Clarity through complexity.
Strategic thinking.
Delivered results.
Kemps & Co are construction and commercial property lawyers, led by Mike Kemps.
With more than 18 years’ experience, Mike has a track record of consistently delivering clear and strategic advice and achieving outcomes which mitigate risk and align with the commercial objectives of his clients. Mike excels at the intersection of legal and commercial issues, always focused on identifying options which inform decision making.
Mike has presented webinars for The Law Association of New Zealand and Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. He also leads internal training for organisations.
Kemps & Co was established in 2026. Prior to that, Mike was a director (and then special counsel) at a property and commercial law firm in Auckland.
Construction
Kemps & Co advise principals, contractors, consultants and subcontractors on construction and infrastructure projects.
Mike has experience working on projects involving different procurement and delivery models, including traditional (design, bid and construct), design and build, early contractor involvement and engineering, procurement and construction (EPC).
He is familiar with the construction and consultant contracts commonly used in New Zealand (such as the construction contracts published by New Zealand Standards and the consultant agreements published by ACENZ).
Mike is a member of the New Zealand Society of Construction Law.
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Acting for a contractor under an EPC contract for the civil, piling, mechanical and electrical works for a solar farm with a contract price of approximately $50m.
Acting for a principal in relation to the development of a food storage and distribution centre with a contract price of approximately $120m.
Acting for a principal in relation to the construction of a residential apartment tower with a contract price of approximately $80m.
Acting for a head contractor in connection with a complex refurbishment of a building within a retirement village (partially occupied during the works) with a contract price of approximately $21m.
Acting for a principal in relation to the construction of an industrial facility, showroom and offices with a contract price of approximately $60m.
Acting for the head consultant / contractor carrying out the seismic strengthening and addition to a medical facility with a value of approximately $30m.
Acting for a principal on the refurbishment of a historic building with works carried out in several stages (including a main contract with a contract price of approximately $26m).
Acting for a head contractor in relation to the construction of a residential development with a contract price of approximately $25m.
Kemps & Co act on the acquisition, disposal and leasing of commercial property.
Mike has experience advising on all aspects of commercial property transactions including structure, due diligence and funding. He also prepares lease documents for landlords and tenants and gives advice on leasing arrangements (including termination).
Mike is familiar with the lease documents commonly used in New Zealand (such as the lease documents published by The Law Association of New Zealand).
Commercial Property
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Acting for the purchaser of a multi-tenanted property (including a supermarket, as anchor tenant) with a sale price of approximately $31m.
Acting for the vendor of a development site (including multiple tenants on short / medium term leasing arrangements) with a sale price of approximately $27m.
Acting for a developer in relation to the purchase, design, construction, leasing and sale of a 3PL warehouse and office facility with a sale price of approximately $44m.
Acting for the vendor of a greenfields development site on a staged basis (and subject to a plan change) for a sale price of approximately $37m.
Acting for the tenant of a new medical facility under a design / build lease with an institutional landlord.