Andrew Petersen

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Andrew is an experienced commercial property partner who offers his clients complementary expertise in corporate and commercial matters.

Andrew leads Bell Gully's Real Estate and Projects team. His experience includes advising on real estate and business acquisitions and divestments, leasing, project developments and finance, construction, joint ventures and shareholder arrangements, and property restructuring and insolvency. Andrew's experience covers all areas of property, including office, retail, industrial, hotels, apartments, residential, golf course developments, land subdivisions, farming, forestry and vineyards.

Andrew's clients include Cooper and Company (which is redeveloping Auckland's Britomart precinct), leading companies such as Fletcher Building, Kiwi Property, Rank Group, Carter Holt Harvey, Goodman Group and Goodman Property Trust, and numerous international corporate and private clients investing in New Zealand.

Andrew was a representative on the Technical Reference Group advising the New Zealand Government on the review of the Overseas Investment Act (OIA). He also presented a series of nationwide seminars on the Act with the Overseas Investment Office and co-authored the comprehensive New Zealand Law Society guide for practitioners on the Act. Andrew has been involved with over 50 OIA applications under the 2005 legislation.

In The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2024, Andrew is named in the 'Hall of Fame' ranking for real estate and construction – its highest accolade for lawyers in the region. In previous editions, clients say “Andrew Petersen is outstanding on OIO matters, with an almost unparalleled working knowledge of the legislation and its practical application.” “Andrew Petersen is a pleasure to deal with. He knows what it takes to get deals done quickly and efficiently and is an outstanding problem solver.” He is also considered “a star in relation to overseas investment issues.”

Chambers Asia Pacific 2024 ranks Andrew as a leading lawyer for his real estate work. He was also recognised by Doyles Guide 2020 as a preeminent lawyer for Property and Real Estate in New Zealand.

Work highlights

Overseas purchaser of 50% interest in the ANZ Centre
Advised an overseas purchaser on its acquisition of a 50% interest in the ANZ Centre in Auckland for $177 million.

EQT Infrastructure IV Fund
Advised EQT Infrastructure IV Fund on the real estate, construction and overseas investment office aspects of its scheme of arrangement to acquire 100% of Metlifecare.

Worldwide Leisure
Advised Worldwide Leisure on the real estate aspects of the sale of Huka Lodge to KSL Capital Partners.

The Purchaser of 136 Fanshawe Street, Auckland
Advised the Purchaser on the forward purchase (including OIO consent), development, leasing and financing of the under-construction premium-grade building at 136 Fanshawe Street, Auckland.

The Purchaser of 155 Fanshawe Street, Auckland
Advised the Purchaser on the forward purchase (including OIO consent), development, leasing and financing of the completed premium-grade office building at 155 Fanshawe Street, Auckland, the largest value commercial office real estate acquisition in 2020.

Winton
Advised Winton on its agreements with the New Zealand Government, to deliver new affordable “KiwiBuild” homes for the Government’s KiwiBuild programme and a development agreement with Kainga Ora to deliver more than 1,300 homes at Winton’s Lakeside Development at Te Kauwhata.

GIC Real Estate
Advised GIC Real Estate on its acquisition of a 49% interest in Wynyard Precinct Holdings, which owned a portfolio of office buildings in central Auckland.

SkyCity Entertainment Group sale of Auckland car park concession
Advised SkyCity Entertainment Group on its agreement to sell a long-term concession over its Auckland car parks for ~NZ$220 million to Macquarie.

Cooper and Company
Advised Cooper and Company on all aspects of the development and leasing in Auckland's Britomart Precinct, including the development and management arrangement for the new five-star Britomart Hotel.

GIC Real Estate’s investment in New Zealand
Advised GIC Real Estate, Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund, on its first real estate transaction in New Zealand. This involved an acquisition of a 49% share in a joint venture company with an interest in five leasehold office buildings in Auckland’s Viaduct Quarter with a value of NZ$313 million, and the joint venture arrangements with the 51% joint venture partner, Goodman Property Trust.

Kawarau Village, Queenstown development
Acted on the Kawarau Village development, including negotiating the hotel management arrangements with Hilton International, the sell down of apartments and Unit Titles Act matters. Most recently acted on the sale of the development to an international investor.

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Work highlights

Insights by Andrew