The Essentials | Pleadings

This webinar will take you through the essential, foundational concepts of how to draft pleadings.  The webinar will cover the core rules on pleadings and also what steps you need to take throughout the preparation for drafting statements of claim, statements of defence and statements of reply.  It is practically focused.  

Properly prepared court pleadings are critical documents for initiating civil proceedings. Pleadings define the issues in dispute, inform the opposing party about the case they need to meet, and ensure a fair and efficient hearing process by facilitating the parties’ focus on the relevant issues and evidence.  It is crucial to get them right.  This webinar is a ‘how-to guide’  for drafting pleadings. You will be provided with a checklist of what to consider and address when drafting pleadings.

The webinar is aimed at Junior and Intermediate practitioners, as well as those unfamiliar with this area of practice but wishing to learn how to draft pleadings, the fundamentals rules, and what to consider and address.   It is also suitable for those looking for a refresher in this area. 

Register today to hear what our experienced litigators Polly Pope and Kishen Kommu have to share about getting your pleadings right!

If you cannot join us on the day, register anyway, and we will send you the recording!

OUR PRESENTERS

Polly Pope is a commercial barrister who practices from Bankside Chambers.  She joined the independent bar after over a decade as partner at Russell McVeagh, including a term as Chair of the Partnership.  Her practice includes commercial, insolvency, construction, and financial regulatory enforcement disputes and investigations. As well as her practice as counsel, Polly accepts appointments as an arbitrator, and is a Fellow of AMINZ and the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.

Kishen Kommu is an experienced civil litigator with a broad range of dispute resolution expertise, including construction, property, commercial, insolvency and unit title disputes. He practices as a barrister sole from FortyEight Shortland Chambers and has appeared as counsel in the Court of Appeal, High Court, District Court, various tribunals and alternative dispute resolution processes.  Prior to moving to the independent bar, Kishen practiced in the litigation teams of well-regarded firms in Auckland and Tauranga.

Damian Chesterman is a commercial and civil barrister with over twenty-five years of litigation experience during which he has led significant cases in the High Court, Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.  Damian has developed a broad-based practice in the areas of contract, land, equity, insolvency, company law, defamation and relationship property.  He acts for Iwi and Maori Trusts in High Court litigation.  Damian accepts appointments as a commercial arbitrator.   Damian regularly presents at seminars on the topics of civil litigation advocacy and strategy.  Damian volunteers his time as a member of the NZBA Training Committee, as a faculty member for the NZLS Litigation Skills Courses and contributes to commercial law reform as a member of the NZLS Commercial and Business Law Committee.   Damian provides Civil Legal Aid services and pro bono advice to contribute to access to justice. 

Damian’s qualifications include an LLM (Hons) from the University of Cambridge, England; an LLB with First Class Honours from the University of Waikato; a B.Com from University of Auckland; New Zealand’s highest qualification in arbitration (FAMINZ (Arb)); admission to the New York Bar and admissions in Australia, England and New Zealand.

Damian will chair this webinar.