Chris Dann
Partner
Chris heads Anthony Harper’s corporate advisory team, and is regarded as one of the country’s leading transport and logistics lawyers. Admitted in 1999, he has a wealth of knowledge, expertise, and experience in domestic and international procurement, supply and distribution, and services arrangements. Other areas of extensive experience include mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, governance, franchising and technology.
An in-house role with the world’s largest logistics company gave Chris a commercial, pragmatic approach.
Chris works with port companies, freight forwarders, carriers, and exporters, giving him a perspective of the entire supply chain. Areas he advises on include:
- Shipping contracts (including port services arrangements)
- Domestic and international carriage of goods (contractual and advisory)
- Freight forwarding and logistics services; vessel and heavy equipment procurement, and supply and distribution arrangements.
- Procurement matters for central and local government clients.
For corporate (including mergers and acquisitions) work, Chris’ client base covers the gamut from small business to international companies. The team he leads is especially noted for its presence in mid-market transactions.
According to clients, Chris’ strengths include commercial knowledge and experience, a sense of humour and dedication to work. His approach is to develop a genuine understanding of his clients’ business and drivers, in order to deliver value, and become a ‘trusted advisor’.
“There is not a lot that Chris doesn’t know. One of the great things is that he knows when to raise a concern, but also knows when to back off if we say we accept the risk.” – Aaron Kenny, CFO, Dairyworks Limited.
Key Transactions
Advised:
- NZX listed international milk nutrition company Synlait Milk Limited on its strategically important acquisition of major cheese producer, Dairyworks Limited for NZ$112 million. We advised on all aspects including overseas investment consent, due diligence and transaction documentation, and settled during Level 4 Lockdown. This transaction was the 2020 winner of the NZ Law Awards' Mid-Market Deal of the Year.
- (since 2006) The Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment in relation to the domestic and international procurement of petroleum reserves for the New Zealand Government, including tendering, procurement and probity advice and documentation, tender evaluation, and contract drafting and negotiation. Reserve stocks provide domestic and international strategic supply security, and allow NZ to comply with its international treaty obligations.
- Lyttelton Port Company, the largest port in the South Island, on the international procurement of a new, state of the art harbour tug, Piaka, including compliance with relevant Maritime Rules, and the issue of the regulatory minimum safe crewing certification.
- Leading FMCG dairy products supplier, Dairyworks, on a range of new manufacturing, supply, distribution and IT arrangements for a warehouse management system, product supply from overseas manufacturers and coolstore racking, as well as a template international distribution agreement.
- For leading transport operator Hilton Haulage, in relation to the establishment of its global logistics and freight forwarding business division. This encompassed air freight, sea freight, road freight, import and export documentation, and customs clearance, as well as domestic transport, warehousing, and 3PL. It included preparation of new standard conditions of business and other documentation. This was a major strategic move for Hilton Haulage and they sought our advice because of our specialist expertise.
- For the Buller District Council in relation to its multi-million dollar investment in New Zealand Whitebait Limited, an innovative project focused on the sustainable farming of iconic West Coast whitebait. Our work included engagement with the Government's Provincial Development Unit to provide funding for the investment, and working with New Zealand Whitebait and its advisors in relation to governance and shareholding arrangements.
Awards
- New Zealand Law Awards, Mid-Market Deal of the Year, Winner, 2020
- New Zealand Law Awards, New Zealand Deal of the Year, Winner, 2016
- New Zealand Law Awards, Capital Markets Deal of the Year, Winner, 2016
- Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, Communication Award, Winner, 2020
Directories
- Asia Pacific Legal 500, Leading Individual, Transport, 2018-2023
- Asia Pacific Legal 500, Recommended, Corporate and M&A, 2018-2023
- New Zealand Doyle's Guide, Leading Lawyer, Transport, 2021
- Best Lawyers, New Zealand
Credentials
Bachelor of Laws (LLB), (First Class Honours), Bachelor of Commerce and Administration (BCA), Victoria University of Wellington
Admission to the Bar
Wellington, 1999
Professional Memberships
New Zealand Law Society, Canterbury & Westland, Member
Directorships and Trusteeships
Burnside High School Board of Trustees, Board Member, 2019-
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