Whether you are new to the area or a seasoned professional. Understanding and Managing Shareholder Agreements is a foundational requirement for all corporate and commercial lawyers. This session will provide you with a clear understanding of the key considerations involved in drafting and reviewing shareholder agreements. You will explore possible exit strategies and succession planning mechanisms, helping you advise clients on long-term business continuity. Gain greater confidence in identifying and resolving disputes that may arise under shareholder agreements.

Presenters

Caleb Williams, Solicitor, Anderson Lloyd
Caleb graduated from the University of Otago in 2023 with a Bachelor of Laws with Honours. He was admitted to the bar in 2024 in Christchurch and joined Anderson Lloyd as a Solicitor in the Corporate Commercial team in January 2024. Before his current role, Caleb gained valuable experience during the 2022/2023 Summer Clerkship program at Anderson Lloyd. His work primarily focuses on general commercial matters, assisting clients with a range of corporate and commercial legal needs. Outside of work, Caleb enjoys playing golf, cricket, and the guitar.

Bret Gustafson, Barrister, FortyEight Shortland Barristers
Bret Gustafson has practiced as a court lawyer for the last 35 years. He was a litigation partner at Kensington Swan from 2000 to 2009. In April 2009 he moved from practice as a barrister and solicitor to practice as a barrister sole. Bret was a foundation member of Fortyeight Shortland, a leading commercial barristers chamber located at Level 34 of the Vero Centre. Bret has appeared as senior counsel in the Privy Council and in two Supreme Court cases as senior counsel, winning all three. Bret has also appeared as Counsel in 17 Court of Appeal hearings and over 150 trials or substantive directions hearings in the High Court. He has argued trials and appeals in two overseas jurisdictions. He regularly advises on commercial disputes including shareholder disputes, PPSA issues and general banking and insolvency law.

Lucy Bidwill, Senior Associate, Anderson
Lucy is an Associate in our Corporate and Commercial team. She specialises in corporate and commercial matters, with particular expertise in the private equity industry. Lucy completed her Bachelor of Laws and Commerce degrees, majoring in economics, at the University of Canterbury in 2014 and was admitted to the bar in Auckland in 2016. Lucy joined Anderson Lloyd’s Christchurch office in February 2024.

Josh Williams, Partner, Anderson Lloyd
Josh is a Partner in our Corporate and Commercial Team with over 10 years’ experience as a lawyer. He has a wide range of commercial expertise but is particularly experienced at executing mergers and acquisitions and other commercial transactions. Although Josh is based in Ōtautahi Christchurch, he represents clients across Aotearoa and regularly travels to Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland in particular. He also acts for international clients establishing or acquiring domestic businesses. Josh is focused on understanding his clients’ commercial drivers and bringing a practical approach. Prior to joining Anderson Lloyd, Josh was Associate General Counsel at Heartland Bank, so has an understanding of both sides of the client engagement. Before his time in-house, Josh worked at large law firms in both New Zealand and Australia. Josh advises clients on a broad range of matters – from commercial contracts, technology contracts, and corporate governance matters through to significant M&A transactions, capital raisings, shareholder arrangements, joint ventures, and corporate structuring. Josh also has a specialist focus on climate change and the emissions trading scheme, and advises clients on a variety of arrangements involving the New Zealand carbon market, such as carbon forestry projects, long term off-take agreements for NZUs, carbon management and other commercial contracts, as well as the scheme itself. Josh is Ngāi Tahu and is proud of his whakapapa. He advises iwi/Māori organisations on a variety of matters.

Jessica Middleton, Senior Associate, McCaw Lewis
For the last eight years, Jessica has helped clients find solutions to structural, governance, and transactional issues arising throughout the whole life cycle of their business. Jessica advises across a variety of corporate and commercial issues, including sales and purchases of businesses and shares, shareholders’ agreements, structuring and governance matters, joint ventures, commercial leasing, and complex contractual arrangements. Although she assists a wide range of clients, including professional services firms, SMEs, and charitable trusts, Jessica has a particular focus on Māori commercial work assisting Māori entities from whenua trusts and Māori incorporations to PSGEs and their related subsidiaries. She also has a passion for intellectual property law, with a particular focus on trademarks. Acknowledging that the legal side of business can be overwhelming and complex, Jessica believes strongly in providing practical and accessible advice, making an effort to understand her clients’ values and priorities, and delivering solutions in a way that suits their needs. Jessica serves as a Trustee for the McCaw Lewis Foundation, the firm’s charitable organisation, which encourages healthy and happy children in the Waikato. Originally from Hamilton, Jessica grew up on the North Shore of Auckland and spent time in London, before returning to the Waikato. Jessica joined McCaw Lewis in 2018 and was appointed as a Senior Associate in April 2021.