A decade of cultivating collaboration and growth

In 2014, Geoff Busch and Chris Bargery were two of the three partners who spearheaded the opening of Anderson Lloyd’s Tāmaki Makaurau | Auckland office, marking the firm’s first foray outside the South Island. The partners were originally joined by a team of just six solicitors. Over 10 years on, the Auckland office now boasts a partner count of nine, of which Busch and Bargery remain part, and a 31-strong team of staff. Earlier this year, Busch was announced as Anderson Lloyd’s new board chair – the firm’s first non-South Island chair in its 163-year history. For Emma Kerr and Steve O’Dea, who officially joined the partnership on 1 May, the people culture is a big part of what keeps them at Anderson Lloyd. “There’s a strong sense of connection and collaboration across all our offices – it really feels like one team,” says Kerr. “The culture here is supportive, inclusive and focused on working together to achieve great outcomes for our clients.”

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Kerr has been at Anderson Lloyd for seven of her 14 years in the legal profession, working in the firm’s banking and finance practice. She made partner as a mother of two, which she says reflects the support she’s received from both the firm and the wider industry. Her appointment means that now 50% of Anderson Lloyd’s equity partners are women. Construction law expert O’Dea adds that in seeking out talent, the firm looks beyond just technical expertise. “You can find technically excellent lawyers at many firms, but Anderson Lloyd uniquely combines that high calibre of legal expertise with genuine people skills and a good sense of humour,” he explains. “That culture means clients enjoy working with us, and they trust us, which has enabled us to build strong, long-term relationships.”

Founded over 160 years ago, Anderson Lloyd is a law firm with a long history of supporting the industries that make New Zealand successful. We are specialists in infrastructure and renewables, focusing on renewable energy, forestry and large-scale water conservation projects. Our expertise extends to handling high-profile M&A, corporate transactions and property work. Anderson Lloyd takes a leadership role within the legal profession and acts with conviction in steering the industry towards a better future.

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Number of offices across NZ

Number of equity partners

50%

Proportion of female equity partners

79%

Proportion of female staff

Weeks of paid parental leave

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“There’s a strong sense of connection and collaboration across all our offices – it really feels like one team. The culture here is supportive, inclusive and focused on working together to achieve great outcomes for our clients”

Emma Kerr, Anderson Lloyd

“I’m actively involved in helping develop the next generation of legal minds here at Anderson Lloyd. Alongside our traditional in-person training, I’ve been experimenting with creating short training podcasts as another way to capture and share knowledge”

Steve O’Dea, Anderson Lloyd

Karen Adams

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Karen Adams

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Branching out

Published 09 Jun 2025

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Julia Strickett

Sarah Duncraft

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Anderson Lloyd’s Auckland office has blossomed since its launch in 2014, hitting key milestones and looking to grow in strength and depth in the years to come

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

Steve O’Dea Partner

Emma Kerr Partner

Tāmaki Makaurau | Auckland

BASED IN

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Anderson Lloyd

BDMs in the spotlight

Being picked to lead ORDE's distribution team

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Best in Law

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External contributors

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About us

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Steve O’Dea and Emma Kerr

Anderson Lloyd’s Auckland opening coincided with the introduction of its renewables, infrastructure and construction practice led by Anton Trixl, and of which O’Dea is part. In addition to O’Dea’s promotion this year, the firm elevated Alex Booker – who tackles resource management aspects of property, energy and resources projects – to partner in 2023. That same year, former KiwiRail acting general counsel Lauren Whitehead came on board to co-lead the construction practice in Anderson Lloyd’s Auckland office. O’Dea has identified three major concerns in the construction and infrastructure space. “First, the ongoing global economic uncertainty makes forward planning challenging and increases the risk of insolvencies within the supply chain. Secondly, there’s a need for greater certainty regarding New Zealand’s long-term infrastructure pipeline,” he says. “Thirdly, the environment makes delivering each project feel increasingly challenging in relation to damage risks, delays and overall cost escalation.” He lauds the Infrastructure Commission’s support for a national plan and advocacy for more bipartisan approaches given that New Zealand’s short political cycles are not necessarily conducive to long-term planning. He also highlights the disruptive impact of climate change. “Climate change brings more disruption through extreme weather, alongside geopolitical instability seen in recent years, making robust risk anticipation, mitigation, allocation and the management absolutely critical,” O’Dea says.

Uncertainty also impacts Kerr’s area of practice. “The current economic uncertainty is challenging for borrowers and lenders alike, with tightened credit criteria, increased scrutiny on borrowers’ financial resilience, and reduced borrower appetite for acquisitions and capex,” she explains. Nonetheless, she notes the private credit market in New Zealand has ticked up in recent years, even if it remains relatively small. She also highlights the advent of fintech, which she says is “reshaping the lending and borrowing landscape” to bring new opportunities and challenges alike. “I think it will be crucial for regulators and industry stakeholders to collaborate, to ensure that innovation in the market proceeds without compromising financial stability and consumer trust,” she says. Over the last year, Kerr has been involved in high-profile transactions in New Zealand alongside team leader Geoff Busch. Anderson Lloyd's banking and finance team has experience across the finance market, with particular expertise in project and corporate finance.

The wider team, working in close collaboration with Auckland-based partner Anton Trixl, who leads the energy and infrastructure team, has closed five renewables project financings for lenders and borrowers in the past year, including advising Westpac on the portfolio project financings of the Pukenui Solar Farm and the Edgecumbe Solar Farm; Harmony Energy on the syndicated project financing of the Tauhei Solar Farm; Ranui Generation on the project financing of the Twin Rivers Solar Farm; and Solar Bay on the project financing of the Maungaturoto Solar Farm. In addition, the team guided Rockit Global Limited on the refinancing of its syndicated facilities; Mt Cardrona Station Village in relation to its financing arrangements for its ongoing development of the Mt Cardrona Station Village; and Cardinal Logistics on its multi-lender financing arrangements for the development of the first of two of its fully automated logistics hubs.

O’Dea describes himself as “a bit of a geek” who has enjoyed contributing to the firm’s exploration of new technologies like AI, which he says “presents exciting possibilities for enhancing how we serve our clients”. “However, it’s crucial we remain mindful of the risks. These tools can make mistakes, lack nuance, and so require careful oversight,” he cautions. “Ultimately, the value lawyers provide depends on adapting advice to a client’s specific circumstances, understanding the human elements, exercising professional judgment and building trusted adviser relationships. These core skills will keep lawyers relevant as AI potentially takes over more of the routine ‘grunt work’.” Kerr adds that lawyers have a responsibility to “embrace innovation thoughtfully, ensuring that technology supports the delivery of high-quality legal services, rather than replacing the judgment and care that are fundamental to our role”. Both Kerr and O’Dea are also active mentors at the firm. In addition to in-person mentoring, O’Dea is keen to use technology to his advantage in this area. “I really enjoy the teaching and training aspects of law, so I’m actively involved in helping develop the next generation of legal minds here at Anderson Lloyd,” he says. “Alongside our traditional in-person training, I’ve been experimenting with creating short training podcasts as another way to capture and share knowledge.” Kerr describes the process of training and guiding junior solicitors as “a core part of legal practice”. “Supporting the next generation of lawyers is incredibly rewarding, and it’s a great way to give back to the profession,” she says. “I've been fortunate to have some incredible role models around me who have shown that it’s possible to thrive in both career and family life.”

Driving the future

Named as a Leading Associate in Banking and Finance (2025) by The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific – New Zealand

Career milestone

2024 NZ Lawyer Rising Star award

Accolade

“Becoming a partner while raising two young children”

Career highlight

Tāmaki Makaurau | Auckland

BASED IN

Requalified in NZ in 2019 and became a dual-qualified lawyer, with his mentor acting as moving counsel at the admission ceremony

Career milestone

“Always take a moment to put yourself in the other person’s shoes”

Best piece of life advice received

1862

2014

2016

2019

2020

2025

First form of Anderson Lloyd is established in Dunedin – followed by offices in Queenstown (1978) and Christchurch (1994)

1862

Auckland branch of Anderson Lloyd is established

2014

Auckland office moves to Britomart’s Australis Nathan Building

2016

Anderson Lloyd becomes an accredited Living Wage Employer

2019

Anderson Lloyd becomes Toitū Net Carbon Zero accredited

2020

Steve O'Dea and Emma Kerr join the Anderson Lloyd partnership; Kerr's appointment lifts the proportion of female equity partners to 50%

2025

Milestones

1862

2014

2016

2019

2020

2025

First form of Anderson Lloyd is established in Dunedin – followed by offices in Queenstown (1978) and Christchurch (1994)

1862

Auckland branch of Anderson Lloyd is established

2014

Auckland office moves to Britomart’s Australis Nathan Building

2016

Anderson Lloyd becomes an accredited Living Wage Employer

2019

Anderson Lloyd becomes Toitū Net Carbon Zero accredited

2020

Steve O'Dea and Emma Kerr join the Anderson Lloyd Partnership, resulting in 50% female equity partners

2025

Milestones

1862

2014

2016

2025

First form of Anderson Lloyd is established in Dunedin – followed by offices in Queenstown (1978) and Christchurch (1994)

1862

Auckland branch of Anderson Lloyd is established

2014

Auckland office moves to Britomart’s Australis Nathan Building

2016

Anderson Lloyd becomes an accredited Living Wage Employer

2019

Anderson Lloyd becomes Toitū Net Carbon Zero accredited

2020

Steve O'Dea and Emma Kerr join the Anderson Lloyd Partnership, resulting in 50% female equity partners

2025

Milestones

Denham Bramwell values its people and their wellbeing, fostering a supportive work environment while excelling in various law specialties, from property to family law. Its team-oriented culture is the key to the firm’s success

Three recent additions to the firm’s partnership discuss the different things that drive their burgeoning legal careers and the opportunities they enjoy