Stephen Joseph Woulfe suspended from practice

Former Hokitika lawyer Stephen Joseph Woulfe has been suspended for two months by the New Zealand Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal. Mr Woulfe admitted a charge of negligence or incompetence in his professional capacity to such a degree as to reflect on fitness to practice or as to bring his profession…

Law Society reaches understanding with IRD on FATCA

The New Zealand Law Society says that following discussions with Inland Revenue and the New Zealand Bankers' Association it has now reached an understanding with Inland Revenue about application of FATCA to lawyers' trusts accounts. FATCA is the United States' Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act. Its objective is to reduce tax…

120th anniversary of admission of Te Apirana Ngata as a barrister and solicitor

The 120th anniversary of the admission on 26 March 1897 of Te Apirana Turupa Ngata as a barrister and solicitor is something all New Zealanders can celebrate, the New Zealand Law Society and Te Hunga Rōia Māori o Aotearoa (the Māori Law Society) say. He was the first Māori admitted to…

Law Society recommends fundamental rewrite of child protection legislation

The New Zealand Law Society says proposed legislation introducing a child-centred care and protection system needs a complete rewrite if it is to achieve the objective of protecting vulnerable children and young people. The Law Society has presented its submission on the Children, Young Persons, and Their Families (Oranga Tamariki) Bill…

Further changes recommended to modernised border legislation

The New Zealand Law Society has urged Parliament to consider its recommended changes to New Zealand’s border legislation to ensure the law remains fit for purpose in future. The Law Society has presented its submission on the Customs and Excise Bill to the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade select committee. The bill…

Experienced women barristers urged to consider applying for QC rank

The New Zealand Law Society is encouraging suitably experienced women barristers to apply for appointment as Queen’s Counsel. Applications for appointment as a QC opened on 27 February 2017 and must be sent to the Solicitor-General no later than 27 March 2017. The QC Guidelines state that the rank of QC is…

Lawyers can redress gender leadership balance, says NZ Law Society

Women will outnumber men in the legal profession later this year but there is still a noticeable imbalance in women in leadership roles, New Zealand Law Society President Kathryn Beck says. “International Women’s Day today is an excellent time to call on all New Zealand lawyers to stop and ask themselves…

CPD declarations due within a month

The New Zealand Law Society is reminding New Zealand's lawyers that their Continuing Professional Development (CPD) declarations are due not later than 5 working days after Friday, 31 March 2017. The CPD Rules apply to all lawyers, and the CPD year runs from 1 April to 31 March. The Rules require…

Warren Richard McFie struck off roll

Former Auckland lawyer Warren Richard McFie has been struck off the roll of barristers and solicitors by the New Zealand Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal. Mr McFie admitted misappropriating $237,014.24 of client funds and consented to being struck off the roll. He also admitted overcharging a client in 23 invoices he…

NZLS points to further AML/CFT Phase 2 exposure draft concerns

In a supplementary submission to the Ministry of Justice on the AML/CFT Phase 2 exposure draft bill, the New Zealand Law Society says it has identified some further concerns. The Law Society's first submission on the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism reforms identified a number of issues, and stated…