Drafting Fundamentals for Litigators

The ability to draft exceptional court documents is the cornerstone of outstanding advocacy and successful case outcomes. Gain expert guidance from experienced barristers to ensure your drafting of key legal documents is correct and builds strong foundations for your court matters.  You will deepen your understanding of how to craft more effective pleadings and develop expertise in preparing affidavits, witness statements, and interlocutory applications.

Thursday, 26 February 2026
4.00pm to 4.15pm Afternoon Break
2.00pm to 3.00pm How to Draft Effective Pleadings

 

  • Why pleadings are important
  • The fundamental requirements involved in drafting pleadings
  • The benefits of pleading effectively are wide ranging
  • The risk in pleading poorly: some examples of strike out

Presented by Tom Pasley, Barrister & Solicitor, Robertsons

4.15pm to 5.15pm Drafting Interlocutory Applications (The Essentials)


Examine the essential principles and techniques for drafting interlocutory applications that comply with procedural rules and effectively advance your client’s position.
Presented by Rebecca Rose, Barrister, Bankside Chambers

Learning Objectives:
  • Build a better understanding of how to draft more effective pleadings
  • Gain an expertise in drafting affidavits and witness statements
  • Sucre some expert guidance on drafting interlocutory applications
Description

Attend and earn 3 CPD Hours

3.00pm to 4.00pm Drafting Affidavits and Witness Statements


Learn how to draft clear, concise and persuasive affidavits and witness statements that strengthen your client’s case. You will learn the importance of structure, relevance, evidentiary requirements and practical tips for avoiding common drafting pitfalls.
Presented by Ben Prewett, Barrister & Arbitrator, Bankside Chambers

Chair:

Rob Latton, Barrister, FortyEight Shortland Chambers 

Presenters

Rob Latton, Barrister, FortyEight Shortland Barristers
Rob Latton is a barrister practicing from 48 Shortland Barristers, Auckland. He is a practitioner with over 30 years’ experience in New Zealand and the United Kingdom. Commenced practice as a barrister sole in 2016, Rob specializes in civil and commercial advice and litigation, and has been involved in extensive estates and trusts work in recent years. In particular, he has acted for many executors and trustees in claims alleging breaches of duty, as well as challenges to wills and general estate disputes, including Burgess & Another v Monk & Others (No. 6).

Tom Pasley, Barrister & Solicitor, Robertsons
Tom is an experienced commercial and civil litigator who is regularly involved in the resolution of disputes through litigation, arbitration, mediation, and negotiation. He acts for private clients, insurers, and insureds and provides sound judgement and strategic advice on challenging legal matters. Tom’s practice focuses on contractual disputes, company and securities law, insurance, insolvency, banking and finance, professional negligence, trust disputes, regulatory litigation and investigations, and property disputes. Tom has also acted for clients in several of New Zealand’s largest class actions and is experienced working on large and complex multi-party disputes.

Ben Prewett, Barrister & Arbitrator, Bankside Chambers
Ben specialises in commercial and civil litigation and in international arbitration with particular experience in disputes relating to energy and natural resources, construction, insurance, mergers and acquisitions and shareholders’ agreements. Before joining Bankside Chambers, Ben was a senior associate at Three Crowns LLP in London and Paris, specialising in international arbitration. His international arbitration experience has included numerous international commercial and investment treaty arbitrations under the ICC, UNCITRAL, LCIA, ICSID and SCC Rules. Ben holds a BCom/LLB (Hons) from the University of Auckland and an LLM from Stanford University, which he attended as a Fulbright Scholar. He has been recognised as a highly regarded lawyer by The Legal 500 and as a Future Leader by Who’s Who Legal: International Arbitration, in which Ben was described as “a very well-prepared advocate with tremendous skill in cross-examination.

Rebecca Rose, Barrister & Arbitrator, Bankside Chambers
Rebecca specialises in general civil, corporate/commercial and public law. She has acted as counsel in all of New Zealand’s higher courts and in numerous leading cases. As a results-focused barrister, Rebecca is experienced at resolving complex and high value matters as well as smaller disputes in a practical and efficient way. Rebecca’s practice spans a broad field of areas and industries including contract, property, corporate/commercial, insolvency, tax disputes, wills, trusts, equity, public and administrative law, judicial review, overseas investment, resource management, negligence, fair trading and insurance. Before joining Bankside Chambers, Rebecca worked at Bell Gully and Chapman Tripp in Auckland (2011–2019) and for the Solicitor-General, David Collins QC, at the Crown Law Office, Wellington (2010). From 2008–2010, Rebecca clerked for the Rt Hon Justice Blanchard at the Supreme Court of New Zealand. She is also a full (TEP) member of the international Society of Trust Estate Practitioners (STEP). Rebecca has written numerous writes articles in her areas of interest and regularly speaks at seminars and conferences. She is also a contributing author of Gault on Commercial Law.

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Drafting Fundamentals for Litigators

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Single Session
Thursday, 26 February 2026
2.00pm to 5.15pm New Zealand
CPD Hours 3
$345.00
Online 20260101 20260226

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