Toni Forrest

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Toni is highly regarded for her pragmatic and commercially-focused approach. She has significant experience and expertise in commercial property, projects and corporate matters, with domestic and international experience.

Toni is a partner in Bell Gully's industry-leading projects and real estate team. She has significant experience advising clients on acquisitions and disposals, joint ventures, property development projects and commercial real estate leasing as well as pure real estate matters.

As a transactional lawyer, Toni is accustomed to advising and delivering on complex transactions. She has a reputation for going the extra mile for her clients to ensure they achieve their objectives.

Toni previously spent almost six years working in the corporate team of CMS Cameron McKenna, London.

In The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2024, Toni is ranked as a 'Next Generation Partner' in real estate and construction. Clients say “Toni Forrest provides exceptional support by understanding an organisation’s risk appetite and key drivers and navigating complex and high-risk issues.” In previous editions clients described Toni as “exceptionally commercially savvy, solutions-focused and extremely approachable" and the “definition of a trusted advisor.” One client stated: “In a complex organisation like ours, we need advisors who can understand not only the legal and commercial risk the organisation faces, but also reputational and commercial risk. Toni does this effortlessly.”

Work highlights

Commercial property and projects

Precinct Properties 40 & 44 Bowen Street
Acted for Precinct Properties on its NZ$240 million sale of 40 and 44 Bowen Street, Wellington, to Bowen Investment Limited Partnership.

Wellington City Council social housing transaction
Advised Wellington City Council on the establishment of community housing provider Te Toi Mahana and the long term lease of its social housing portfolio comprising nearly 1,800 properties and approximately 3,000 tenants. The transaction also involved development funding of NZ$23 million and approximately NZ$10 million of property.

Precinct Properties redevelopment projects
Advised Precinct Properties on its significant office redevelopment projects in the Central Government Precinct, Wellington, including finalising the development of Defence House and MPI House and the construction of two new buildings in the precinct, and on its sale of Pastoral House, Wellington.

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.

Property aspects of Nippon Paper acquisition of Orora’s fibre business
Advising Nippon Paper, as part of an integrated team with Herbert Smith Freehills, on the New Zealand property aspects of its acquisition of Orora’s Fibre business in Australia and NZ for AU$1.7 billion.

Ngāi Tahu Property partnering agreement with QLDC
Advised Ngāi Tahu Property on its “partnering agreement” with Queenstown Lakes District Council to redevelop central Queenstown.

Precinct Government development and leasing agreements
Advising Precinct Properties on the development and leasing agreements that it has entered into with the New Zealand Government as part of the Government's Wellington Accommodation Project Tranche 2.

Tainui Group Holdings
Advised Tainui Group Holdings on its recently completed purchase of a half share in Centre Place North, a large retail shopping centre in central Hamilton, as part of a complex joint venture arrangement with Kiwi Property.

Various joint ventures
Advised various clients on joint ventures, including by way of example, a joint venture for the acquisition of a London property; a joint venture for the development and operation of new hotels in the UK between an international hotel operator and private capital group; and a joint venture for the development and operation of student accommodation.

Corporate and commercial

CVC proposed acquisition of Fonterra’s 50% share in DFE Pharma
Advising CVC Strategic Opportunities II, as part of an integrated team with Freshfields, on the New Zealand law aspects on its proposed acquisition of Fonterra’s 50% share in DFE Pharma for $633 million.

OnePath Life acquisition
Advised Cigna Corporation in relation to its acquisition of OnePath Life from ANZ for approximately $700 million.