Katrine Kofoed

Senior Associate Pouarataki Pāhake

Katrine is a commercial property lawyer, specialising in commercial leasing, property acquisitions, development, and disposals (including overseas investment), financing transactions and property management.

Katrine has experience advising both public and private sector entities in New Zealand and the Middle East. She works with clients across a wide range of industries, including telecommunications, retail, banking, transport and energy.

In the commercial leasing space, Katrine acts for landlords and tenants in all aspects of leasing transactions from heads of agreements through to negotiating agreements to build and lease. She also has a particular interest in helping clients to align leasing documentation with the client’s sustainability and carbon reduction strategy.

A key part of Katrine’s practice is managing large tenant portfolios, both in terms of “business as usual” work and working closely with in-house property teams on complex leasing projects and the implementation of their strategic goals. Katrine has extensive experience advising portfolio clients on seismic issues and COVID-19 matters.

Katrine is also experienced in complex commercial due diligence for the acquisition, development and divestment of land and property, and guiding clients through the life-cycle of the transaction. She frequently supports other MinterEllisonRuddWatts teams on the property related aspects of banking or corporate transactions.

Katrine regularly deals with Overseas Investment Act matters and acts for overseas investors on consent applications to buy or lease sensitive land in New Zealand.

Prior to joining MinterEllisonRuddWatts in August 2015, Katrine spent four years living and working in Dubai. While in Dubai, Katrine worked at a regional firm with offices throughout the Middle East. A highlight included advising public and private developers on large-scale master planned communities and jointly owned property developments throughout the rapidly growing cities of Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

Career highlights

Advising a large New Zealand urban public transport and urban bus services operator on all aspects of its property portfolio and development of future sites, including what will be New Zealand’s first fully electrified bus depot.

Advising Brookfield DCI Data Centers on its acquisition and datacentre developments in New Zealand.

Advising a New Zealand registered bank on its diverse property portfolio, including retail branches, commercial offices, and ATM.

Advising an energy provider on its extensive North Island property interests and protection of its infrastructure and property rights.

Assisting various clients with leasing issues arising from the Government’s orders in response to the global COVID-19 pandemic, including advising on the Property Law Act amendments mandating rent relief in certain circumstances where tenants are unable to access their premises.

Achievements and recognition
  • Tier 1 team, Real Estate, The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific