Nick Byrnes

Special Counsel
Auckland
About

Nick Byrnes is a real estate and construction law specialist with nearly a decade of experience in top tier law firms. He has experience in advising clients on complex high value acquisitions and disposals, development projects (including renewable energy and data centre projects), construction contracts, consultancy engagements, and industrial, office and retail leasing.

Nick has acted for clients (including several listed property developers and blue chip international investors) on a wide range of real estate matters. Nick is also experienced in all aspects of the development process. His expertise in both the real estate and construction sectors leaves him well placed to guide his clients through a development project from start to finish.

Nick is particularly experienced in complex design build lease arrangements.  He also has a wealth of experience in negotiating construction contracts for highvalue,  specialised builds.

Areas of FocusReal EstateInfrastructure, Construction and TransportConsumer Goods, Food and RetailEnergy and Natural ResourcesIndustrialsTechnology
Professional QualificationsBarrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand, 2016

EXPERIENCE

Property

  • Assisting Aquila Capital, Blackrock, NZGIF, Solar Bay and others with the real estate aspects of solar farm developments.
  • Advised Foodstuffs on the design build lease of its new 45,000m2 controlled temperature facility, which will comprise both freezer, chiller and office components.
  • Advising global corporates such as Apple, Warner Bros Discovery, Salesforce, Acumed and NTT on numerous (confidential) matters.
  • Advising Goodman New Zealand on various developent and leasing arrangements.
  • Advising CCIS / ANL on leasing arrangements relating to its container yard operations.
  • Advising Busy Bees on various new site acquisitions, together its development of certain sites.
  • Advising IAG on various aspects relating to its property interests all over New Zealand.
  • Advised AIG on its relocation from the AIG Building to the Jarden House.

Construction

  • Advised Maersk on the construction of its significant cool store development in Tainui Group's newly development Ruakura Superhub.
  • Advising several (confidential) global blue chip technology companies on their New Zealand development projects.
  • Advising Foodstuffs on various construction workstreams.
  • Advising Auckland Council on various construction matters, including slip remediation works following flood events.
  • Advising Savory Construction on several significant construction projects.
  • Advised Meridian in connection with its Hawkes Bay windfarm project (at a previous firm).*
  • Advised Goodman on various industrial construction projects at Highbrook Business Park (at a previous firm).*
  • Advised the Financial Markets Authority on its office fitout project (at a previous firm).*
  • Advised Auckland International Airport in connection with various construction projects (at a previous firm).*
  • Advised Tāmaki Regeneration Company on its repurposing of housing stock as part of the Tāmaki regeneration project.

*Denotes gained before joining DLA Piper

Awards

Rising Stars: Legal Leaders 2025, NZ Lawyer

Education
  • University of Auckland, LLB (Hons) 2015
  • University of Auckland, BCom (Majoring in International Business), 2015

Speaker events

  • Co-presenter with Precinct (Louise Rooney and Campbell Arnott) at a Red Cross "Know Your Rights" session for refugees / asylum seekers on NZ tenancy law in 2024. 
  • Co-presenter with Auckland Council (Dale Nicholson) at a "Know Your Rights" session hosted by HOST International for refugees, migrants and asylum seekers on NZ tenancy law in 2025. 
  • Panellist at the New Zealand Green Building Council "Future Thinkers" panels session on Climate Resilience in March 2025.
  • Keynote speaker at the NZ Cloud & Datacenter Convention 2025 in November 2025.

Prior Experience

Prior to joining DLA Piper in 2021, Nick was a senior lawyer at another top tier NZ law firm

Additional information

Nick was a founding member of the New Zealand Law Society "National New Lawyers Group" in 2021.This group aims to provide greater connectivity and support for new lawyers entering the profession.

Memberships And Affiliations

  • New Zealand Law Society

My latest insights

Publication
Pink_building_N_23551910520

New Zealand real estate trends 2026: hotels, data centres, renewables and reform

5 May 2026

Publication

Who pays when buildings fail? Proposed liability changes and new homeowner protections

4 February 2026

Publication

A first look at the earthquake-prone building regime reform – no surprises

19 December 2025

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Connect

Phone

+64 9 300 3852
(Work, Auckland)
+64 21 125 7944
(Mobile, Auckland)