Gerard Praat has been elected President of the New Zealand Law Society's Nelson branch.
Mr Praat is a partner with Knapps Lawyers, which he joined in 2003 after practising in Wellington with the Wellington firm now known as Rainey Collins.
He graduated from Victoria University with LLB and BCA degrees and was admitted as a barrister and solicitor in 1990.
Mr Praat is a litigator, specialising in resource management law and general civil litigation. He also practises some employment law.
Pitt & Moore partner Anissa Bain was elected the Nelson branch's Vice-President at the 30 March annual meeting.
The new Nelson branch council is Jacintha Atkinson, Antoinette Besier, Gerhard Engelbrecht, Alex Reith, Anjela Sharma and Andrew Shaw.