Scott Whitaker

Partner

+64 21 860 043
+64 3 372 6510
Christchurch
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Top expertise

Agribusiness
Banking & Finance
Corporate & Commercial
Energy & Renewables
Insolvency & Restructuring
Overseas Investment
Property

Scott is a member of the corporate and commercial team based in Christchurch and has a focus on commercial and agribusiness issues. He acts for banks, insolvency practitioners, land owners and tenants. Scott has a number of clients who he advises on the ground in Christchurch, nationally and internationally on the sale and purchase of properties and also commercial leasing issues.

Scott’s agribusiness work crosses over with many aspects of commercial work and involves farm sales and disposals, subdivisions and commercial irrigation matters as well as farm succession and structuring issues. This includes acting for farmers, professional suppliers and forestry companies and involves applications to the Overseas Investment Office.

 

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Scott also advises on a range of corporate and commercial matters and act for clients on insolvency and debt recovery.

“Duncan Cotterill provides quality, thorough and well-considered advice in a timely manner”
Legal 500 Asia Pacific2022

Recent examples of work includes advising on:

  • Advising on sales, purchases and management of farms, including family arrangements, succession planning, trusts, leases and commercial contracts.
  • Advising US-based forestry companies on all aspects of business, including applications to the Overseas Investment Office.
  • Acting for companies and commercial enterprises on business contracts, structuring and general commercial advice, including advice on the Personal Property Securities Act.
  • Acting for individuals to structure their personal and business affairs. 
  • Acting for one of New Zealand’s major banks on refinancing, business acquisition and property financing deals where the threshold is above the bank’s in-house limits, including leading a deal in trans-Tasman financing.
  • Advising other lenders and investors on transactions and providing advice on obligations of lenders (consumer and non-consumer), including obtaining appropriate security.
  • Acting for receivers and liquidators on sales of assets and providing advice on competing creditors as well as provision of advice on a number of commercial debt recovery matters (often in conjunction with specialist litigation advice).
  • Assisting Air New Zealand run a trust for its staff members that were effected by the Christchurch Earthquakes. 
  • Establishing and managing the Pike River Disaster Relief Trust, which provided relief for the families of the victims of the Pike River disaster.

Scott's insights

Is your property ready for a split? Our essential guide to subdivision

9 April 2025

Navigating Trump's new global tariffs: Practical considerations for New Zealand businesses

7 April 2025

Public Works Act overhaul – A quicker process and potentially more $$ for Landowners

14 March 2025

We're driven by our values

They drive our client relationships and connections with our community, and underpin our achievements.

He tāngata

  • Establishing and acting as a trustee for the Christchurch Football Charitable Trust, a trust that operates tournaments and encourages participation in football at all levels.

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  • © Duncan Cotterill
  • 2025