Experience

Michael Sage in a professional setting

Michael Sage is one of New Zealand’s most experienced corporate and commercial lawyers, with more than 40 years working in the law, including 31 years at partner level in Simpson Grierson (1999 – 2025) and Brookfields (1993 – 1999) prior to establishing Misaco.

In the infrastructure sector Mike has been a lead adviser on major projects including energy generation and distribution, transport, telecommunications, water/ wastewater, airports, solid waste and urban redevelopment. He is an expert in large-scale, long-term infrastructure funding/ development and management.

In the technology sector, he is a leading expert in commercialisation and licencing of IP, major IT outsourcing contracts, technology procurement, fibre leasing/IRU contracts, regulatory issues and data protection/use. His clients include telcos, life sciences companies, financial institutions and cloud-based solution providers.

Across all industry sectors, Mike has advised hundreds of businesses – ranging from SMEs to multinationals – on capital raising, business structuring, mergers and acquisitions, strategic aliances/ joint ventures and corporate governance.

Work Examples

A selection of projects Michael Sage has advised on.

  • Lodestone Energy - Funding and development of 5 grid-scale solar farms (approx $300 million) including structuring, equity raise (winner of 2023 INFINZ award for mid-market equity deal of the year), EPCC and grid connection.
  • Genesis Energy Limited - Purchase of solar farm development projects
  • Manawa Energy Limited/Fletcher Building - Advice on Power Purchase Agreements
  • Kordia/Tait Communications - Joint venture to build/operate Land Mobile Radio portion of New Zealand Government's $1.4 billion Public Safety Network.
  • Veolia Water - PPP: 50 year franchise agreement with (now) Watercare to operate water/wastewater systems.
  • Transpower - Acquisition of new technology to upgrade inter-island HVDC link (approximately $700 million project); grid service contracts for approx $2 billion of opex/capex over 10 year period.
  • NZ Carbon Farming - Sale of 25% stake in carbon forestry portfolio.
  • Transdev - Contracts to operate metro passenger rail services in Auckland/Wellington; acquisitions of Mana Coach Services/Howick & Eastern Buses
  • Gisborne District Council - Long-term airport lease/management agreement.
  • Auckland Council – Infrastructure funding and works contracts for long-term development of Westgate Town Centre (PPP)
  • Vocus Communications - Takeover offer, by ASX-listed Vocus, to acquire FX Networks for approximately $116 million; advice on fibre optic network access arrangements.
  • DB Breweries - Corporate advisory work including acquisition of Tuatara Brewing Company; establishment of Barworks joint venture; sale of Liquorland; purchase of Redwood Cellars.
  • Union MedTech - Acquisition of Rex Bionics (developer of robotic exoskeletons) and UK capital raising/listing on the London Stock Exchange's AIM market
  • Kordia - Purchase and subsequent sale of Orcon (internet service provider); purchase of Aura Information Security; trans-Tasman fibre optic cable project.
  • SmartCo – Establishment of $300m smart metering joint venture between electricity lines businesses (including IS procurement) and ongoing advice relating to data use/analytics
  • Other Electricity Sector Projects – Co-generation/embedded generation/transmission/windfarm projects for Northpower/Counties Energy/Unison Networks; Grid/network connection contracts for load customers
  • Methven - IPO; acquisition of Deva Tap Company (UK) and associated rights issue/institutional placement; acquisition of Heshan Sanitary (Chinese manufacturing business).
  • Adherium - Sale of medical device company as part of capital raising on ASX.
  • ASB – Cornerstone investment in Trade Window Limited
  • Other Infrastructure Projects – Numerous complex long-term O&M outsourcing contracts for electricity, water/wastewater, transport, telco, defence and other infrastructure.
  • Other Technology Projects – Numerous enterprise-level outsourcing contracts, technology licensing/commercialisation projects, technology procurement projects commercialisation and licencing of IP, fibre leasing/IRU contracts, and advice on regulatory issues and data protection/use (for telcos, life sciences companies, financial institutions and cloud-based solution providers).
  • Other M&A Projects – Hundreds of acquisitions/disposals of companies/businesses, including sell-side grooming and sales processes and buy-side due diligence (transaction values up to NZ$3.5 billion)

A more detailed list of projects is available on request.