New Zealand Law Society - Law Society statements

Law Society statements

Angela Heather Bean censured and suspended

Former lawyer Angela Heather Bean has admitted two charges of misconduct before the New Zealand Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal. Ms Bean accepted a cash payment of $2,500 from a client without the knowledge or authorisation of her law firm. She took $2,000 of the $2,500 for herself and raised an invoice for the remaining $500.…

Gold bullion tax law interpretation inconsistent, NZLS says

It cannot always be assumed that people who purchase gold bullion do so for the purpose of disposal, the New Zealand Law Society says. Commenting on the Inland Revenue Department's draft Question We've Been Asked: PUB00227: Income Tax – Are proceeds from the sale of gold income? (the QWBA) the Law Society says it disagrees…

Clarity needed in land disposal income tax laws

The New Zealand Law Society has recommended that changes to income tax law relating to land acquired for disposal should be clarified. Commenting on a draft Inland Revenue Department Question We've Been Asked Income Tax – Land Acquired for a Purpose or With an Intention of Disposal the Law Society said it would be helpful…

New Zealand Law Society elects four new Vice-Presidents

The New Zealand Law Society has elected four Vice-Presidents. The Vice-Presidents are elected for a two-year term and, with the President, make up the Law Society's Board, which acts as the executive body of the Law Society. Each Vice-President represents a Law Society branch or group of branches. Tim Jones has been elected Vice-President, Auckland. He…

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Shane Alan Rohde censured

Auckland lawyer Shane Alan Rohde has been censured by the New Zealand Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal. Mr Rohde admitted  a charge of having been convicted of offences punishable by imprisonment which reflect on his fitness to practise or tend to bring the legal profession into disrepute. He had been convicted of driving with excess…
New Law Society President takes office

New Law Society President takes office

Auckland based employment lawyer, Kathryn Beck has begun her role as the 30th New Zealand Law Society President. Ms Beck is the third woman President to have been elected and has over 25 years of practical legal experience.   Kathryn Beck, New Zealand Law Society President.  Among the key issues she'll focus on will include retaining and…

Order not to employ Terry Ann Shanks

The New Zealand Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal has made an order that no lawyer or law firm is to employ Terry Ann Shanks. A former employee of a law firm, Ms Shanks admitted misappropriation from her firm's trust account. She fraudulently obtained $10,671 through 16 transactions and used a variety of means to…

Legal and justice system encouraged and enlightened by legacy left by late Judge

The New Zealand Law Society says the legal and justice system will be both encouraged and enlightened by the generous multi-million dollar legacy left by the late Judge Ian Borrin. The retired District Court Judge died on 23 March. Before he died, Judge Borrin established a charitable trust worth between $25 and $30-million. The Michael and…

Bruce Harvey Reid struck off

Auckland lawyer Bruce Harvey Reid has been struck off the roll of barristers and solicitors by the New Zealand Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal. Mr Reid had admitted two charges of misconduct and one charge of unsatisfactory conduct. The Tribunal had made an interim suspension order against him on 5 February 2016. The first charge of misconduct…

Enduring powers of attorney regime failing to protect the vulnerable

Laws to protect people if they become mentally incapacitated are failing, the New Zealand Law Society says. And proposed changes to make it easier and cheaper to establish those protections are unlikely to work, Law Society spokesperson Dr Allan Cooke has told Parliament's Government Administration select committee. The Law Society's submission on the Statutes Amendment Bill focuses…

Law Society congratulates Dame Patsy Reddy

The New Zealand Law Society congratulates Dame Patsy Reddy on her appointment as the next Governor-General of New Zealand, Law Society President Chris Moore says. "On behalf of the legal profession I welcome the news that she has been appointed to this very important role. "The constitutional significance of Governor-General means the position must be filled by someone…

NZLS does not support ACC appeal reform proposals

The New Zealand Law Society says it cannot support any of four options proposed for reform of the ACC appeals process. In its comments to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment on its discussion document Accident Compensation Appeals - options for reform, the Law Society says none of the proposals…

Auckland lawyer Donald Bruce Thomas censured

Auckland lawyer Donald Bruce Thomas has been censured by the New Zealand Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal. Mr Thomas admitted a charge of misconduct for recklessly breaching section 110 of the Lawyers and Conveyancers Act 2006 and regulation 12(6) of the Lawyers and Conveyancers Act (Trust Account) Regulations 2008. His misconduct arose from his release…

Trust account supervisors reminded of annual reporting requirements

The New Zealand Law Society is reminding law firm trust account supervisors of the requirements for their annual reporting process, for both trust and interest bearing deposits. Most law firms will be sending clients their RWT certificates in April. Under regulation 12(7) of the Lawyers and Conveyancers Act (Trust Account) Regulations 2008,…
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