Hear from 10 experts across a spectrum of areas of law for a day designed to deliver essential knowledge for your practice while also earning you all of your mandatory CPD hours in just one day.  Unpack key updates and equip yourself with the essential skills to manage family protection and relationship property issues as well as hot topics in property and AML/CTF. You can’t afford to miss updates on the latest in cyber security and privacy practice essentials. Gain a roundup on the must know updates in insolvency, immigration plus competition and consumer law. Gain important guidance on handling tax obligations relating to deceased estates. Attend the whole day or just the sessions that you need.

Presenters

Nick Kearney, Director, Jim Thompson Law
Nick has been in practice for two decades, and graduated with his Master of Laws in 2017, where he wrote a thesis on the role caveat emptor plays in real estate transactions, particularly following the introduction of the Real Estate Agents Act 2008. He takes a particular interest in the law around the role real estate agents play in property transactions and advises a range of parties - vendors, purchasers and agents - on their rights and obligations under the Act, and in related areas. He has acted for a large residential developer of sections for many years and is well versed in the technicalities and nuances of subdivisions.


Neil Russ, Director, Russ & Associates
Neil founded Russ + Associates in 2019 as a group of senior lawyers specialising in tax and AML/CFT advice. Neil has over 35 years’ experience in England and New Zealand, including 25 years as a tax partner in a national law firm. Russ + Associates regularly works with its corporate clients, other law firms and accounting practices to meet their income tax, GST and AML/CFT needs, including tax investigations, binding and non-binding ruling applications, tax risk reviews, AML/CFT ministerial exemptions, suspicious activity reports and audits. Neil specialises in corporate and international income tax and GST issues, as well as transactional advice. In addition to his tax expertise Neil has a multi-jurisdictional background in banking, capital markets and derivatives transactions. Neil is Convenor of the NZ Law Society Tax Law Committee, a member of the AML/CFT Industry Advisory Group and co-author of AML/CFT in New Zealand – A Handbook for Lawyers and Accountants, He is a member of the International Fiscal Association and the Inter-Pacific Bar Association. He frequently deals with Inland Revenue and Treasury officials on matters of tax policy and interpretation, and with DIA and Ministry of Justice officials on AML/CFT issues.


Bridgette White, Barrister, Bankside Chambers
Bridgette is an experienced commercial, regulatory and insolvency litigator. She has expertise in complex contractual and commercial disputes, regulatory investigations, enforcement activity and prosecutions (including by the Serious Fraud Office, Commerce Commission and Financial Markets Authority), fair trading and consumer protection claims as well as insolvency claims (including breaches of directors' duties). Throughout her career, Bridgette has acted on a range of high-profile cases and investigations across a diverse range of industries, including agricultural, manufacturing, construction, consumer and financial markets. Before joining Bankside, Bridgette was a senior litigator at Russell McVeagh. She has appeared in the District and High Courts and the Court of Appeal (as both sole and junior counsel) and has experience in mediations and arbitrations. Bridgette is recognised as a leading insolvency and restructuring lawyer in New Zealand by Best Lawyers 2024 Guide.


Chris Linton, Consultant, Duncan Cotterill
Chris is a senior corporate/commercial and technology specialist. She advises New Zealand and international corporates, and public sector clients, on their terrestrial and online businesses. This includes technology projects (from strategy, procurement and implementation through to dispute resolution), blockchain, crypto and fintech businesses (advising start-ups and investors); M&A, joint ventures, strategic alliances, venture capital, and gaming (and related regulatory advice). Before joining Duncan Cotterill, Chris was a partner at national law firm in Wellington and a specialist commercial law firm in Auckland. She also worked in London with leading global firm, Linklaters doing cross border M&A, joint ventures and financing. Chris is the Honorary Consul for Finland in Auckland, President of the New Zealand Scandinavia Business Association, and a member of Fintech NZ.


Ashleigh Ooi, Senior Associate (Technology and Innovation), Dentons
Ashleigh is a senior commercial lawyer with expertise in data protection and cybersecurity. She has experience both private practice and in-house, and in New Zealand and the United Kingdom. Ashleigh regularly advises clients on the application and enforcement of the Privacy Act 2020 and related privacy codes, including the Health Information Privacy Code. In particular, she advises on the privacy implications of new products services and commercial relationships, as well as more contentious matters such as data breaches, data subject access requests and complaints. Ashleigh’s wider practice captures a broad range of commercial matters with a focus on technology, including SaaS/XaaS, IT outsourcing, media and telecommunications, intellectual property and consumer protection, and she also advises clients on the application of privacy law to each of these areas. Ashleigh works with a wide range of local and global clients ranging from start-ups and SMEs, to listed companies and government agencies. Her clients span multiple industry sectors including IT and software, financial services, media, construction and manufacturing, health services and FMCG.


James Cochrane, Partner, Lane Neave
James is a dispute resolution and litigation partner at Lane Neave in Auckland, specializing in banking, finance, insolvency, company law, and insurance. He has expertise in cryptocurrency, web3 technology, and digital assets, advising on tax, asset structuring, gaming, and regulatory issues. James also handles fintech, social media disputes, and corporate social responsibility. With a First Class Honours LLM from the University of Auckland, he is active in BlockchainNZ, RITANZ, and NZILA. He provides commercial advice to a diverse range of clients, from individuals and startups to multinational corporations.


Richard Chen, Senior Associate, Hesketh Henry
Richard advises clients on the acquisition and disposal of significant commercial property portfolios, as well as a broad range of property matters including land development, property financing, due diligence and leasing. Richard also specialises in residential property transactions, providing practical and effective advice for first home buyers through to experienced property investors and high net worth individuals on the sale and purchase of residential properties, including “off the plans” agreements and occupation right agreements. Richard enjoys collaborating with other consultants such as surveyors, planners and accountants as part of large-scale property development projects. He regularly assists property developers, financiers and investors with all property aspects of due diligence. Richard was admitted to the bar in 2014 and draws on his background in general practice and experience in a national legal firm to provide tailored advice to clients. He is currently on The Law Association’s Property Law Committee.


Thomas Gibbons, Director, Thomas Gibbons Law
Thomas is a property law specialist. He began his career with a national law firm, and was Partner/Director of a regional firm before setting up his own practice in 2020. He is the author of Unit Titles Law and Practice (1st ed, 2011, 2nd ed, 2015), and A Practical Guide to the Land Transfer Act (2017), as well as co-author of the Laws of New Zealand titles on Land Law and Easements, Covenants, and Profits. He has lectured in property law at various universities, and in securities law for LLB and MBA programmes. His articles have been published in New Zealand and overseas law journals. Thomas has given expert evidence on land development issues in the High Court, and is currently lead drafter on the ADLS-REINZ Agreement for Sale and Purchase of Real Estate. He is also a trustee of the Waikato Housing Initiative and the Waikato Community Lands Trust.


Clinton Light, Special Counsel and Litigator, Shine Lawyers NZ
Clinton has more than 30 years’ litigation experience. He has worked in different areas of legal practice over the years, but his current focus is estate, relationship property and medico-legal litigation.


Meg Murthi, Senior Tax Manager, The Advisory Group
After recently joining The Advisory Group as a Senior Manager in the International Tax Team, Meg has been promoted to Associate Director. Meg has considerable experience in tax. She has worked for Deloitte and Ernst & Young in New York City and New Zealand. She has advised an array of clients on their cross-border transactions, business divestments and expansions (including mergers and acquisitions). She has also conducted tax reviews to mitigate inefficient tax costs and identify potential contingent tax liabilities for financial reporting. Meg has extensive knowledge in audit defence and tax controversy. She has worked as an Investigator at Inland Revenue and has unique insight on how best to advocate for her clients interests to ensure pragmatic settlement outcomes on contentious matters. Meg has also managed tax automation projects involving the implementation of electronic invoicing and tax engine systems. She has prepared business cases; helped select vendors; documented business requirements; completed transaction mapping; and provided tax technical feedback to ensure successful implementation of the automated system.


Alicia Murray, Partner, Matthews Law
Alicia is a commercial litigator with more than 20 years’ experience in competition law and large-scale commercial disputes. She offers a commercial and pragmatic perspective to setting and implementing strategy to resolve complex disputes and has acted for a wide range of clients in various industries. Alicia acts for clients being investigated by the Commerce Commission in relation to alleged breaches of competition law and consumer law (including Commerce Act, Fair Trading Act and Credit Contract and Consumer Finance Act issues). Alicia assists clients through the whole of the investigation and enforcement experience, where having consistent representation helps to streamline the process and deliver the best value for clients. Alicia has acted for clients involved in some of the largest cartel investigations over the last 20 years, including the air cargo cartel and the real estate proceeding regarding Trade Me fees. Alicia’s practice also includes providing advice on the full range of competition law issues, and assisting clients with mergers, clearance applications and authorisations. She has also regularly provided training seminars on compliance issues. Alicia has strong court experience, and experience with alternative forms of dispute resolution. Other areas of expertise include financial markets legislation and commercial disputes. Alicia is a member of the board of the Competition Law and Policy Institute of New Zealand (CLPINZ) and previously served as president of the Auckland Women Lawyers Association. Alicia is ranked in Chambers for competition law and in Legal 500 for dispute resolution.


Shi Sheng Cai (Shoosh), Senior Associate, Copeland Ashcroft
Shi Sheng Cai (Shoosh) is a Senior Associate at Copeland Ashcroft and regularly acts for employers to help with immigration matters. He has over 7 years of work experience in the immigration sector including experience in the areas of global mobility, corporate immigration, investor migration and expertise with complex New Zealand immigration matters. Shoosh is a member of the Law Association Immigration Committee and is an author for Thomson Reuters Human Rights Law resource. You will find Shoosh "a great guy to deal with". He enjoys working with government officers and is a critical thinker with an insightful legal mind.


Kate Ashcroft, Partner, Copeland Ashcroft
Kate has specialised in employment and health and safety throughout her career, and is passionate about providing commercially pragmatic, tailored solutions to client issues. Kate acts for employers across a range of industries, giving strategic, compliance and best practice advice on non-contentious matters as well as providing representation in disputes. Kate is also an experienced independent investigator, and holds a certificate from the Association of Workplace Investigators. Kate is a member of the Institute of Directors, is on the Bay of Plenty Branch Committee of the Human Resources Institute of New Zealand (HRNZ) and is a Trustee of Baywide Community Law Service which provides free legal advice for people on low incomes or with disabilities or other disadvantages. Kate works between Tauranga and Auckland and connects with clients throughout New Zealand.


Lauren Qiu, Principal, Stay Legal
Lauren is the Principal at Stay Legal. She has presented at national seminars and conferences on immigration law. Lauren is an immigration law commentary author for Thomson Reuters. Lauren is currently a Committee Member of The Law Association’s (formerly Auckland District Law Society) Immigration & Refugee Law Committee, a Member of the Tauranga Migrant Settlement Network (an Immigration New Zealand led Welcoming Communities initiative), and a Volunteer Immigration Solicitor at the Citizens Advice Bureau (Tauranga). Previously, she was a guest lecturer, teaching aspiring immigration advisers at Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology.


Campbell McKenzie, Director, Incident Response Solutions
Campbell is the Founder and Director of Incident Response Solutions Limited, providing forensic, cyber security and crisis management services. Campbell was previously a Director at PwC New Zealand (12 years) and led PwC's national "forensic technology" practice, and the Auckland "cyber security" practice, a combined team of 11 expert staff. Prior to PwC, Campbell was a founding member of NZ Police's Electronic Crime Laboratory (4.5 years) and as an expert witness, he specialises in electronic investigations, cybercrime incident response and eDiscovery matters. He is recognised by the District and High Courts of New Zealand as a forensic technology expert and has also been appointed as an independent expert by the High Court. Campbell understands how critical it is for law firms to mitigate the cyber risks they face. Therefore in 2020, Incident Response Solutions published the "Cyber Security Guide for NZ Law Firms", a contextual resource to assist lawyers and law firms manage their cyber security risk.