Looking to sharpen your expertise in defamation? Understand recent developments, receive industry-leading insights and the implications of potential reforms. Develop effective strategies for handling complex online defamation cases, address issues unique to digital media and harmful digital communications and stay up-to-date with the latest significant court cases and cutting-edge defences in defamation law. Explore recent precedents and trends to shape your advice and winning defences.

Presenters

Mr. Robert Stewart, Barrister, Shortland Chambers
Recognised as one of New Zealand’s leading media and defamation lawyers, I have a proven record of excellence and success with over 30 years litigation and advocacy experience. I deliver solution-based outcomes for my clients that recognise both legal and commercial imperatives. I advise a number of New Zealand’s major digital, broadcast and print media entities – both public and commercial – and have led and appeared in a number of significant media law and defamation cases. I also have extensive experience in the areas of dispute resolution, coronial and other inquiries, human rights (freedom of expression), copyright, privacy, contempt, suppression, insolvency and liquidation, judicial review, professional disciplinary tribunals, and trust and estate litigation. I also regularly provide advice to New Zealand and international film production and publishing companies. Prior to moving to the independent bar at Shortland Chambers, I was a litigation partner for 20 years at the highly respected Wellington firm Izard Weston. My international legal experience in the areas of commercial transactions and insolvency involved working in the London offices of global law firms Reed Smith LLP (as Warner Cranston) and DLA Piper (as Dibb Lupton Broomhead). I am a member of the New Zealand Bar Association, the New Zealand Law Society and a faculty member of the NZLS’s Litigation Skills Programme. I have also contributed to legal education as a presenter to a number of NZLS CLE Media Law seminars, and for the Auckland District Law Society on contempt and recusal.


Ms. Tania Goatley, Partner, Bell Gully
Tania is an experienced commercial litigator, specialising in media and advertising law, food and beverage law, and intellectual property. Tania advises on all aspects of advertising promotions, including impacts of the Gambling Act, Fair Trading Act and Privacy Act. She is also experienced in advising on food and wine labelling issues, involving advice on the Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) Code, the Food Act, the Wine Act and related regulations and industry codes. She has a strong media law background, advising on defamation claims, appearing in Court on name suppression issues, and providing media law training to journalists. She advises on all aspects of intellectual property law, including copyright, passing off and trade mark infringement disputes and litigation. In addition to her particular areas of expertise, Tania provides general advice on commercial and contractual disputes and litigation with successful outcomes for her clients. Tania is recommended for intellectual property by The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2018, which notes her specialties as media and advertising and food and beverage.


Ms. Jania Baigent, Partner, Simpson Grierson
Jania is a commercial litigator and an expert in defamation, media, privacy and information law, as well as other disputes. She is a member of Simpson Grierson’s Board of Management, leads the firm’s media group, and is co-head of their data protection and privacy group. Jania has significant experience in contentious and non-contentious media and defamation issues. She has acted in a number of high-profile defamation proceedings over many years, including as counsel in the landmark Court of Appeal case Durie & Hall v Maori Television Service, which established the defence of responsible communications on matters of public interest. She regularly advises on defamation and other media issues, and pursues complaints on behalf of clients to the Broadcasting Standards Authority and the Media Council. Jania also regularly advises clients on digital content liability, and acts on disputes and litigation regarding the protection of private or confidential information, privacy, the Harmful Digital Communications Act, and other reputation issues. She frequently acts for clients on cyber breaches and privacy disputes, including related litigation including urgent injunctive relief. Notably, Jania represented Te Whatu Ora in a first of its kind proceeding resulting in urgent injunctive orders against Radio New Zealand and others to prevent the use and disclosure of information captured in the cyber attack on what was then called the Waikato District Health Board. Jania also has a broad commercial litigation practice covering a range of areas including the Fair Trading Act, IP, contract, tort and judicial review.


Mr. Ali Romanos, Barrister, Ali Romanos Barrister
Ali is a media-law and particularly defamation specialist, originally from Wellington and now based in Pahiātua. In Ali's 10 years of practice, he has litigated virtually every procedural and substantive issue in defamation – pleadings technicalities, claim elements, defences, injunctive relief, jury trials, and interlocutory and substantive appeals. Early in Ali's career, he created Defamation Update, which provides a legal guide and database of New Zealand cases. Ali handles claims arising principally in mainstream and social media. Ali also provides pre-publication advice to production companies and publishers.