Tenille Burnside

Tenille Burnside advises sports organisations, event promoters, athletes, businesses, and not-for-profits on complex legal and governance matters. Based in Christchurch, she works with clients across New Zealand regularly assisting with commercial contracts, shareholder agreements, business structuring, compliance, and incorporated society governance. Tenille also provides specialist advice on athlete rights and integrity matters. She is on the Legal Assistance Panel for the Sports Tribunal of New Zealand. 

Tenille brings a unique mix of top-tier private practice, in-house, and international experience. She began her career at Russell McVeagh in Auckland, where she advised on corporate and finance transactions for listed companies, private equity firms, and financial institutions. She later worked in-house at IMG in London, one of the world’s largest sports and media agencies, supporting global events across sport, media, sponsorship, venue and talent arrangements.

Tenille holds a Master of Laws in Sports Law and Practice and is heavily involved in sport governance as a director of Golf New Zealand and Canterbury Cricket. She is also a member of the Institute of Directors and the Australia and New Zealand Sports Law Association, and a former board member of Achilles New Zealand and Badminton Wellington.

Outside of work, Tenille enjoys trail running, hockey, and spending time with her young family. She is passionate about supporting the growth and sustainability of New Zealand’s sport and recreation sector.