Expertise

Mark Copeland Lawyer has extensive experience in commercial, property and rural legal matters. Below are some examples of Mark Copeland Lawyer’s work and successful results for clients.

	Large scale dairy farm purchase – North Otago MJC Legal worked closely with the purchaser through to a successful settlement. This included conducting all legal due diligence, preparing the structural ownership arrangements, liaising with the unique North Otago Irrigation Scheme Provider, reviewing on-farm management practices under the relevant Regional Plans and dealing with the taxation implications arising from the purchase.
	$1.5m civil claim against financial advisor The client sued a financial advisor claiming that he had provided negligent advice on significant investments and breached various professional duties owed to the client. A negotiated settlement was ultimately reached at a high-level mediation which was an excellent outcome for the client.
	Corporate restructure MJC Legal acted on the corporate restructure of New Zealand’s largest (by patient numbers) medical general practice business. This involved reorganising the practice’s GP ownership and control arrangements, voting and governance structures and methods of contracting, including to the main regional primary health services agency.
	Local business purchase MJC Legal assisted the purchaser of a local successful café business. This involved finding solutions to various complex practical and legal issues, including historical lease issues involving the relevant premises and car park.
	Large rural debt recovery MJC Legal helped a significant listed rural services corporate in the recovery of a large debt owed by a dry-stock farmer who had defaulted on his loan obligations. A negotiated settlement was agreed immediately prior to (and avoiding) the bankruptcy of the farmer whereby the client recovered an acceptable portion of its outstanding debt.
	Urgent complex refinancing MJC Legal acted for a significant agri-business company in the $40millon refinance of its farm portfolio. This complex refinance was completed in only three weeks, while maintaining the client’s existing funding channels with minimal disruption to the client’s extensive rural business.
	Office block refinance MJC Legal acted in an extremely complex tower block refinancing in Wellington. This involved several separate mortgagor parties, including three trading banks holding securities over a multi-story office block development.
	Maori Land MJC Legal acted for a significant local Maori Trust in negotiating and finally obtaining a Maori Roadway Order from the Maori Land Court. The relevant landowner parties had previously been unable to reach agreement on such an Order for over 60 years.
	Emissions Trading Scheme – dairy conversion MJC Legal acted on the purchase of a large Kaimai dairy farm out of long-term receivership. This involved dealing with significant Emissions Trading Scheme issues requiring extensive consultation with the Regional Council and Government ETS operative agencies, together with handling all key communications with the Receivers and securing and settling the purchase transaction.
	International business purchase Advising a leading Australian supplier of hydraulics equipment and services on expanding its business into New Zealand, then acting on its purchase of a leading NZ hydraulics services operation, including dealing with complex business naming rights and all employment issues arising from the business purchase.
	Sharemilker dispute Advising an Eastern Bay of Plenty Maori Trust dairy farm owner on a significant breach of contract claim filed by its Sharemilker, and progressing the same through the various resolution channels.