She has substantial experience covering both general corporate lending, project finance in relation to infrastructure assets, and lending on all classes of real estate assets (investment and development facilities), with particular expertise on property portfolio acquisitions of logistics, data centre and hotel and leisure sector asset classes, operating company/property company transactions, commercial and residential development facilities and complex senior/mezzanine debt structures and intercreditor arrangements.
Sarah is a partner in our industry-leading financial services team, with vast experience acting for both lenders and borrowers on domestic and international secured financings.
Sarah returned to New Zealand in May 2021, following close to a decade of work at Allen & Overy LLP in London where she was promoted from associate to senior associate. Notably, during this time, Sarah advised the arrangers and underwriters on the €2.8 billion acquisition of UK-based logistics developer Gazeley by subsidiaries of GLP (Asia's largest warehouse developer and fund manager), representing GLPs entrance into the European market.
She also completed two secondments to Goldmans Sachs and HSBC while at Allen & Overy LLP.
Sarah has been recognised as a banking and finance lawyer of the year and a restructuring and insolvency lawyer of the year in the Women in Business Law Awards APAC 2023 shortlists. She’s also named in the 2022 and 2023 Finance Rising Star category shortlists.
NZ Lawyer recognised Sarah as a Most Influential Lawyer in 2024.
Work highlights
New Zealand’s first and second Infrastructure Funding and Financing Act transactions
Advised Crown Infrastructure Partners on the first transaction implemented under the Infrastructure Funding and Financing Act (the IFF Act), raising approximately NZ$175 million for thirteen transport projects across the Tauranga region.
Advised Crown Infrastructure Partners on the second landmark transaction under the IFF Act providing funding to the Wellington City Council for the construction of a sludge minimisation facility at Moa Point.
GIC Real Estate refinance
Advised GIC, the Singapore sovereign wealth fund, on the refinancing of its portfolio of Westfield malls located throughout New Zealand.
SkyCity Entertainment Group USPP
Advised SkyCity on its US$125 million US private placement financing with MetLife and Voya.
Manawa Energy refinance
Manawa Energy on its refinance to an unsecured club deal involving a mix of New Zealand lenders and advising in relation to its corporate bond issuances.
Canopy Healthcare acquisition financing
Advised Barings Australia and Challenger Capital as lenders in relation to the acquisition financing provided to Intermediate Capital Group (ICG) to fund the acquisition of Canopy Healthcare Group, the largest private medical oncology provider in New Zealand.
Acquisition financing for the StraitNZ group of companies
Advised the agent and the lenders in relation to the acquisition financing provided to Morgan Stanley Infrastructure Partners in connection with the NZ$215 million equity refinance of the acquisition of the StraitNZ group of companies.
New Zealand Green Investment Finance – financing of electric buses
Advised New Zealand Green Investment Finance in relation to its financing of Zenobē to acquire 18 electric bus (E-Bus) fleets, which will then be leased under long-term lease agreements with major operators in New Zealand, supporting a shift towards sustainable transport solutions at the foundation of achieving net zero.
NZ Hotel Holdings refinancing
Advised NZ Hotel Holdings Asset LP, a partnership between NZ Super Fund, the Russell Property Group and Lockwood Property Group in relation to the refinancing and consolidation of its existing bilateral facility agreements into a syndicated facility structure covering a portfolio of 8 hotels located throughout New Zealand.
Arrangers and underwriters on €2.8 billion acquisition of Gazeley
Advised the arrangers and underwriters on the €2.8 billion acquisition of UK-based logistics developer Gazeley by subsidiaries of GLP (Asia's largest warehouse developer and fund manager), representing GLPs entrance into the European market.
Arrangers and underwriters on €3 billion facilities provided to Blackstone Group subsidiaries
Advised the arrangers and underwriters on €3 billion senior term and capex facilities and mezzanine term and capex facilities provided to subsidiaries of the Blackstone Group for the purposes of financing the acquisition of office and logistics properties located in Germany and Belgium.
Goldman Sachs financings
Advised Goldman Sachs as arranger in relation to a senior / mezzanine financing provided to subsidiaries of DTGO Corporation in relation to the acquisition of 17 hotels located in the United Kingdom managed by Marriott, Hilton and IHG.
Advised Goldman Sachs as arranger in relation to the financing of the development of a data centre located in the Netherlands and subsequent investment refinancing.
Canary Wharf development financings
Advised a syndicate of senior lenders in relation to the development financing provided to subsidiaries of Canary Wharf Group plc relating to the high end residential development of Wood Wharf and in relation to the senior / mezz investment refinancing of the development financing relating to the construction of the new office tower at 1 and 5 Bank Street, Canary Wharf.
Mapletree on acquisition and subsequent debt refinancing of various equity acquisitions
Advised Mapletree as sponsor in relation to the acquisition and subsequent debt refinancing of their equity acquisition of 67 logistics assets located in Poland, Germany, Hungary, France, the Netherlands and Spain.
