Qualifications
LLB (Hons), University of Otago; BA (Japanese), University of Otago
Admitted
2004, New Zealand
Leigh is a leading expert in New Zealand's infrastructure sector and co-leads the firm’s Infrastructure sector group.
She advises central and local government, borrowers, lenders, and equity investors on the commercial and financing aspects of projects, including procurement strategy, project contracts, project finance, targeted funding and general lending arrangements.
With over 20 years’ experience, Leigh has been at the forefront of major infrastructure projects, including recent transactions under the Infrastructure Funding and Financing Act (IFF). She also advised the Government on procurement, evaluation and contracting for all Public Private Partnership (PPP) projects procured from 2012 to 2017, and is currently advising the Department of Corrections on the PPP redevelopment of Christchurch Men’s Prison.
Leigh has a decade of experience at another major New Zealand law firm and worked at Slaughter and May in London from 2008 to 2011. She was named on the Australasian Lawyer and NZ Lawyer Elite Women List in 2025 and is ranked as a Notable Practitioner by IFLR1000.
Recent highlights
- Leading all secondary sales in the New Zealand market from 2019 to 2023, where equity investors disposed of their stakes in existing PPP projects.
- Advising Tauranga City Council and Wellington City Council in relation to the two projects under the IFF.
- Advising on diverse energy sector projects, including for Christchurch International Airport on the Kowhai Park solar farm, on project financing for lenders on the Lauriston solar farm, and for Nova Energy on the Te Rahui solar farm.
- Advising Z Energy on the transition of Marsden Point from a refining operation to an import terminal.
- Advising a variety of Government Departments and Crown Agencies on grant funding arrangements, including EECA on all shovel-ready projects and EV charging arrangements, Kānoa, Kāinga Ora on Infrastructure Acceleration Funding, and the Ministry of Business Innovation & Employment (MBIE) and the Department of Internal Affairs on COVID-related funding.
- Advising a variety of Government Departments and Crown Agencies on complex and bespoke contracting arrangements, including for MBIE's managed isolation and quarantine programme, major events like the 36th America’s Cup and FIFA Women’s World Cup, and the Ministry of Transport's COVID-19 International Air Freight Capacity support scheme.
- Advising NZ Transport Agency – Waka Kotahi on the Auckland Light Rail Project in connection with the parallel process run by Ministry of Transport.
