Immerse yourself in 8 key areas of concern for in-house counsel, and explore essential, recent legal and technological developments that will assist you to manage the many facets of your role. Gain helpful tips on how to support the board to make effective decisions, how to protect your LLP if you have a cyber breach and the main legal and contractual issues surrounding procurement of technology. Understand climate related disclosures, deciding whether to self-report to minimise the risks, including of a class action and contractual risk management. Be updated on current employment law concerns and the regulatory focus of the FMA.

Presenters

Nicola Swan, Partner, Chapman Tripp
Nicola is a Partner in Chapman Tripp’s Dispute Resolution and Climate Risk practices based in Wellington and leads the firm's International Law practice. She has a significant focus on sustainability and climate change risk and reporting and is recognized as a thought-leader in this area. Nicola has expertise in climate related disclosure (CRD) reporting implementation, having advised both government actors and regulated entities (listed issuers, banks, insurers, fund managers) as the legislation and associated climate standards have been developing. Nicola is currently acting for a range of New Zealand banks, fund managers, insurers and listed issuers on climate risk assessment, CRD, emissions targets, and related liability/litigation risk. Nicola is also regularly approached to develop ESG policies, codes of conduct, and to advise on sustainability governance. Nicola is currently acting for several New Zealand corporates in climate related and greenwashing litigation currently before the courts. In the last three years, Nicola has co-authored published New Zealand legal opinions on fiduciary duties and obligations on boards of directors, fund managers and trustees to consider climate risk to businesses and investments, and several guides for company directors, fund managers and trustees to consider climate risk to businesses and investments. Nicola is recognized in Chambers Asia Pacific 2024, Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2024 and Who’s Who Legal: Arbitration 2024. Nicola was also listed in NZ Lawyer's Elite Women List 2023.


Richard Berkahn, Partner, Clyde & Co
Richard Berkahn is a specialist cyber risk advisor and is known for managing global data breach incidents, working hand in hand with our international and regional offices. Richard has spearheaded the development of Clyde & Co’s technology-led ‘Global Regulation Hub’, allowing Clyde & Co to seamlessly advise clients on local Privacy Laws and service cross-border data breaches. Richard regularly advises local, trans-Tasman and London based clients on cyber incident and crisis response, data protection and privacy issues, cyber insurance, IT liability and recovery actions, third party claims and regulatory investigations. He also has extensive experience providing clients with pre-incident services including the review, development and implementation of systems and processes to address cyber risk. Richard has developed strong relationships within the cyber-insurance industry and has advised on several complex instructions hitting the Australian and London markets. Richard is admitted to practise in Australia and New Zealand and is actively involved in Clyde & Co’s trans-Tasman offering. Richard and the team have advised on over 1,500 incidents to date and bring a wealth of experience to every incident.


Dr Maria Pozza, Director and Principal Lawyer, Gravity Lawyers
Dr Pozza is the Director and Principal lawyer of Gravity Lawyers. Her expertise includes: Commercial international space law, international military space law, domestic legislative frameworks over military and commercial uses in space as well as international law space law dealing with armed conflict and aggressive uses. She provides expertise in legal and technical frameworks concerning cybersecurity and IT, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), and technology laws. She has been the course coordinator for the University of Victoria’s Cyber Security and International Relations, as well as a lecturer for the International Relations course. As a prolific publisher, Dr Pozza has edited and published a book on Risk Management in Outer Space Activities – An Australian and New Zealand Perspective, as part of her Book Series titled Space Law and Policy. She has been involved in the development of numerous space law publications that range from academic articles, professional publications, guidance materials, and books. Dr Pozza has supervised at master’s level and is currently supervising at the PhD level with the University of Otago. Her expertise on international and national space law, is often called upon by a wide range of domestic and international clients and institutions.


Simon Mitchell KC, Hobson Chambers


Liam Mason, Executive Director, Evaluation & Oversight & General Counsel, Financial Markets Authority
Liam is responsible for a broad range of audit, risk, legal and governance matters along with evaluating the effectiveness of regulatory interventions and activity. He is also the FMA General Counsel. Liam has been with the FMA since its inception. He has extensive experience in securities law and corporate governance matters, advising on securities and financial services law and policy, Crown entity governance and legal compliance. Liam has previously led frontline teams overseeing the FMA’s compliance frameworks, licensing, knowledge management and intelligence, and fintech functions.


Emma Peart, Senior Associate, Chapman Tripp
Emma is a commercial litigation and arbitration lawyer with a particular focus on advising and representing clients in banking and financial services matters. She advises and represents public and private sector clients on complex commercial and regulatory matters and disputes, with specific expertise in the banking and financial services sectors. Emma is experienced in representing clients in court proceedings and alternative dispute resolution including arbitration. She is also part of our leading international law team and is experienced in international and cross-border proceedings. Emma advises a broad range of clients on the implications of key commercial and regulatory legislation such as the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act (CCCFA), sanctions regimes, AML/CFT Act, Contract and Commercial Law Act, Commerce Act, FMCA, and the Fair Trading Act. She represents clients in regulatory investigations and practical issues stemming from those. After undertaking post-graduate study at the University of Cambridge, Emma worked in the Global Disputes team in London for a leading international law firm.


Tracey Cross, Expert Facilitator, Grounded Governance
Tracey brings over 25 years of experience in financial services regulatory compliance, corporate governance, and strategy. She is an Independent Director of AIA New Zealand, Mint Asset Management and Tony Mounce Mortgages and is a Chartered Member of the Institute of Directors. Previously a partner of global business law firm DLA Piper New Zealand, Tracey now practices on her own account. Tracey is passionate about governance with purpose and good conduct and culture as key to competitive and sustainable businesses. Her passion for purpose drives her interest in empowering women. She was the founding Chair of DLA Piper’s Leadership Alliance for Women and is the current chair of Women in Super and co-chair of the Financial Services Council’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion committee – a founding member of both initiatives. Tracey mentors and regularly presents at financial services industry conferences, providing tailored training to clients and Boards.


Patrick Learmonth, Partner, Stace Hammond Lawyers
Patrick Learmonth is a partner in the Auckland office of Stace Hammond Lawyers and specialises in advising business clients on a wide range of legal issues relevant to their businesses. He has over 30 years experience advising on corporate, commercial and trust matters with particular expertise in company law matters and company insolvency, mergers and acquisitions, restructuring and succession planning, joint ventures and shareholder agreements, trust law and trustees advice, intellectual property - licensing, copyright, trademarks and franchising, information technology - software development and licensing and websites and consumer and business competition protection laws - trade practices, fair trading and anti competitive behaviour in business markets, advertising standards, privacy laws and mediation of commercial and trustee disputes. Patrick acts for a wide range of business clients, local and international, particularly in the consumer product retail, wholesale and manufacturing sectors and the IT industry. Patrick is a member of the New Zealand Law Society Complaints Service Committees and also convener for the Franchise Association of New Zealand complaints committee. Prior to joining Stace Hammond Patrick was a partner for over 20 years at the Auckland office of national law firm, Kensington Swan.


Campbell Featherston, Partner, Dentons
Campbell is a partner in Dentons Wellington’s corporate and commercial team. He provides advice on all corporate and commercial matters including procurement projects, privacy, IT agreements (including SaaS, agile and waterfall software development, and traditional licensing), IP licensing and consumer and marketing law compliance. In doing so, he is frequently engaged to assist his clients to draft, negotiate and advise on complex commercial arrangements – often with multiple moving parts. He has significant international experience, having previously worked in the UK and the Middle East before returning to New Zealand in 2018, and advises clients based the world over. As a result, he has been exposed to many different drafting and negotiating styles and strategies.