Firm's specialty is high dollar deals

TBB directors Greg Thompson, Joe Biddles and James Blackie. Photo / Nigel Marple

Thompson Blackie Biddles, which claims to be Auckland's "first and only" top-tier specialist commercial property law firm, already has transactions under contract, unconditional, or completed, that are worth in excess of $200 million since opening in March - well before its formal launch this month.

Based in newly refurbished Fay Richwhite boardroom space at the top of SAP Tower, 151 Queen St, the firm is led by three directors: Greg Thompson, James Blackie and Joe Biddles - complemented by solicitor Sam Greenwood and legal executive Kylie Tietjens.

Thompson says the firm is already recruiting several more solicitors. "We operate at the 'top end of town' offering top-tier expertise in all areas of commercial property and real estate law.

He says the firm has already built an impressive stable of clients which includes listed property trusts, multinationals, NZX-listed entities, property funds, corporate receivers, commercial property developers and high net worth individuals.

Blackie says the specialist firm has been able to "turn around time-critical property instructions for clients within days.

"The directors all had careers in large Auckland firms and are highly experienced in commercial property and real estate law."

Thompson has over 20 years' experience as a partner in the commercial property department at Russell McVeagh. He has acted for developers or tenants in many premium office tower projects in Auckland and Wellington, including the Vero Centre, PWC Tower and Deloitte Centre, and acted for Brookfield Multiplex on the acquisition of its portfolio of around $800m of commercial properties in NZ.

Thompson is currently advising on property aspects of the sell-down of the diverse Bank of Scotland International NZ loan book.

Blackie, with over 10 years' legal experience, is a former associate at Glaister Ennor experienced in acquisitions for corporates and high net worth individuals valued from $1m to $200m. He brought KCL Property, which manages over $750m of retail, industrial and other property in NZ and Australia, to the firm.

Biddles is a specialist commercial property and real estate lawyer having previously worked in the commercial property department at Russell McVeagh and formerly, as the NZ legal counsel for Lion. His transaction experience includes acting on the sale of the Deloitte Centre at 80 Queen St, Auckland, and for the vendor of a $350m 50 per cent share of three NZ shopping centres.