Qualifications
BA, LLB (1st Class Hons), University of Canterbury
Admitted
1991, New Zealand
Specialising in investment, funds and savings products, Mike has a specific emphasis on workplace savings, KiwiSaver and superannuation and related financial services regulation.
His retail scheme clients include Smartshares and Westpac. He also acts for the trustees and/or employer sponsors of over 25 restricted workplace savings or KiwiSaver schemes including those sponsored by AMP, Anglican Financial Care, ANZ, Beca and NZAS.
Mike has a strong interest in law reform and policy issues and in recent years he has been instrumental in a number of workplace savings and KiwiSaver legislative reforms, industry exemptions and compliance cost savings initiatives. He was a member of the Government-appointed Savings Product Working Group whose recommendations led to the KiwiSaver legislation. He regularly presents at industry conferences and workshops.
He is recognised as a Senior Statesperson by Chambers Asia Pacific 2025 and as a Leading Individual by Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2025.
Recent highlights
- Advising leading workplace savings schemes, including those of AA, AMP, Anglican Financial Care, ANZ, Beca, BOC, Heinz, NZAS, PGG Wrightson, Ports, Refining NZ and WPS Downer; on their transitions into and ongoing compliance with the Financial Markets Conduct legislation.
- Advising on major scheme restructuring exercises for Airways Corporation, ANZ, BNZ, PGG Wrightson and Shell and assisting other scheme sponsors with strategic reviews.
- Assisting with the establishment and ongoing development of numerous major KiwiSaver schemes, including those managed by several Government-appointed default providers, and large-scale complying superannuation fund structures. Mike and his team have assisted with establishing eight KiwiSaver schemes and another eight complying superannuation fund structures.
- Advising supervisors and managers on technical, policy and other aspects of the KiwiSaver legislation – and on related issues such as processing hardship, first home purchase, serious illness and other early withdrawals and addressing evolving disclosure and member reporting obligations.
- Assisting with numerous large-scale FMA-approved or consents-based bulk transfers between retirement schemes (including KiwiSaver schemes), with the ongoing transitions of a range of stand-alone schemes into master trust platforms and on master trust solutions for small-scale pensions-based and other defined benefit schemes.
- Advising on the procedural and documentary requirements for winding up retirement schemes and assisting end-to-end on scheme terminations.
Affiliations
- Member of Financial Services Council Workplace Savings and Investment and KiwiSaver Committees.
