Christchurch barrister Craig Ruane has been re-elected President of the New Zealand Law Society’s Canterbury-Westland branch.

A long-serving member of what was the Canterbury District Law Society Council then the Canterbury-Westland branch Council, Mr Ruane has served as the branch President since December last year.

He first joined the Council in the early 1990s, when the entity was a district law society, then – after a short break – rejoined in the early 2000s.

His Law Society service also includes being a long-serving faculty member of NZLS CLE Ltd’s Litigation Skills Programme, where he has also served as Programme Director. He also was recently appointed to the Law Society’s Courthouse Committee.

Before going to the bar in 2007, Mr Ruane was a senior prosecutor with Crown Solicitor Raymond Donnelly. He was a prosecutor for nine years, including time in East Timor prosecuting war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Before that, he was a partner of Weston Ward and Lascelles in Christchurch. In fact, Mr Ruane has practised in Christchurch since graduating from Canterbury University in 1978.

Mr Ruane’s current practice is a mix of civil and criminal litigation. One interesting aspect is his involvement in military law. He has regularly appeared in Courts Martial of Army, Navy and Air Force personnel.

He is also a Colonel in the Territorial Force and is keen on reading, walking, tramping and pistol shooting.

Grant Tyrrell is the branch’s new Vice-President and the new branch Council members are: Ferne Bradley, Sophie Goodwin, Amy Keir, Lana Paul, Maria Pozza, Graeme Riach and Andrew Riches.