Grant Sidnam

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

Tax; Charities Law, Private Client, Litigation

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor of Law/ Bachelor of Commerce- University of Auckland
• Master of Taxation Studies (First Class Honours)- University of Auckland
• Admitted to practice in New Zealand

SELECTED REPRESENTATIONS

• Acting for a South Island farming group in relation to refinancing of over $140,000,000 of debt and successfully applying to Inland Revenue for relief from tax debt
• Acted for a large charitable trust with substantial assets throughout NZ in relation to the establishment of a specialist financial service provider including advising on regulatory and tax issues, drafting documents, and successfully obtaining tax ruling from the Inland Revenue Department
• Acted for urban Marae in relation to dispute with Crown and in relation to a Treaty of Waitangi claim
• Negotiated extended agreement between yacht club in Auckland and the local Council and settled long-standing legal dispute
• Acted on a joint venture between New Zealand investors and a large Australian retailer in order to develop a large retail shopping outlet in Auckland including preparation of joint venture agreement, advising on and establishing trust structures and the refinancing of the project
• Acted for Australian financial information services company in relation to their New Zealand operations including advising on licence and service agreements and obtaining tax ruling from the Inland Revenue Department
• Acted successfully on the establishment of one of New Zealand’s first Primary Health Organisations including preparing the company constitution, obtaining tax-exempt status from the Inland Revenue Department and advising on governance issues
• Acted successfully on the acquisition of the Ellerslie Flower Show, New Zealand’s most popular garden show including the due diligence, review of the legal agreements and the establishment of an appropriate trust structure
• Provided legal and tax advice to one of the largest investment fund managers in the world in relation to the establishment of their operations in New Zealand
• Successfully represented client in High Court and Court of Appeal in relation to dispute over property joint venture
• Advised Inland Revenue regarding aggressive tax planning issues