Simon Gray

Simon is a partner who leads Hesketh Henry’s banking & finance practice. He advises on the full spectrum of domestic and cross‑border debt financing, including project and development finance, acquisition and leveraged finance, corporate lending, funds finance, property finance and debt restructuring. His practice has a particular focus on infrastructure, energy and development projects, supporting clients across the full asset lifecycle from procurement strategy and bankability through to delivery, operation and refinancing.

With over two decades’ experience in New Zealand, the United Kingdom and Southeast Asia, Simon acts for banks, credit funds and non-bank lenders, corporates, sponsors, public entities, iwi, contractors and offtakers. This multi‑sided perspective helps him balance competing priorities, align interfaces and negotiate clear, bankable frameworks, and focus on practical risk allocation and funding structures that support whole‑of‑life performance.

Clients value his calm leadership, clear communication and commercially grounded judgment. He gives clarity on risk and certainty on timetable and execution. Recognised by The Legal 500 Asia‑Pacific and Best Lawyers, Simon combines technical rigour with solutions‑focussed advice.

Simon works closely with Hesketh Henry’s construction & infrastructure, commercial property, corporate & commercial, Māori business, and trade & transport sector-focused practices to ensure that financing structures support his clients’ strategic and commercial objectives and deliver the outcomes that matter to them.