K3 Legal

When diverse minds get together, sparks fly

Chris Lee

Director
Legal
Phone: 027 613 5355
Email: Chris@k3.co.nz

Chris has advised on corporate and commercial law for more than 25 years in Auckland and London.  He has also worked in-house for NZ and UK listed entities, including as the Director of Legal Affairs at FTSE 250 plc, Morgan Advanced Materials.  Chris began his career in tax at PwC before joining the securities and M&A team at Russell McVeagh.  Chris was admitted to the bar in both New Zealand and the UK and holds an LLB from the University of Auckland and a BCA (Accounting) from Victoria University of Wellington.  Chris’ practice focusses on:

  • mergers & acquisitions, including due diligence and financing
  • international investment in New Zealand
  • joint ventures, including shareholder agreements
  • protecting and enhancing IP
  • navigating shareholder and director disputes
  • all aspects of governance and corporate compliance
  • commercial agreements, including entertainment, design, manufacturing, supply and procurement, confidentiality, distribution, agency, and terms and conditions

Chris was individually recommended in The Legal500 Asia Pacific Directory 2020.

 Examples of recent advice:

  • EV Maritime on its design and supply of electric ferries to Auckland Transport
  • Eccles Entertainment for the venue hire agreement for Six60’s 1st concert at Eden Park
  • Elemental Solutions Group on its purchase of detention & retention water tanks business TanksALot
  • School of Fish on the sale of its Mangere Bridge childcare centre
  • Nicholas Williams on the sale of its Petware business
  • NZ Home Aotearoa on the potential sale of its Amazon reseller business
  • Viktual on establishing its supplements business
  • RewardPay on setting up its payments business in New Zealand
Services
Commercial and Business Intellectual Property and Privacy

Chris' testimonials

Chris has been our trusted legal counsel since 2017 and his services have proved invaluable. Having worked on commercial contracts through to more sensitive shareholder negotiations, Chris has provided professional, pragmatic, and realistic solutions to often complex technical (as well as moral) issues. Above all, Chris gets it and he gets us. He's able to interpret our requirements quickly and effectively and will brief us back, filling in the gaps, giving absolute trust. In every engagement we've undertaken with Chris the outcome has always been favourable and that includes cost. I'm happy to recommend Chris' services.
Chris has provided us with expert advice since 2019, negotiating commercial agreements with key suppliers, assisting with the T's&C’s for our website as well as our Trade Marks for our brand. From day one, Chris has been professional, respectful and most of all trustworthy. We would highly recommend Chris’ services.
We have used Chris’ services since 2016. In that time, he has given us essential and professional advice around a wide variety of commercial focuses including corporate duties and potential shareholder agreements, purchases of businesses, company and ownership structures, intellectual property including trademarks, and employment. We have found our dealings with Chris to be extremely effective as he is able to use his knowledge and experience to not just meet our stated requirements but also identify other impacts that we may not have considered. He has been an important part of the growth of our operations, and we happily recommend Chris as a trusted business partner.

Chris' insights

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