David Wakefield Email & Phone Number

Christchurch, Nz

Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand

The Legal 500’s 2024 edition ranked Anthony Harper’s Corporate Advisory team in one of the top tiers for the Corporate and M&A practice area in New Zealand.Chambers and Partners' ranking table lists Anthony Harper’s Corporate Advisory team as being in one of the top bands for the Asia-Pacific region in New Zealand's Corporate/Commercial sector.IFLR1000 ranks Anthony Harper’s Corporate Advisory team as being a notable presence in New Zealand's M&A sector.Founded in Christchurch in 1865, Anthony Harper is a leading law firm in New Zealand, with their well-established specialist teams providing a competitive advantage.

OBCCC is one of the largest and most prestigious cricket clubs in New Zealand with approximately 650 playing members, (including ~50 Junior teams). The Club is a not-for-profit organisation which is run by a Committee of volunteers. Joining the Committee in 2016, I served as Secretary from 2019-2023 and continue to contribute as Vice President (2024-present).I was heavily involved in Elmwood Park’s recent redevelopments (new training net facilities, Pavilion and playing surface/outfield renovation).My involvement with the Pavilion project ranged from concept design to fundraising, working closely with both Athfield Architects and Cook Brothers Construction to achieve Building Consent, Resource Consent and ultimately Code of Compliance on Competition. I submitted many successful applications to funding organisations (such as Rata Foundation, Lotteries and NZCT), ultimately raising $1.2m for the project. We made multiple presentations to the City Council, Community Boards, public meetings and various other interactions with local Council and local body politics along the way for the relevant leases and licences.AWARDS:In 2024, OBCCC was named Club of the Year at the New Zealand Cricket Awards, with NZC describing OBCCC as “an outstanding model for cricket clubs in NZ”.In 2023, the Pavilion received an award at the Canterbury Architecture Awards in the public building category and also received a Gold Award in the Built Tourism and Leisure Project Category at the New Zealand Commercial Project Awards.In 2022, I received a Waimāero Fendalton-Waimairi-Harewood Community Service Award in recognition of my contributions to OBCCC in recent years and also received the HSOB Association Cup at OBCCC's Senior Prize Giving in recognition of my “Outstanding contribution to OBCCC”.In 2018, OBCCC was named Sports Club of the Year at the NexiaNZ Canterbury Sports Awards in recognition of OBCCC's contribution to the community.

BetterMan is a Charitable Trust that aims to improve men's wellbeing and mental health, primarily focusing on those aged between 25-50 by helping these individuals become better versions of themselves. BetterMan’s philosophy is to take a “fence at the top of the cliff” approach as opposed to the “ambulance at the bottom”, with regular events and engaging talks planned, packed with positive psychology principles to help men move towards, or stay at, the higher end of the mental health spectrum. I have been a trustee of the BetterMan Charitable Trust since its registration in September 2023.I am very passionate about the BetterMan mission and enjoy being an advocate for wellness/wellbeing in our communities.I am particularly passionate about the BetterMan Athlete Transition Course, which aims to support athletes with their transition from their professional sporting careers into their second careers and “into the real world”. This transition can be a very difficult part of their lives for many different reasons which creates a real need for this support - I experienced this “transition” personally as a semi-professional athlete whose career was cut short due to a heart condition.

Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand

During my time as a Solicitor in Lane Neave's Corporate / Commercial team I advised clients on a wide range of corporate and commercial matters from private clients to large not-for-profit organisations across various sectors, with a particular focus on capital markets, intellectual property and competition law.I was also a productive member of the Competition and Consumer Law team, which was recognised as leaders in their field through the team’s inclusion in Band 3 of the Chambers and Partners Asia-Pacific Legal Guide 2023.

Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand

Completed my Professional Legal Studies Course whilst working full-time on a range of corporate and commercial matters.

Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand

I was able to gain further experience with the Corporate / Commercial team at Duncan Cotterill through their Summer Clerking programme during the University break, where I predominantly worked within commercial and digital technology law which centred around information technology, contract, consumer, and intellectual property.

Christchurch

I was able to gain further experience with the Corporate / Commercial team at Duncan Cotterill as part of their Summer Clerking programme during the University break, primarily focusing on property & land transactions, contractual matters and asset / portfolio restructuring.

Christchurch

I was able to gain some practical experience in the legal profession through a clerking arrangement at Duncan Cotterill with their Corporate / Commercial team over a two month period in 2017, primarily focusing on property & land transactions, contractual matters and asset / portfolio restructuring.

Professional Legal Studies Course, Law

Bachelor Of Commerce - Bcom, Majoring In Accounting, Taxation And Finance

Bachelor Of Laws - Llb, Law

Education record

Activities and Societies: CBHS 1st XI Captain. Scholar. CBHS Sports Council.2012 - NCEA Level Three Merit Endorsement, Merit subject.