Corporate law specialist has thumb in many pies

LAWRENCE SMITH/Fairfax NZ

A STAYER: Chapman Tripp chairman Roger Wallis stayed in Auckland when many of his legal peers left, quickly building a reputation for his expertise in company law.

Companies law expert Roger Wallis has helped most of the businesses now listing on the NZX, writes Tim Hunter.

The stony grey floor tiles in law firm Chapman Tripp's sleek Auckland lobby, described by its designer as a "mixture of brutal and delicate textures", are etched with words of inspiration.

"Vigour", says one. "Energy", says another. Nearby a tile reads "Insight".

Standing upon them most days are the proprietorial feet of the firm's chairman Roger Wallis, a specialist in corporate and securities law who has had a hand in seven of the last 10 company floats to hit the NZX.

He has also acted as legal adviser to Hanover Finance, a role with somewhat less cachet owing to the considerable losses suffered by its investors after its collapse in 2008.

That work could yet provide Wallis with a bit part giving evidence in one of next year's biggest civil cases when the Financial Markets Authority's lawsuit against Hanover's directors and promoters hits the High Court.

Wallis describes it as "a strange piece of litigation".

He's happy to discuss the merits of the case, even if his views appear to favour his client, but he also sees in it a feature of New Zealand law that has worked against investors seeking compensation for finance company losses.

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Corporate law specialist has thumb in many pies