Pavanie Edirisuriya
Special CounselPavanie Edirisuriya has a wide range of corporate and commercial experience, including corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions, overseas investment, commercial contracts and consumer law and Gambling Act matters.
Pavanie plays a key role in all overseas investment transactions handled in New Zealand. She has extensive knowledge in the overseas investment regime and is considered a specialist by clients, industry participants and the Overseas Investment Office (OIO). Pavanie regularly advises overseas clients investing in New Zealand, particularly in the agriculture, forestry and wine sectors.
She has played a vital role in achieving completion of all recent DLA Piper New Zealand international transactions requiring OIO consent. She works with all national practice areas, coordinating complex transactions and managing client relationships.
Pavanie also advises clients in relation to day-to-day legal matters. She is highly regarded by clients for providing clear, concise and accurate advice, as well as for being practical and commercial.
EXPERIENCE
- Advising Kaingaroa Timberlands (KT) in a transaction involving Harvard Management Company selling its remaining 28.75% interest in KT to Canadian based Public Sector Pension Investment Board. Managed the vendor due diligence process, producing a very detailed vendor due diligence report which could be relied on by prospective purchasers; reviewed and assisted with the sale agreement and completion of the transaction. Coordinated various practice groups and liaised with in-house counsel in the United States and Canada, as well external legal and financial advisors of the multiple parties involved ensuring a smooth process.
- Advising Lianhua Trading Group Limited in its acquisition of a 75% interest in Prime Range Meats Limited, a meat processing and export company which owns a meat processing plant. Advised on all aspects of the transaction which involved undertaking the due diligence review, drafting and negotiating the transaction documents, and obtaining OIO consent for the transaction.
- Advising Shanghai Weiyi Investment & Management Limited on the purchase of 100% of the share capital of Good Health Products Limited. Worked with in-house counsel in Shanghai and their various business units, managing their timelines and expectations.
- Advised a US based investment fund on a transaction involving the sale and lease back of land used for horticultural purposes, which was structured principally as a financing transaction. Involved in the transaction from beginning to end, obtained OIO consent and managed the completion process of the transaction. This was a complex transaction due to the various parties involved and the structure of the transaction, including the financing nature, property and asset transfers, lease back arrangements and OIO consent. Worked with in-house counsel in the United States, as well as external legal and banking and finance advisors.
- Advised an Australian Fund Manager on multiple transactions involving the purchase of forestry assets in New Zealand. Acted on these acquisitions from beginning to settlement, including assisting with drafting the sale and purchase agreements and obtaining OIO consent. The OIO application process was complex for these transactions, as the forestry assets being purchased were developed and established assets. Worked with the investment advisors of the fund manager in New Zealand, as well as with in-house counsel teams in Australia and the United States.
- Advised a United Kingdom based investment fund in relation to the acquisition of multiple dairy farm 'going concern' businesses.
- Advised Mondelez International Inc. on the New Zealand aspects of a transaction under which Mondelez International Inc. and D.E Master Blenders 1753 B.V. combined their respective coffee businesses through the establishment of a joint venture known as Jacobs Douwe Egberts. The transaction included the transfer of assets of D.E Coffee & Tea New Zealand, a New Zealand company. As the value of consideration attributable to the New Zealand company's assets exceeded NZ$100 million, OIO consent was required. Managed the OIO application process from beginning to end.
- Advising Mondelez New Zealand on day-to-day legal matters, including sales promotions, advertising campaigns and corporate governance matters.
- Advising Champion Flour Milling Limited on day-to-day legal matters, including commercial and company secretarial matters.
- Advised, and obtained OIO consent for, Yashili New Zealand Dairy Co., Limited on the establishment of a milk processing plant in Pokeno, the cost of which was over $212 million. Acted, and successfully obtained OIO consent, for China Mengniu Dairy Company Limited on its subsequent takeover of Yashili.
- University of Auckland, BA, 2008
University of Auckland, LLB, 2008
Memberships And Affiliations
- New Zealand Law Society
- Auckland District Law Society
