Sam Wilson
Partner
Sam Wilson has extensive experience leading clients through all aspects of complex corporate and commercial transactions. Sam’s practice focuses on mergers and acquisitions, venture capital, emerging growth companies, joint ventures, corporate restructuring, franchising and commercial contracting. Sam works across a number of sectors, but has particular experience and focus in the technology, food and beverage and life sciences sectors.
Sam is a deal lawyer that enjoys working with innovative companies. From start-ups to global corporations, he helps companies and investors identify, finance and commercialise technologies, products and brands that will create the most value for them. Sam enjoys working with companies on every facet of their development and financing of their business. When it comes time to exit, Sam helps both sellers and buyers execute orderly and successful transactions.
Sam has a reputation in the market for being technically sound, commercially astute, and responsive. He was named finalist for Young Private Practice Lawyer of the Year at the 2019 New Zealand Law Awards.
“Sam is technically very strong, is responsive and has excellent client relationship skills. Sam is good at working through issues and problems and coming up with workable solutions. We appreciate his fast turnaround time and attention to detail. Sam understands our business model well and balances our commercial needs while mitigating legal risk to an appropriate level.” – General Counsel, Foodstuffs North Island Limited
Key Transactions
Advised:
- A New Zealand tech unicorn on its sale to NASDAQ listed trade buyer for ~NZ$1.5 billion.
- New Zealand's largest grocery retailer on many of its strategic corporate transactions.
- International private equity funds on acquisitions of multiple New Zealand founded tech companies.
- A number of large corporates on their global corporate re-organisations.
- Emerging growth companies on their seed to series A–D capital raises and their day-to-day legal needs.
Awards
- New Zealand Law Awards, Young Private Practice Lawyer of the Year, Finalist, 2019
Directories
- Asia Pacific Legal 500, Corporate and M&A, Next Generation Partner, 2024
- Asia Pacific Legal 500, Corporate and M&A, Rising Star 2022-2023
- IFLR1000, Corporate and M&A, Rising Star Partner, 2023
Credentials
- Bachelor of Laws (LLB), Bachelor of Science (BsC), University of Otago
Admission to the Bar
- New Zealand, 2011
Professional Memberships
- New Zealand Law Society, Member
Contributed Articles