Presenters

Dr. Anna Kirk, Barrister and Arbitrator, Bankside Chambers
Anna is a commercial arbitrator, adjudicator and barrister, specialising in international arbitration and public international law. Anna is New Zealand's member on the ICC International Court of Arbitration (2021-2024). Anna is also on the Council of the Arbitrator's and Mediators' Institute of New Zealand (AMINZ). Anna has been involved in over 50 arbitrations over the past 15 years as counsel, arbitrator or tribunal secretary. She has extensive experience in arbitrations under the ICC, UNCITRAL, ICSID, LCIA and SIAC Rules. Anna spent a number of years practicing international arbitration in London, representing clients across a range of industries including energy and natural resources, shipping, infrastructure and procurement. When she returned to New Zealand in 2011, she assisted Sir David Williams KNZM, QC with many large international commercial and investment treaty arbitrations. Anna now sits as an arbitrator in both international and domestic arbitrations. Anna also sits regularly as an adjudicator under the Construction Contracts Act. Anna is a Fellow of AMINZ and the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK). She is a member of the arbitral panels of AMINZ, ACICA, the NZDRC, HKIAC and SIAC (reserve panel). Anna holds a PhD in international law from the University of Cambridge. Anna regularly publishes and speaks on arbitration-related matters and is a contributing author to Williams & Kawharu on Arbitration (2011 and 2017). Anna also teaches a Masters paper in international arbitration at the University of Auckland. Through her studies she has a particular interest in business and human rights and is available to advise in this area

Paula Nicolaou, Partner, Wynn Williams
Paula is well known in the construction and infrastructure sectors as a first class projects lawyer. Her reputation is a reflection of her 25 years working in the wider property sector advising government, local authority, port companies, iwi, universities, airports, DHBs, building companies, and private developers at the front end of some of the country’s largest ever construction and infrastructure projects. Paula’s specialist experience extends across virtually all sectors of the industry including prisons, hospitals, airports, universities, sports facilities, roading, mining, water and wastewater, electricity and commercial and residential building. Paula works with clients from the inception of projects to understand the clients’ drivers and stakeholder drivers, project details, procurement strategies and procurement compliance requirements, project delivery models, risk and market conditions. She also advises on drafting for tendering, the drafting of project agreements (national, international and bespoke) and contract negotiations through to financial close. Over and above her reputation for providing excellent legal advice, she is known as pragmatic and real in her approach. Paula has advised clients involved with some of the most significant infrastructure projects in Aotearoa.