Stephen Layburn
Commercial Barrister

Auckland, New Zealand

+64 9 300 5485
+64 22 192 4937

Practice Areas

Corporate / M & A / fundraising

Corporate advisory – compliance, governance and structuring issues, M & A transactions, advising different stakeholders (including directors, interest groups and management). Securities markets – regulatory compliance matters, equity & debt issues, waivers, rulings & exemptions from NZX, Securities Commission / FMA & Takeovers Panel, etc.

Commercial

Advice on compliance issues, new commercial and legislative developments, negotiating / documenting commercial arrangements, project management of inputs into commercial arrangements.

Venture Capital / Private Equity

Marriage of skills across a variety of corporate / commercial (legal) disciplines as well as a mentoring role. Assisting with fund raising, advising different stakeholders, partnering arrangements and advising on exit strategies.

Financial Services

Working with financial service providers / financial advisory sector – on commercial and compliance matters (including AML/CFT matters) and dealings with regulators.

Corporate Governance

Advising management, boards, individual directors (including independent directors), committees and those providing other inputs for corporate decision-making processes. Assisting other stakeholders (including shareholders, classes and interest groups), organising, chairing / conducting meetings and setting up reporting processes.

Non-Standard Entities

Establishing / advising co-operatives, industry organisations, charities and Maori groups. Sports sector work including management and governance issues, dealings with regulatory bodies / local & central government agencies and advice, negotiations and drafting inputs into commercial matters (including funding, sponsorship, licensing, events management, broadcasting and supply arrangements).

In addition to the key areas noted above, I can also assist with independent advice to individual parties, individual directors or Boards:

  • managing conflicts of interest
  • several opinions / peer review
  • negotiations
  • mediations / alternative dispute resolutions

Recent Commentary

Nappy wars – the battle over the nappy start-up
In another permutation of the business opportunity conundrum, this week started with the release of 189-page decision from the High Court in the long-running commercial dispute between the Mowbray brothers’ Zuru empire and JJK – the owners of rival nappy brand Treasures. Central to the dispute was JJK’s acquisition and...
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