Manawatu lawyer Kirsten Gaye Harper has been censured and ordered to pay $21,833 in costs by the New Zealand Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal. Mrs Harper accepted a charge of misconduct for more than 70 breaches of the rules surrounding the witnessing of documents, and subsequent certification. The Tribunal felt, however, that...

New Zealand Supreme CourtRecall application, Evidential video, editingMcGeachin v R [2020] NZSC 95 (14 September 2020) Unsuccessful application to recall Judgment – M convicted following a jury trial in 2013 for offences of physical and sexual violence committed against two former partners (JO and CF) between the late 1980s and 2011...

Auckland legal executive Yvonne Barton has been barred from working in the legal profession for 12 months by the New Zealand Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal for forging several signatures, including that of her firm’s principal. Ms Barton admitted one charge of misconduct in her capacity as a legal executive. The...

NZ Supreme CourtBail application, jurisdiction to consider appealSignal v R [2020] NZSC 90 (9 September 2020) Unsuccessful leave application – S charged, along with four others, with murder of one person and assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm to another, as well as three associated charges -  applied to...

Proposed changes to lawyers’ conduct rules under the Lawyers and Conveyancers Act (Lawyers: Conduct and Client Care) Rules 2008 (RCCC) and the (Lawyer: Ongoing Legal Education Continuing Professional Development) Rules 2013 (CPD) are a step closer after a review of the public and profession’s feedback by the Board of the...

By John Walton When the Construction Contracts Act 2002 came into force on 1 April 2003, it took some time for the industry to come to grips with the idea that if an owner didn’t respond properly to a payment claim, the entire claimed amount became payable, no matter how much...

Decisions, proceedings and news from the highest courts in some common law jurisdictions in the past week.

Richard Harker has retained his right to continue to practice by the New Zealand Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal, subject to conditions. These conditions include obtaining the written approval of the New Zealand Law Society | Te Kāhui Ture o Aotearoa and a condition that for five years, he will...

Under Alert Level 2, our libraries are open with normal staffed hours from 8.30am to 5.00pm, Monday to Friday. After-hours access to Canterbury and Wellington libraries is available, however there is no after-hours access to the Auckland Library during Alert Level 2.  If you do not have an access card and wish...

Lawyers and law firms have the opportunity to contribute to significant improvements in civil access to justice, particularly the operations of the District and High Courts. Given the impact of COVID-19, the consultation period for submissions on the Rules Committee’s paper, Improving Access to Civil Justice, has been extended for community groups...