With the Zero Carbon Bill and Climate Change Response Act, corporate governance dictates that you report on and promote sustainability to your board, law firm, clients and organisation. Examine climate disclosures, immerse yourself climate-centric contracts for all areas of law, assess recent climate litigation and greenwashing legal concerns. Gain an active awareness of how to leverage climate related tools with the aim of integrating corporate sustainability solutions into everyday practice. 

Presenters

Dr Melanie Baker-Jones, Climate Adviser and Project Manager, Te Whakahaere Āhuarangi Ltd
Debra is a sustainability advocate, guiding advisers like lawyers to positively influence sustainable behaviour in business. She sees the legal fraternity as having an integral role in influencing climate conscious behaviour and hopes the profession spearheads positive change at scale. She currently volunteers as the Pro-Bono Coordinator for Lawyers for Climate Action NZ Inc. For years Debra was a property lawyer in private practice where she built a strong reputation. She combines decades of legal training and experience, with a passion for making a difference.


Dr Melanie Baker-Jones, Climate Adviser, Te Whakahaere Āhuarangi Ltd
Melanie was admitted as a solicitor, and worked in commercial law, which gave her an appreciation of the NZ business context. Melanie was a co-lecturer in the Masters Law unit in climate change law at the University of Auckland. Melanie now brings all of her expertise together in the climate advisory space to her clients and fellow collaborators, bringing a knowledge of: regulatory systems, of adaptation, of disaster, of risk, of collaboration, of knowledge building and building capacity in real-world situations, of project management, of reasoning, objectivity and critical thinking, of information sharing and creation of clear, digestible and relevant communication.


Ms. Jenny Cooper KC, Barrister, Shortland Chambers
Jenny is a highly regarded commercial litigator with specialist expertise in company and securities law, financial services, competition law, and insolvency. She is ranked by Chambers and Partners as one of New Zealand’s top KC's in Dispute Resolution and is listed as one of New Zealand's leading insolvency and restructuring barristers in Doyle’s Guide. Her practice also encompasses regulatory investigations, fair trading and consumer finance law, contract and tort claims, trusts, and insurance. Alongside her commercial practice, Jenny was the inaugural President of Lawyers for Climate Action NZ Inc. which brings together lawyers to advocate for action against climate change. Jenny has previously held a number of other leadership roles in the profession, including being on the Council of the New Zealand Bar Association.


Ms. Hannah Bain, Special Counsel, Russell McVeagh
Hannah Bain is a Special Counsel in Russell McVeagh's public law and litigation teams. Hannah leads Russell McVeagh's climate change offering, working together in a strategic alliance with Te Whakahaere climate change advisors to support partners in this increasingly important space. Hannah is also experienced across a wide range of contentious matters, with particular experience in complex commercial disputes in the infrastructure, energy, banking and financial services sectors, and with regulatory investigations.


Ms. Joanna Lim, Special Counsel, Simpson Grierson
Jo combines legal experience and experience as a director to bring a range of insights into managing climate change legal risks. She works with clients on understanding the legal risks, opportunities and compliance obligations related to the Emissions Trading Scheme, the “Zero Carbon Act” and the broader spectrum of laws and proposed laws that intersect with the physical and transitional (financial) impacts of climate change. Jo’s experience with public disclosure in the financial markets sector and with creating policies, procedures and controls also positions her well to dig into the steps needed to implement governance direction on an issue such as climate change legal risk. Jo is also a director of Market Gardeners Limited, a substantial co-operative company that distributes fresh produce and which is owned by growers in the horticulture sector. This gives her a real insight into the challenges of integrating climate change considerations into a business and its supply chain.


Mr. Mark Baker-Jones, Climate Adviser, Te Whakahaere Āhuarangi Ltd
Mark Baker-Jones is a world-leader in climate change regulatory and policy risk. He works extensively as a climate change policy advisor to governments in Australia, and was political advisor to Aotearoa New Zealand’s Climate Change Minister during the development of NZ’s climate change legislative regime. Mark has held senior legal roles in some of the world’s most prestigious law firms, and has published widely on climate legal risk. He continues to hold positions with universities in Australia and, in 2022, will lead the University of Auckland Law School’s 2022 climate law postgraduate course. Mark has unique insights into climate change legal risk, policy, and regulation, particularly for the financial sector.