Qualifications
BA, LLB (Hons), University of Auckland
Admitted
2004, New Zealand
Kelly heads the Chapman Tripp Corporate & Commercial team where she supports many of the firm’s largest deals across various sectors, including fintech and the primary sector.
She specialises in transactions and projects involving complex and ongoing commercial contracts, intellectual property and innovation.
Kelly also co-leads our Technology, Media & Telecommunications team advising technology customers and vendors on a range of contractual and major IT project issues. Her extensive experience includes digital infrastructure projects with complex commercial negotiations and arrangements between investors, funders, landowners, developers and operators.
Kelly regularly advises on data protection and privacy issues and has advised New Zealand and global organisations on data and cyber-security breaches.
Kelly is recognised as a Leading Lawyer by Chambers Asia Pacific, a Notable Practitioner by IFLR1000, a Leading Partner by Legal 500 Asia Pacific, and a Transactions Star by Managing IP.
Recent highlights
- Advised Microsoft on a large number of commercial arrangements in New Zealand and Australia including licensing, sponsorship and other commercial arrangements together with general consumer and fair trading advice.
- Advised Fonterra on the divestment of its Tip Top business to Froneri for $380m, including the negotiation of a long term licence and co-existence agreement for shared use of the Kapiti brand.
- Advised Mercury on the sale of its smart-metering business, Metrix, to intelliHUB Group for a cash consideration of $270m.
- Advised ANZ Bank New Zealand on its sale of OnePath Life for $700m to specialist global insurer Cigna Corporation.
- Advised a large number of clients on privacy and data collection issues associated with innovative new technologies including Microsoft, ANZ, Partners Life, Air New Zealand and Xiaomi.
- Advised IT vendors and customers in Hong Kong and New Zealand on a range of contractual and major IT project issues including licensing, procurement of services, consumer and regulatory issues.
- Advised Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan (OTPP) on the sale of a 33% stake and Spark on the sale of a 17% stake in Connexa to Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec for NZ$909 million. This followed on from Connexa’s acquisitions of American Tower Corporation’s New Zealand property platform, and 2degrees' passive mobile tower assets for $1.076b, and OTPP’s $1.115b acquisition of Spark’s mobile towers business.
- Advised Vector on the sale of a 50% interest in its New Zealand and Australian metering business to QIC managed investment funds for approximately $2.51b EV and $1.74b net proceeds.
- Advised Kiwi Group Holdings on long term partnering arrangements for the sale of Kiwi Insurance to NIB for $45m and Kiwi Wealth to Fisher Funds for $310m.
