Zena is an experienced financial services and investment funds lawyer. Her areas of expertise include funds management, financial markets conduct law, financial regulation, mergers and acquisitions (M&A), joint ventures, limited partnerships, and capital raising.
Her clients include retail and wholesale fund managers, banks, trustee companies, insurers, other financial institutions, corporates, start-ups, and FinTechs, both in New Zealand and offshore.
Zena has a deep understanding of the financial services regulatory environment and helps clients understand how to navigate this. In particular, Zena specialises in investment funds and advises on all aspects from inception to winding up, including the establishment and management of wholesale and retail funds.
Zena is also experienced in financial services M&A and joint ventures. She draws on her financial services sector knowledge and previous experience as a corporate lawyer on such transactions. She also advises FinTechs on the launch of digital financial products (including buy-now-pay-later products, online platforms and tokens) in the New Zealand market.
Clients appreciate Zena’s commercial approach, responsiveness and her understanding of the regulatory environment in which they operate, which she reflects in the high quality advice and projects she delivers.
Zena started her career at MinterEllisonRuddWatts as a summer clerk in 2012. Before re-joining our firm in 2020, she worked in private practice at other law firms in New Zealand and in the top-tier investment funds team at Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner in London.
Career highlights
Advising Aon NZ on the sale of its $1 billion FUM retirement savings business (including Aon KiwiSaver) to Fisher Funds.
Advising on the sale of part of Westpac’s financial wealth business to Forsyth Barr and the strategic partnership between the parties.
Advising Swedish-based bank Klarna on launching its ‘buy now pay later’ payment product in the New Zealand market.
Advising Jasper on a range of fund management issues, including fund establishment, joint ventures, capital raising and its online platform.
Advising on the establishment of wholesale and retail funds, including funds offered through online platforms, funds with self-select options, and KiwiSaver schemes.
Advising on joint ventures (particularly in the property funds sector) between parties based in New Zealand and offshore.
Advising a number of clients on the new financial advice regime under the Financial Markets Conduct Act 2013.
Affiliations
- Member, Institute of Finance Professionals NZ Inc. (INFINZ)
- Member, Young Women in Finance New Zealand
- Member, Auckland Women Lawyers’ Association
Achievements and recognition
- Band 1 team, Financial Services, Chambers Asia-Pacific
- Tier 1 team, Investment Funds, The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific