The IFLR1000 2017 Guide to Leading Financial Law Firms has been published, with 55 New Zealand lawyers rated as Financial and Corporate Leading Lawyers, and one rated as a Rising Star.
IFLR - the International Financial Law Review - was first published in 1982 and is a London-based organisation. It is owned by Euromoney Institutional Investor plc. Euromoney is a public company listed on the London Stock Exchange.
The first rankings were published by IFLR in 1990 and it now covers over 120 jurisdictions. The rankings are based on three criteria: peer feedback (through a survey of law firm partners), client feedback (through a client survey), and analysis of statistics on transaction values and volumes.
Individual lawyers can be ranked as "Leading lawyers". IFLR says these are individuals who have proved themselves to be among the leading figures in their respective markets. "As well as receiving recommendations from clients and peers these individuals will also have a clear track record of innovative work."
Rising stars are individuals considered by the market to be the Leading lawyers of the future. "Often more junior members of the firm they will have demonstrated their skills and potential by already advising on innovative transactions," IFLR says.
The New Zealand section of the guide shows that Bell Gully is the firm with the most Leading Lawyers, with 10, followed by Minter Ellison Rudd Watts (7), Simpson Grierson (7), Buddle Findlay (6) and Chapman Tripp (6).
Rachel Dunne of Chapman Tripp is named as a Rising Star.
New Zealand Leading Lawyers and Rising Star, IFLR 2017 Guide.
| Name | Firm |
| Michael Anderson | Lowndes |
| Andrew Beatson | Bell Gully |
| Deemple Budhia | Russell McVeagh |
| Geoff Busch | Anderson Lloyd |
| David Coull | Bell Gully |
| Martin Dalgleish | Kensington Swan |
| Tony Dellow | Buddle Findlay |
| Garry Downs | Bell Gully |
| Grant Dunn | Buddle Findlay |
| Rachel Dunne | Chapman Tripp |
| Peter Eady | Simpson Grierson |
| Tom Fail | Minter Ellison Rudd Watts |
| Gerald Fitzgerald | Kensington Swan |
| Paul Foley | Minter Ellison Rudd Watts |
| James Gibson | Bell Gully |
| Sean Gollin | Minter Ellison Rudd Watts |
| Chris Gordon | Bell Gully |
| Pip Greenwood | Russell McVeagh |
| Andrew Harkness | Simpson Grierson |
| Andrew Harmos | Harmos Horton Lusk |
| Michael Harper | Chapman Tripp |
| Peter Hinton | Simpson Grierson |
| David Hoare | Russell McVeagh |
| Greg Horton | Harmos Horton Lusk |
| Don Holborow | Simpson Grierson |
| Dan Hughes | Anthony Harper |
| Matthew Kersey | Russell McVeagh |
| Hugh Kettle | Bell Gully |
| Murray King | Bell Gully |
| Kate Lane | Minter Ellison Rudd Watts |
| Laurie Mayne | Mayne Wetherell |
| Brigid McArthur | Greenwood Roche Chisnall |
| David McPherson | Bell Gully |
| Neil Millar | Minter Ellison Rudd Watts |
| Mei Nah | Mayne Wetherell |
| Steve Nightingale | Buddle Findlay |
| Paul Oldfield | Harmos Horton Lusk |
| Peter Owles | Buddle Findlay |
| Ross Pennington | Chapman Tripp |
| David Perry | Buddle Findlay |
| Michael Pollard | Simpson Grierson |
| John Powell | Russell McVeagh |
| Cathy Quinn | Minter Ellison Rudd Watts |
| Michael Robinson | Simpson Grierson |
| Dermot Ross | Dermot Ross |
| Sarah Sinclair | Minter Ellison Rudd Watts |
| John Strowger | Chapman Tripp |
| Michael Tingey | Bell Gully |
| Will Tipping | Mayne Wetherell |
| Dave Trueman | Simpson Grierson |
| Tim Tubman | Chapman Tripp |
| Simon Vodanovich | Buddle Findlay |
| Roger Wallis | Chapman Tripp |
| Dave Wetherell | Mayne Wetherell |
| Mike Whale | Lowndes |
| Haydn Wong | Bell Gully |