ISSUE 10/2008

PRINCIPAL SPONSOR

Overview

In this issue, we:

announce the date and venue for the next CLANZ Conference;
provide members with an update on Rule 15.2.4 of the Conduct and Client Care Rules;
remind members of an additional Flying Start Programme in Wellington;
provide further information on next January’s Corporate Counsel World Summit in Vancouver; and
close with a round-up of recent legal news from around the country.

CLANZ 22nd Annual Conference, 7-8 May 2009: Stepping Up – Your Pathway to Success

Mark you diaries and set aside some budget now for the CLANZ 22nd Annual Conference, “Stepping Up – Your Pathway to Success”, being held on 7-8 May 2009 at the superb Christchurch Convention Centre. The organising committee is in the process of finalising another great line-up of speakers. More details will be posted on the CLANZ website shortly. Stay tuned!

Update on Rule 15.2.4

CLANZ members’ attention is drawn to rule 15.2.4 of the Conduct and Client Care Rules which states that, where an in-house lawyer is engaged by a company, s/he may provide regulated services to any other company in the same group. In this rule, “group” has the same meaning as in section 2 of the Financial Reporting Act 1993.

Some members have noted that this rule refers specifically to in-house lawyers engaged by a “company” and to them having the ability to provide regulated services to “any other company” in the group (as defined).

The specific references to companies could be construed to affect members who are either employed by non-companies or give advice to entities that are not “companies in the same group”.

CLANZ and others queried this wording with NZLS before the Rules were finalised, but changes were not made to it. On behalf of in-house lawyers, we intend to continue talking with NZLS about its intended scope.

At this stage, our view is that members who give advice to other entities related to their employer entity need to be aware of this rule and consider whether it may impact on them.

The CLANZ Committee is interested to receive feedback from members who believe their ability to provide regulated services may be impacted by the wording of this rule.

Members, who think they may be impacted by the rule, may also want to raise any concerns with the NZLS, NZLS Ethics Committee or their district branch.

Reminder of additional Flying Start programme in Wellington,
26 November 2008

Members interested in qualifying to practise on their own account are reminded that the Wellington District Law Society is putting on an additional Flying Start course on 26 November 2008. The course will be held in the Council Room, 3rd Floor, 26 Waring Taylor Street, Wellington.

Further information on the course and how to register can be found on the WDLS website. Members should note that, while the WDLS website states that the next course is on 14 February 2009, this additional course on 26 November is being promoted directly to CLANZ members in recognition of the special need that in-house counsel acting pursuant to contracts for services may have.

Corporate Counsel World Summit, Vancouver, 25 – 27 January 2009

The inaugural Corporate Counsel World Summit will be held in Vancouver from 25 – 27 January 2009. The aim of the Summit is to provide corporate counsel with an advanced level discussion of key challenges and shared transactional legal and business issues common to corporate counsel practice.

The Summit has been organised by the Canadian Corporate Counsel Association (CCCA) and features a number of international speakers including David Kreider, General Counsel of Vodafone New Zealand Limited.

CLANZ member benefit – no registration fee payable: the CCCA has waived the summit registration fee for all CLANZ members. For complimentary registration please write ‘CLANZ COMPLIMENTARY REGISTRATION’ on your Registration Form. Please note that this offer excludes the Optional Events included on the Registration Form. More info click here...