Partner

Kate Telford

LLB / BCom
Profile
Kate Telford is a Partner in our Corporate and Commercial team.

Prior to joining Hesketh Henry, Kate practised in large law firms in both Australia and the United Kingdom.

Kate’s principal area of practice is general corporate and commercial law.  Kate regularly advises clients on a range of commercial agreements including joint venture and shareholder agreements, manufacturing agreements, distribution agreements, sponsorship agreements, licencing agreements, and terms of trade. She also assists corporate clients in relation to compliance with a wide range of legislative matters, including the Companies Act 1993, Fair Trading Act 1986, Consumer Guarantees Act 1993, Takeovers Code 1993 and Overseas Investment Act 2005.

In addition, Kate has extensive experience advising clients in relation to acquiring, disposing of, and investing in, businesses.

Kate has been a recommended lawyer in The Legal 500 Asia Pacific Directory for the last nine years (2016 to 2024) and has been noted as being an “M&A specialist” and “sought after for commercial law”.

Kate is a director of Project Employ Limited, a charitable company that helps young people with disabilities learn the skills they need to gain meaningful employment in the community.  Kate and other team members at Hesketh Henry provide pro bono legal assistance to Project Employ.

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Experience

Examples of work completed by Kate include:

  • Advising the shareholders of a New Zealand based technology company on the sale of its shares to a large listed US technology company.
  • Assisting a New Zealand manufacturing company with the purchase of significant assets from a logistics supplier.
  • Acting for a listed US technology company on the acquisition of fleets of ATMs from registered New Zealand banks.
  • Assisting on the sale and purchase of a number of medical and dental practices.
  • Assisting numerous clients obtain Overseas Investment Office consent including in relation to farm land applications.
  • Advising a large co-operative company on a variety of matters including its constitutional arrangements and negotiating key contracts for that company.
  • Advising a nationwide residential building franchise in relation to all aspects of its franchising arrangements.
  • Advising a large manufacturing company on the sale of its business to a 50/50 joint venture company. Kate continues to advise the joint venture company on its day-to-day commercial activities including numerous acquisitions of businesses throughout New Zealand.
  • Advising a closely-held engineering company on its shareholder and constitutional arrangements.
Publications
  • LexisNexis Company, Foreign Investment and M&A Law Guide

  • The Legal 500: Investing in New Zealand” Comparative Guide Investing in New Zealand

Insights & Opinion / Kate Telford

Key change to rules on distribution of surplus assets under the new Incorporated Societies Act 2022
On 5 October 2023, the new Incorporated Societies Act 2022 (2022 Act) came fully into force, replacing the Incorporated Societies Act 1908 (1908 Act). One of the key requirements under the 2022 Act is...
18.10.2023 Posted in Business Advice
Mandatory financial climate-related disclosure obligations now law
The Financial Sector (Climate-related Disclosures and Other Matters) Amendment Bill (Bill) received royal assent last week.
02.11.2021 Posted in Business Advice & Climate Change
At first glance: Overseas Investment Amendment Bill (No 3) 2021
The Overseas Investment Amendment Bill (No 3) (Bill) received royal assent on 24 May 2021
22.06.2021 Posted in Business Advice & Foreign Investment
New Investor Test for Overseas Investors
On 22 March 2021, a new investor test will be introduced for all consent applications under the Overseas Investment Act (Act), bar a few residential land exceptions.  This is one of several measures ...
02.03.2021 Posted in Business Advice & Foreign Investment
rsz compliance regulations procedures
Is this Organic? Proposed Regulation of Organic Product Claims
The Organic Products Bill, which is currently at the Select Committee stage, proposes to introduce a regime to regulate claims made by businesses that products are organic (known as making an “organ...
06.10.2020 Posted in Business Advice
COVID-19: OIO Update
Government fast-tracks new measures during COVID-19 crisis
14.05.2020 Posted in Business Advice & COVID-19 & Foreign Investment
At first glance: Overseas Investment Amendment Bill (No. 2) 2020 
On 19 March 2020, the Overseas Investment Amendment Bill (No. 2) 2020 (the “Bill”) was introduced to Parliament.  The two key intentions of the Bill are to strengthen and simplify the ove...
20.04.2020 Posted in Business Advice & Foreign Investment
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