Martin Thomson

Martin Thomson is a partner with DLA Piper in Auckland. He has over 30 years’ experience advising clients on corporate and commercial law in New Zealand and the United Kingdom. Martin is a specialist in mergers & acquisitions, Overseas Investment Act & Regulations, securities law, company law, joint ventures, and commercial law & contracts.

While Martin has experience advising on transactions across a broad range of sectors, he has a particular focus on advising overseas organisations including from China investing in the primary sector. This has included investments in the forestry, agriculture, dairy and meat processing and wine sectors.

Martin heads DLA Piper’s China practice, which focuses on providing advice to organisations undertaking investments between China and New Zealand. The firm’s Chinese clients have undertaken investments in the agriculture, dairy and meat processing, property development, tourism and health product sectors.

Martin is the Chairman of the New Zealand China Trade Association, New Zealand’s longest-serving and largest China-related business association. NZCTA works closely with businesses and both  Governments to promote trade and investment between China and New Zealand, having done so for nearly 40 years.

Martin has also been actively involved in establishing DLA Piper New Zealand’s exclusive relationship with global law firm DLA Piper, which has offices in all major countries including in Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong.