ADLS Seminar - Advocacy and Courtroom Etiquette for Junior Practitioners

Andrew Barker was a contributing speaker at this seminar held on 30 August 2011. In his paper, Andrew discussed the basic principles of effective advocacy in the civil jurisdiction in its different forms (written and oral advocacy). As well as considering the general "rules" of advocacy, he also discussed more practical considerations and "tricks of the trade" that are used by effective advocates. Andrew's paper can be read here.

2/02/12

Book Launch - Company Law In New Zealand

Shortland Chambers co-hosted the launch of Company Law in New Zealand by Professor Peter Watts, Chambers member Neil Campbell and senior lecturer Christopher Hare.

The book deals comprehensively with the principles of company law in this country, focusing on the law affecting companies registered under the Companies Act 1993. There is also commentary and guidance on directors' duties, shareholders' rights and remedies, accounts, audits and records, and mergers, takeovers and acquisitions.

Speaking at the launch function on 24 November, the Rt Hon Sir Peter Blanchard congratulated the three authors on their "splendid text". It would "rank with any book on the subject of company law you will find in your libraries".

There was "a very careful analysis" of key provisions in the 1993 Act, said Justice Blanchard, "highlighting problem areas where there is uncertainty, setting out alternative readings and expressing a preference, and often suggesting useful reforms or how a particular reading could avoid or reduce a problem.

"Counsel and judges will, as a result of the work of the authors, be much better equipped to confront the problems which need to be addressed and will be made aware of the choices open as solutions to the drafting infelicities."

The contents of Justice Blanchard's speech may be read here.

Christopher Hare, Rt Hon Sir Peter Blanchard, Neil Campbell and Professor Peter Watts at the launch.

(1/12/11)

Corporate Challenge 2011

This year's 5 km challenge was held in the Auckland Domain on 23 November. Shortland Chambers once again fielded a team of highly trained athletes. Congratulations to Jane Anderson who was the first woman home.

(28/11/11)

Tony Molloy QC - Honorary Member of the Chancery Bar Association

In recognition of his reputation in the field of Chancery work, Tony Molloy QC has accepted an invitation from the Chairman of the Chancery Bar Association, Malcolm Davis-White QC, of Lincoln's Inn, London, to become an honorary member of the Association.

(28/11/11)

New Members of Chambers - Daisy Williams and Jenny Cooper

Shortland Chambers is pleased to announce that it has been joined in Chambers by Daisy Williams and Jenny Cooper as Members. We wish Daisy and Jenny well in their careers at the Bar.

(17/10/11)

Postgraduate lecturing by Kevin Glover

Kevin Glover co-lectured a postgraduate law course on copyright at the University of Auckland in September. The paper was offered as part of the University’s LLM programme and was taught as an intensive involving five days of full-time lectures.

(29/09/11)

Shortland Chambers 25th Anniversary

The members of Shortland Chambers celebrated the 25^th anniversary of the founding of Shortland Chambers by hosting past members, associate members and partners to a dinner on 8 September. The evening was a great opportunity for all to catch up with friends and former colleagues.  Paul Cavanagh QC proposed the toast to Chambers and gave a speech reflecting on the past 25 years of Chambers development.  Paul’s speech can be read here.

The photo below was taken at the official opening of Shortland Chambers by the Rt Hon Sir Ronald Keith Davison GBE, CMG on 29 August 1986.

Back Row L/R: Michael Crew, Charles Cato, Paul Cavanagh, Raynor Asher, George Howley, Gary Harrison.

Front Row L/R: Sonja Clapham, Jim Farmer QC, Colin Nicholson QC, the Rt Hon Sir Ronald Keith Davison, Tony Molloy QC, Roger MacLaren, Alan Galbraith QC.

(29/09/11)

Annual Cocktail Party 2011

Shortland Chambers had pleasure in hosting their annual cocktail party for the Auckland legal profession at the Northern Club on Wednesday 31 August.

Our guest speaker was Chief Judge Alex Kozinski of the Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit in the USA. The Judge proved to be a highly entertaining speaker, freely dispensing advice to amused guests on how to lose an appeal, and demonstrating his broad command of legal jurisprudence.

The Judge spent several days in New Zealand as the guest of IPSANZ, of which Shortland Chambers Barrister Clive Elliott is the President, on his way to the IPSANZ Annual Conference in Sydney. Accompanied by his wife Marcy Tiffany, the Judge took the opportunity to do some local sightseeing, dined with eminent members of the profession and did interviews with the NBR, Newstalk ZB, Radio NZ National and Court TV.

Chief Judge Kozinski, Marcy Tiffany and the Chairman of Shortland Chambers, Bruce Gray QC at the Cocktail Party.

(31/08/11)

Shortland Chambers Short Talk Series

The Members of Shortland Chambers hosted colleagues in the legal profession at the first of their short talk series for 2011 on Thursday evening 7 July. The event was titled: The Abolition of Gift Duty and Recovering Assets from Trusts. The presenter was Dr Tony Molloy QC. Tony's paper commenting on some of the implications arising from the abolition of gift duty can be read here.

(8/07/11)

Clive Elliott on speaking tour in Australia

Clive Elliott, the President of the Intellectual Property Society of Australia and New Zealand (IPSANZ) recently gave a series of talks throughout Australia. The topic was on recent developments in IP law in New Zealand. The talks were given between 27 April and 2 May in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth.

Below is a link to the powerpoint presentation, which includes the notes referred to during Clive's presentation.

New Zealand:  An Update on Recent Developments

(21/06/11)

Stephen Mills QC - Appointed as counsel to Royal Commission of Enquiry into Canterbury Earthquakes

Stephen Mills QC has been appointed as counsel assisting the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Building Failure Caused by the Canterbury Earthquakes. The Royal Commission has an interim report deadline of 11 October 2011 and a final report deadline of 11 April 2012.

The Commissioners are Justice Cooper, Sir Ron Carter and Associate Professor Richard Fenwick.

The Royal Commission is sitting in Christchurch.

(5/06/11)

New Member - Marc Corlett

Shortland Chambers is pleased to announce that it has been joined in Chambers by Marc Corlett as a Member. Marc joins Chambers from Russell McVeagh. He specialises in Commercial Litigation, Regulatory Prosecutions, Serious Fraud, and Criminal Law. We wish Marc well in his career at the Bar.

(3/05/11)

Shortland Chambers Prize in Public Law

On Thursday 14 April 2011, Neil Campbell presented the Shortland Chambers Prize in Public Law to Thomas Clark, who obtained the highest marks in Public Law in 2010.  The presentation function was attended by members of the Faculty of Law. 

In presenting the award, Neil Campbell said that Shortland Chambers hoped to achieve two things in making the award, the first, to assist recipients like Thomas in advancing their careers in the law and the second, to raise awareness in the profession of the importance of Public Law which as a field of study and practice governs citizens relations with government through administrative, constitutional and criminal law.

We look forward to following Thomas in his further studies, and in his future career.

Neil Campbell with Thomas Clark (left)

(18/04/11)

John Billington QC Appointed Judge of the Court Martial Appeal Court

Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson has announced the appointment of John Billington QC as a Judge of the Court Martial Appeal Court. 

John joined the New Zealand Army in 1969 as Second Lieutenant in the Royal New Zealand Artillery 16th Field Regiment. He later graduated from Victoria University with a LLB, joined the independent bar in 1989 and was appointed a Queen’s Counsel in 1996. He has extensive experience in the criminal law and his principal areas of practice include administrative law, corporate and commercial, defamation and serious fraud. 

John is also a member of the Arbitrators’ and Mediators’ Institute of New Zealand.

(24/02/11)

New Juniors at Shortland Chambers

The members of Shortland Chambers welcome Sally Trafford, James Little and Daniel Pannett as Junior Barristers to Chambers. Sally and Daniel come to us from the High Court in Auckland where they were clerks for various Judges of the High Court. James has been in the Court of Appeal of New Zealand where he worked as a judge's clerk for the Hon Justice Robert Chambers.

(22/02/11)