Are you across the cutting-edge class action funding issues in New Zealand and how developments in litigation funding in the UK and Australia will affect class actions locally? Are you on top of the important class actions decisions both in New Zealand and abroad? Are you closely watching the key developments internationally as they unfold? This mid-year update gives you the critical information you need to know to strategically approach your class action matters fully armed with the most current information.
Chair
Nina Blomfield, Partner, Simpson Grierson
2.00pm to 3.00pm Trends in Litigation Funding
- Industry-shaking developments on the validity of litigation funding in the UK
- The developing Australian position on how class actions can be funded
- Cutting edge class action funding issues in New Zealand
Presented by Sam Hiebendaal, Partner, Bell Gully
3.00pm to 4.00pm Class Actions: Recent and Significant Decisions
Review the most interesting and significant decisions in class actions globally with a focus on the practical implications of those decisions for New Zealand.
Presented by Sean Coupe, Associate, Gilbert Walker
4.00pm to 4.15pm Afternoon Break
Learning Objectives:
- Receive guidance on recent trends in litigation funding
- Be updated on recent and important decisions that you need to know
- Learn how class actions are being approached in Australia and abroad and the implications for New Zealand
4.15pm to 5.15pm Developments in Australia and Elsewhere: Key Areas to Watch
Take a close look at how class actions are being approached in Australia and elsewhere. Presented by Carter Pearce, Barrister, Bankside Chambers
Description
Attend and earn 3 CPD hours
Presenters
Nina Blomfield, Partner, Simpson Grierson
As a commercial litigation partner Nina acts for major corporates, directors, regulators and government entities in complex disputes involving company and financial markets law, contractual and shareholder arrangements, regulatory matters, and class actions. She also advises clients in relation to regulatory investigations and enforcement action, as well as competition law issues in business acquisitions.
Sean Coupe, Associate, Gilbert Walker
Sean acts for clients in a wide range of complex commercial disputes and regulatory matters. He has particular expertise in class action proceedings and company and professional negligence disputes. Sean also advises and represents clients facing investigations and civil or criminal proceedings brought by the Commerce Commission, the Financial Markets Authority, WorkSafe and other regulators. He has appeared as sole and junior counsel in the District Court, High Court and Court of Appeal as well as before tribunals, specialist courts and in arbitrations and mediations.
Sam Hiebendaal, Partner, Bell Gully
Sam Hiebendaal is a litigation, dispute resolution, and competition law specialist, with significant experience acting on complex disputes. He has advised on the defence of dozens of class actions in five different countries, and is currently acting on a number of proposed class actions in New Zealand. Sam is also an author of the American Bar Association’s Antitrust Class Actions Handbook (2nd ed), and holds a Bachelor of Civil Law (Distinction) from the University of Oxford.
Carter Pearce, Barrister, Bankside Chambers
Carter is a generalist commercial and civil barrister with a particular specialty in the class action arena. He is currently instructed as junior counsel for the plaintiffs in the Ross v Southern Response class action, in which the Supreme Court issued an important judgment in November 2020. He also acts in Livingstone v CBL Corp (in liq), one of two shareholder class actions arising out of the failure of the NZX-listed CBL Corporation.
