Alasdair McBeth

Consultant

Alasdair McBeth is a pragmatic advisor with commercial acumen and excellent knowledge of New Zealand funds industry law.

Chambers & Partners Asia-Pacific 2025

Emailalasdair.mcbeth@akd.partners

Call+64 27 255 5735

Wellington

About

Alasdair McBeth is one of New Zealand's leading lawyers in the funds management and superannuation industry.

Alasdair has been involved with KiwiSaver since its inception and has been responsible for the establishment of many schemes.

He has a strong focus on the prudential governance of financial assets, particularly Crown financial assets. He advises the Government Superannuation Fund Authority, Public Trust and the Board of Trustees of the National Provident Fund.

Alasdair has regularly advised on the drafting of documentation for New Zealand domestic and international fund managers and custodians, including putting in place appropriate investment mandates and establishing compliance and reporting procedures.

He has extensive experience in designing and establishing retail and wholesale investment structures using all forms of collective investment vehicles for domestic and international clients.

Alasdair has advised overseas issuers on New Zealand regulatory requirements for offering securities in New Zealand.

He has provided commercial and corporate governance advice to trustee companies, trustees, other funds management industry providers, Crown entities, and government departments. This includes advising on, and preparing submissions on, legislative changes and advising on powers, authorities and delegations.

Alasdair has advised on employer based defined contribution and defined benefit schemes including for the New Zealand Defence Force Superannuation Schemes, the New Zealand Police Superannuation Scheme, the New Zealand Fire Service Superannuation Scheme, Martime Superannuation Scheme and the Presbyterian Church Superannuation Scheme. This includes the effects of KiwiSaver and the establishment of Complying Funds. He advises administrators and investment managers for superannuation schemes, in particular, regarding master superannuation schemes and multi-employer structures.

He has advised financial planning and financial adviser groups on products, compliance and disclosure requirements.

Areas of FocusFinance Investment Management and Funds Financial Services

Professional QualificationBarrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand

EXPERIENCE

Acted on the establishment of the Cook Islands Compulsory Superannuation Scheme.
Acted on the amalgamation of the Waterfront Works and the Seafood Works Superannuation Scheme to form the Maritime Superannuation Scheme.
Alasdair has been intimately involved in Kiwisaver since its inception. Most recently he has acted on the establishment of the Aurora Kiwisaver Scheme, the InvestNow Kiwisaver Scheme and the Select Kiwisaver Scheme.
Successfully assisted in the establishment of a number of funds management businesses including Implemented Investment Solutions, Castle Point, Forte Funds Management, Aurora Capital. He specialises in start-ups.
Has been a trusted legal adviser to Public Trust for many years. This includes advising Public Trust in relation to its appointment as trustee or licenced supervisor of many managed investment schemes, kiwisaver schemes and debt issuances and with respect to its group investment funds. Also acts for Public trust with respect to its custody business.
Principal legal adviser to the Government Superannuation Fund Authority and the Board of Trustees of the National Provident Fund. Advising them on all aspects of their operations, including investment, benefit entitlements and their status as Crown Financial Institutions.
Primary legal advisor to Smartshares, the funds management subsidiary of the New Zealand Stock Exchange. Acted for Smartshares in its application to obtain the first only licence under the Asia Region Funds Passport and on drafting of the trust deed and disclosure documentation for its Passport funds. Smartshares is still the only manager globally to obtain such a licence an register passport funds.
Provides regulatory advice to clients and industry bodies on the New Zealand financial services regulatory regime. Alasdair has acted for regulatory bodies, including the Trustee Corporations Association, the industry body for licenced supervisers.
Acted on the establishment of the InvestNow investment platform and continues to act for InvestNow.
Primary legal adviser to AMP Capital New Zealand. Acted on the restructuring and disposal of its business including the sale to Macquarie. Now acts for Macquarie with respect to the NZ business it acquired from AMP Australia.