Michael Langdon
Partner - Banking and Finance

Michael is a highly regarded lawyer specialising in banking, financial law, property development, construction finance, restructuring and insolvency. His in-depth experience spans domestic and cross-border financings (at both the senior and mezzanine levels).
Michael acts for local and international banks, mezzanine and other financial institutions, corporates, and insolvency practitioners. Highly experienced in the construction, commercial property, and agricultural industries, he assists major trading banks with syndicated and bi-lateral transactions and many of the mezzanine funders and developers with construction projects and property investments. His clients include BNZ, ANZ, ASB, Westpac, and Kiwibank, as well as multinational developers such as Icon Developments, Hengyi, and Newcrest.
A dedicated lawyer, Michael has excellent technical skills and a strong commercial approach. Clients appreciate his timely advice and enjoy working with him. His expert knowledge is consistently praised. He has been described by one client as “experienced, pragmatic and reliable” and as a lawyer who “does excellent work” – Chambers Asia-Pacific 2022. Another client rates his “insolvency and restructuring experience along with negotiation skills.” Chambers Asia-Pacific 2020.
Michael has international experience, having worked at Mayer Brown and Hogan Lovells in London before joining the firm.
Professional background
Recent work
Dick Smith voluntary administration
Advised on this high profile, cross border insolvency transaction for a diverse group of companies which went into both administration and receivership in January 2016. This was New Zealand’s largest voluntary administration impacting on a diverse group of stakeholders.
Mainzeal Richina Group insolvency
We advised the liquidators of 14 companies in the Mainzeal Group in one of the most complex group liquidations to have occurred in New Zealand.
Crafar Farms receivership
Acted for the receivers appointed by Westpac to four related companies that between them operated 22 dairy farms throughout the North Island. This was the largest privately owned dairy farming operation in New Zealand and, in view of the strategic and cultural significance farming has for New Zealand, it attracted substantial media attention.
Admitted
- 1999, England and Wales
- 1998, New Zealand
Qualifications
- LLB, BA, University of Auckland
Specialisations
- Corporate Finance
- Creditor Claims
- Cross-Border
- Project Finance
- Structured Finance
- Voluntary Administration
Awards
- Ranked as a leading Insolvency and Restructuring lawyer, Chambers Asia-Pacific
- Ranked as a Leading Individual – Insolvency and Restructuring, The Legal 500 Asia Pacific
- Ranked as Highly Regarded – Restructuring & Insolvency, Banking and Project Finance, IFLR1000
- Recognised for Insolvency and Reorganisation Law, Best Lawyers
- Recognised for Restructuring & Insolvency Law, Who’s Who Legal (2020)
Michael Langdon
- Office
- Auckland
- Phone
- +64 9 353 9981
- Mobile
- +64 21 435 055
- michael.langdon@minterellison.co.nz
- https://nz.linkedin.com/in/michaellangdon1