Legal practising fees and levies approved

The Minister of Justice has approved the fees and levies payable by anyone who practises law in the year to 30 June 2018. There will be a reduction in the amount which lawyers pay for regulation of the legal profession by the New Zealand Law Society. “The reduction, which is 4.4% for…

One month suspension for Robert John Latton

Auckland barrister Robert John Latton has been suspended for one month commencing on 29 May 2017 by the New Zealand Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal. Mr Latton admitted a charge of misconduct before the Tribunal. This arose in circumstances where his client instructed him to send a letter proposing terms of settlement…

NZLS issues good practice for looking after client's bank account

A new New Zealand Law Society Practice Briefing recommends good practices for law firms to follow when they are operating controlled bank accounts. Looking after a client's bank account says an example of a controlled bank account is where a lawyer holds a power of attorney for an impaired client and…

Law Society questions Anti-Money Laundering legislation implementation date

January 2019 is a far more realistic date than July 2018 for bringing lawyers into the requirements of the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism legislation, the New Zealand Law Society says. The Law Society has presented a submission on the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Amendment Bill…

Law Society widens focus on lawyer diversity

The New Zealand Law Society says it is now asking all applicants for a practising certificate to state their ethnicity. The Law Society has collected information on ethnicity since 2009, but it has been voluntary. At present 44% of New Zealand’s 12,800 lawyers have not provided information on their ethnicity. Writing in…

NZLS proposes alternative to interest deduction cap

The New Zealand Law Society says there is no sound basis for an Inland Revenue proposal to put a cap on the deduction permitted for interest paid by a New Zealand borrower to a non-resident related-party lender. In a submission to Inland Revenue on the Government discussion document BEPS - Strengthening…

Concern at anti-avoidance rule impact on treaties

A proposed package of amendments and new anti-avoidance rules for transfer pricing is of concern to the New Zealand Law Society for its proposed approach to amending the effect of New Zealand's existing international tax treaties. In a submission to the Inland Revenue Department on the Government discussion document BEPS -…

Richard Chen suspended for two years

Former Auckland lawyer Gang "Richard" Chen has been suspended for two years from 24 March 2017 by the New Zealand Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal. Mr Chen admitted having been convicted of five criminal offences, four of which were punishable by imprisonment and tended to bring his profession into disrepute. The…

New Zealand Law Society backs Principal Family Court Judge statement

Comments made by Principal Family Court Judge Laurence Ryan about questions being posed by The Backbone Collective group are absolutely appropriate, New Zealand Law Society Family Law Section chair Michelle Duggan says. “It is very disappointing that what is an important and sincere project aimed at confronting violence against women has…

NZ Law Society guidance on compulsory client information disclosure

The New Zealand Law Society has released a Practice Briefing on Compulsion of Client Information and Responding to a Search Warrant. The briefing has been produced as the Law Society regularly receives inquiries from lawyers who are concerned about their obligations to disclose client information under compulsion from Police or other…