As economic pressures, evolving retail models and changing tenant expectations continue to reshape New Zealand's leasing landscape, property lawyers must stay ahead of the latest developments and negotiation trends. Join leading leasing practitioners from across New Zealand for an advanced-level update on the key legal, commercial and drafting issues affecting retail and commercial leases today.
Wednesday, 25 November 2026
Description
Attend and earn 4 CPD hours
Learning Objectives:
- Better understand the New Property Council of New Zealand Retail Lease Form.
- Improve your retail lease negotiation skills.
- Help your client’s future-proof their leases more effectively.
9.00am to 10.00am New Property Council of New Zealand Retail Lease Form
- Background to PCNZ and its lease forms
- Key changes
- Comparisons to other standard form leases
Presented by Dan Williams, Partner, Anderson Lloyd
11.00am to 11.15am Break
10.00am to 11.00am Helping Your Clients Future-Proof Their Leases
- Navigating how renewal rights operate and the consequences of failing to comply
- Understanding the reinstatement and make good provisions and how they apply
- Common drafting pitfalls and how to avoid them
Presented by James Watson, Senior Associate, Chapman Tripp
12.15pm to 1.15pm Retail Lease Negotiations: Lessons from the Front Line
- The recurring issues driving lengthy lease negotiations in today's retail market
- Strategies for reaching commercially workable outcomes without overcomplicating lease documents
Presented by Sarah Churstain, Partner, Ford Sumner Lawyers and Jordan Todd, Senior Associate, Ford Sumner Lawyers
Chair:
Catriona Gordon, Director, Catriona Gordon Legal
11.15am to 12.15pm Right-Sizing Risk: Commercial Leases for a Downsizing Economy
- Looking at the impact of online retail migration, cost-of-living pressure and rising occupancy costs, all of which impact tenants
- Will also focus on tenant failure and/or shrinkage (downsizing/break rights)
Presented by Scott Ratuki, Partner, and Jacinda Johnston, Special Counsel, Tompkins Wake
Presenters
Dan Williams, Partner, Anderson Lloyd
Dan advises on all aspects of commercial property law, with a particular focus on with a particular focus on assisting clients with mixed-use developments, commercial and industrial leasing, forestry transactions and Overseas Investment Act issues. Dan is internationally recognised by top global/national legal directories for his expertise, including Chambers and Partners, Legal 500, NZ Lawyer and asialaw Profiles. Dan is an accredited specialist member of the Property Law Section of the New Zealand Law Society and is one of the primary authors of the Chambers and Partners Global Practice Guide to Real Estate in New Zealand.
Sarah Churstain, Partner, Ford Sumner Lawyers
Sarah is a partner at Ford Sumner lawyers in Wellington and leads the firm’s commercial team. She is a property and commercial law specialist. Sarah has significant experience and expertise in commercial property acquisitions and disposals, commercial leasing, property development, joint ventures, project and commercial matters. Sarah also has particular specialist experience in the aviation, education, and hospitality industries. Sarah is a member of the New Zealand Law Society Property Law Reform Committee. In 2020, Sarah was recognised in NZ Lawyer's inaugural 'Rising Stars’ list which included up-and-coming stars in the legal profession who are committed to making a difference.
Scott Ratuki, Partner, Tompkins Wake
Scott is a commercial lawyer with specialist expertise in commercial property construction and development, banking and finance law and in syndication and securitisation of investments relating to commercial property. Scott leads Tompkins Wake's commercial property practice and combines his legal expertise with a deep understanding of our clients’ business to provide high-level commercial advice. Scott uses his expertise to navigate complex regulatory environments delivering our clients practical and effective solutions to their often-complex financial deals and transactions. Scott has a thorough understanding of the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter Financing of Terrorism Act and the Financial Markets Conduct Act. As a talented and accomplished musician, Scott also has a strong interest in Events and Venue related law, advising promoters and venue owners on a wide range of commercial and contractual legal matters. Scott is ranked in AsiaLaw Profiles as a notable practitioner in construction and real estate law for the Asia Law 2020 edition. He has also been noted as a recommended lawyer in The Legal 500 for Asia Pacific 2020, 2021 and 2022.
Catriona Gordon, Director, Catriona Gordon Legal
Catriona has worked as a property, trust and commercial lawyer in Rotorua since 1994. Her practice is strongly focused on the legal needs of private clients, their families, and small and medium-sized business owners. Her areas of expertise include Elder Law, Trust and Asset Protection, Commercial Property Transactions and Wills and Estate Planning.
Jacinda Johnston, Special Counsel, Tompkins Wake
Jacinda is a Special Counsel who joined Tompkins Wake in 2015. Jacinda works predominantly in our Hamilton office but frequently works from our Tauranga and Auckland offices. Jacinda specialises in commercial property transactions and works with a wide range of commercial property clients, from developers to investors, to facilitate the disposition and acquisition of property, including due diligence and finance, as well as leasing.
Jordan Todd, Senior Associate, Ford Sumner Lawyers
Jordan advises clients on all aspects of commercial leasing, including complex design and build projects, airport estate leasing and licensing arrangements, earthquake strengthening issues, and dispute resolution between landlords and tenants. Jordan’s commercial property expertise is regularly sought out by government agencies, airports and landlords with large national property portfolios. Jordan’s practice also encompasses wider property (including construction), company and general commercial contracting matters. He has particular experience acting for clients in the aviation, hospitality/retail, real estate and not-for-profit sectors.
James Watson, Senior Associate, Chapman Tripp
James specialises in all aspects of commercial property, with a particular focus on complex acquisitions and disposals, syndications, leasing, subdivisions and development projects. James advises a broad range of clients across the office, retail, industrial, hotel property sectors, as well as on energy projects including solar and battery energy storage system (BESS) developments. James has significant experience acting on large-scale property transactions, developments and strategic land projects throughout New Zealand.
