Tony is currently advising the CEO
of Genesis
Energy on key strategic issues; in particular,
Tony is assisting the company with its preparations
for the sale of 49% of the Crown’s shares and
related scoping and IPO processes.
Tony also led the Crown team responsible
for corporatising and deregulating the NZ Apple and Pear
Board (ENZA),the NZ Kiwifruit Board (ZESPRI), and the NZ
Dairy Board. Tony’s role in leading this restructuring
described more fully in Producer
Board Project Team
Companies Act and Governance
As a company and commercial lawyer, Tony
advised a range of boards on their duties and obligations
as directors.
Tony was heavily involved in developing
key aspects of the current Companies Act 1992.
Tony has given advice on the constitution
of various organisations, including for example the constitution
proposed for Meat and Wool New Zealand.
Tony was invited to address the 8th International
Conference on Corporate Governance in London in September
2007
Contract analysis and negotiations
Thales
Group is a large Anglo-French electronics multi-national.
Tony worked in its legal team on commercial transactions
with parties in the USA, UK, India and the Middle East,
preparing:
- Requests for tender
- Partnership agreements, and
- Equipment supply contracts
Tony helped the Thales Group to resolve
a major contractual dispute with EDS in relation to
an electronics supply agreement in the United States.
Tony acted as Special
Adviser to the Secretary of Defence in a successful
resolution of major warranty issues relating to a $500m
contract between the Crown and BAE Systems for the purchase
of seven new naval ships, which involved a complex range
of technologies and relationships.
Review investment
proposals
In early 2007, Tony was engaged by the
Government to review a NZ
Defence Forces proposal to invest in new satellite communication
services at a reported cost of $100m.
Co-ordinated the first equity prospectus
to be registered in both Australia and NZ
Co-ordinated the documentation for other
public floats, including American Strategic Investments
($100m)
Advised on various take-overs and company
reorganisations, including Comalcol’s consideration
of acquiring direct power supply assets
Helped to restructure State-owned enterprises
Manage the legal work for the trustee
of the Fletcher Challenge and Brierly Investments Limited
debenture trust deeds
Analysed the scope and nature of directors'
potential liabilities under the Resource Management Act
Commerce Act and Securities Act
Tony was closely involved in ensuring
that Commerce Act requirements could be satisfied:
- In forming the New Zealand electricity
market (NZEM), and
- Under a proposed 'mega-merger' of New Zealand's dairy
co-operatives.
Tony has also been involved in two reviews
of the Commerce Act, including its approach to vertically
integrated natural monopolies.
Tony was also closely involved in various
significant changes to the Securities Act and Securities
Regulations
Co-operatives
As leader of the Producer
Board Project Team , and subsequently as an adviser
to various industry parties, Tony has been closely
involved in analysing and re-organising supplier marketing
co-operatives, including the NZ Dairy, Apple + Pear
Board, Kiwifruit, Meat, Wool, Pork, Hops, and Raspberry
Boards, all of which were operated under a co-operative
philosophy.
Many of those boards have restructured
to become co-operatives. Tony has written extensively on
New Zealand’s largest company, Fonterra and the dairy
industry.
Tony was invited to present to an international
workshop in February 2007, organised by the Global
Corporate Governance Forum - an organisation established
by the World Bank and the OCED. The London workshop focused
on governance issues facing co-operatives, particularly
in developing countries. Tony presented on “Renewal
of Co-operatives – Traditional to New Generation”
Industry facilitation
Transpower - Grid Planning
In 2010, Tony facilitated various workshops
for Transpower’s Systems Operation division in relation
to its organisational structure and strategy.
In late 2009, Tony facilitated an industry
workshop for Transpower on its T2040 strategy.
In August 2008 and January 2009, Tony
facilitated workshops for Transpower’s Grid Investment
division in relation to its organisational strategy.
Tony assisted Transpower in its review
of various internal and external processes that needed to
come together to make efficient investment decisions in
relation to the national transmission grid, including approvals
from Transpower’s board, the Electricity Commission,
local authorities, and land owners. Transpower’s review
included internal workshops, and consultation with stakeholders
Transpower’s
grid upgrade proposals: In mid-2007, Tony assisted Transpower
in planning and managing stakeholder workshops on various
grid investment proposals, in particular for North Auckland
and Northland, Waitaki to Christchurch, and the HVDC Pole
1 retirement or replacement.
Telecommunications – Unbundling
Telecommunications:
Local loop unbundling (2006-08) - Tony led two
working parties established by the telecommunications
industry to develop technical and operational rules
for the implementation of ‘local loop unbundling’
and ‘naked DSL’ in New Zealand
Electricity market development
Hedge
Market Development Group (2004-06): Tony successfully
chaired a group of senior executives to agree on a package
of measures to improve the market for instruments used in
managing electricity spot and basis price risks.
Model
electricity retail contracts : Tony successfully chaired
this group of industry executives and consumer representatives
in developing a draft set of model electricity retail contracts
(before the formation of the Electricity Commission)
