+64 7 839 4771

Robert Bycroft

Robert Bycroft

Special Counsel

To make an appointment, please contact Karen Cameron karen.cameron@tompkinswake.co.nz

Qualifications : BCom, LLB, University of Auckland.

 

Recommended Lawyer for Bios 2047   The Legal 500 Recommended Lawyer 2043   Best Lawyers Logo3


Robert is a corporate and commercial lawyer with a wide range of experience advising local and international clients on many aspects of doing business in New Zealand.  He is versatile, with particular industry and legal expertise in the areas of Life Sciences, Technology, Energy & Resources and Project Management. Robert is a skilled negotiator, a specialist "plain English” draftsman and has the ability to find practical answers to complex problems.


Robert and Tina authored The Legal 500 2022 chapter of Pharmaceutical Advertising for New Zealand. You can view this here.


Areas of expertise

  • Advertising and Consumer Law
  • Anti Bribery and Corruption Law
  • Biotechnology
  • Charities and Incorporated Societies
  • Commercial Law
  • Competition Law
  • Corporate Advisory
  • Energy Sector - Oil, Gas, Electricity
  • Food Labelling
  • Franchising
  • Information Technology
  • Licensing of Intellectual Property
  • Life Sciences
  • Mergers and Acquisitions
  • Mining and Resources
  • Overseas Investment Office applications
  • Privacy Act
  • Private Equity
  • Technology Commercialisation
  • Medical and Health
  • Pharmaceuticals
  • Intellectual Property
  • Food Technology
  • Information Technology Services Contracts
  • Software Licensing
  • General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
  • Data Privacy Law

Other Credentials

  • Robert has been selected by his peers to be included in the 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 editions of the Best Lawyers in New Zealand in the practice of Biotechnology.
  • Robert is also the author of the New Zealand chapter of The Life Sciences Law Review in 2015, 2016 and 2017.
  • Robert is the winner of the Finance Monthly Global Award 2017 - Franchise Lawyer of the Year.
  • Robert has been selected as an “Innovative Lawyer” within the Lawyers Worldwide Awards Magazine Innovative Lawyers 2017.
  • Recommended lawyer, Corporate and M&A in The Legal 500 Asia Pacific for 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022 and 2023.
  • Recommended lawyer, Intellectual Property in The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2024.

Experience

  • Robert has been the key contact for many international companies doing business in New Zealand, including PepsiCo Inc. and Microsoft.
  • In the life sciences area Robert has for many years acted as the local advisor for a number of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies on all aspects of their New Zealand operations, including negotiations with the government procurement organisation PHARMAC.
  • In the oil and gas sector Robert has advised New Zealand Energy Corp (and other local and overseas explorers) on all aspects of petroleum exploration and operations in New Zealand, including local establishment, permitting, land access, drilling and service contracts, joint venture operating agreements, oil and gas sale contracts, and associated M&A, financing and regulatory matters.
  • In the mining industry Robert has assisted in the acquisition, development and operation of privately owned gold, coal and tungsten mines and associated commercial structuring, Overseas Investment Act compliance and other regulatory matters. 

Cartel Conduct now a criminal offence in New Zealand

Businesses talking formally or informally to their competitors need to take care, as engaging in cartel conduct is now a criminal offence. From 8 Apri...

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Important Changes to New Zealand's Privacy Laws

Click here to download a printable versionNew Zealand privacy laws are set to change on 1 December 2020 under the new Privacy Act 2020.To prepare for ...

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Deemed Directors and nervous employees

The law requires the business and affairs of a company to be managed by, or under the direction or supervision of, the board of directors (“Board”).  ...

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Bribery of a public official

The high profile prosecution of a former public official and a private roading contractor in R v Borlase and Noone [2016] NZHC 2970 raises interesting...

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Expertise

Sector Knowledge