for:
- Rabobank on corporate financing for Scales Corporation
- ANZ Bank as New Zealand counsel on a global asset leasing facility
- Wells Fargo on a trade receivables purchase facility as part of a global arrangement
- Rabobank on the repatriation of a large trade receivables securitisation
- Mercedes-Benz Financial Services on a NZ$30million real estate development finance facility
Aircraft
We have acted for:
- ANZ Bank on the financing of two Air New Zealand B787-900 aircraft and various helicopters
- various lenders on the Japanese Operating Leases with Call Option (JOLCO) structures for various Air New Zealand A320 and ATR aircraft
- Commonwealth Bank of Australia on the leasing of an Air New Zealand B787-900 aircraft
- various parties as New Zealand deal counsel on Virgin Australia’s issue of US$850m Enhanced Equipment Notes (EEN) in the the US private debt placement market
- National Australia Bank on the financing of Air New Zealand’s B787 and Beech 1900 simulators
- various aircraft lessors on the sale and novation of aircraft on lease to Air New Zealand
Contact
Postal Address
PO Box 133, Shortland Street, Auckland 1140, New Zealand