Skip to main content
|

Add a bookmark to get started

Bookmarks info
jennifer_smith1_web_large

Jennifer Smith

Senior Associate
Wellington
About

Jennifer has assisted significant financial market participants to offer listed and unlisted financial products to the retail and wholesale markets and to implement novel scheme structures.

Jennifer's work in New Zealand has focused on advising clients on recent and proposed changes in the financial services regulation landscape and assisting clients to plan for the opportunities and challenges presented by those changes.

Jennifer's offshore experience focusses on private equity and hedge funds, assisting through the entire fund life cycle from formation through to wind-up.

Jennifer also provides advice to domestic and international clients on insurance regulation and consumer law.

Areas of FocusCorporateEnvironmental, Social and GovernanceInvestment Management and FundsPrivate EquityFinancial ServicesInsurance
Professional QualificationsBarrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand

EXPERIENCE

New Zealand experience

    Investment funds

  • Establishment, offer document drafting and ongoing compliance of New Zealand wholesale and retail managed funds.
  • Advising Crown entities in respect of investment and operations and their empowering legislation.
  • Assisting with the establishment and listing of funds on NZX and with the offer of ASX-listed fund into New Zealand.

    Corporate and commercial

  • Advising on M&A transactions, including due diligence and post-completion matters.
  • Contract drafting and review for financial institution clients.
  • Governance advice.

    Regulatory

  • Assist clients to comply with or obtain exclusions from anti-money laundering and countering financing of terrorism obligations.
  • Advising on financial adviser and financial service provider regulation.
  • Advising overseas entities on establishing corporate presence and registration as a financial service provider in New Zealand.
  • Assisting client adapt to the introduction of the CoFI regime.

Offshore experience

    Private equity and hedge funds

  • Formation and ongoing advice in respect of private equity and hedge funds for clients based in Hong Kong, Mainland China, Singapore, Japan and South Korea.
  • Registration, deregistration and ongoing advice in respect of Cayman-regulated private and mutual funds.
Languages
  • English
Education
  • University of Canterbury, LLB, 2016
  • University of Canterbury, BA Political Science, 2016

Prior Experience

Jennifer joined DLA Piper as a graduate, before spending two years working in Hong Kong practising predominantly Cayman law. Jennifer then returned to the DLA Piper Wellington office.

My latest insights

News
PVP_blue_spiral_stairs_PPT

DLA Piper deepens specialist capability with senior promotions and strategic hires

15 July 2025 .4 minute read

Publication
Abstract_Building_P_0103

Setting the agenda: FMA’s Financial Conduct Report 2025/26

25 June 2025 .10 minute read

Publication
Curved_Wood_P_0981

CoFI Fair Conduct Programme Insights Report: good job, but don't rest on your laurels

10 April 2025 .4 minute read

Connect

Phone

+64 4 918 3087
(Work, Wellington)
+64 21 245 1939
(Mobile, Wellington)
CallvCardLinkedInPrint
Legal noticesPrivacy policyCookie policyModern slaveryFraud AlertSitemap

DLA Piper is a global law firm operating through various separate and distinct legal entities. For further information about these entities and DLA Piper's structure, please refer to the Legal Notices page of this website. All rights reserved. Attorney advertising.

© 2025 DLA Piper