The NZBA committees comprise members of the Bar Council and other NZBA members. If you are interested in serving on a committee(s), please get in contact.
Advocacy Committee
This committee focuses on law reform. It is involved in reviewing and monitoring legislation, liaising with the MOJ, courts, and other stakeholders. It is also involved in addressing access to justice initiatives.
Members:
| Tiho Mijatov (Co-Chair) | Yvonne Mortimer-Wang (Co-Chair) |
| Gurbrinder Singh Aulakh | John Billington KC |
| Aedeen Boadita-Cormican | Dr Petra Butler |
| Victoria Casey KC | Paul David KC |
| Maria Dew KC | Alison Douglass |
| Toby Gee | Michael John McKay |
| Warren Pyke | Alan Webb |
| Monique Rachel Geraldine van Alphen Fyfe |
Annual Conference Committee
This committee focuses on delivery of the annual conference.
Members:
| Tim Counsell Stephens (Co-Chair) | Sarah Jerebine (Co-Chair) |
| Savanna Gaskell | Genevieve Haszard |
| Ish Jayanandan | Esther Watt |
| Bridgette White |
Audit Risk and Governance Committee
This committee ensures the Association complies with its obligations in regards to Audit, Risk and Governance.
Members:
| Josh McBride (Chair) | Phillip Cornegé |
| Sam Jeffs |
Te Ao Māori Komiti
This committee has been created to promote, across all activities, te reo Māori, tikanga Māori, and te Triti o Waitangi
Members:
| Gowan Duff (Chair) | Ani Undine Bennett |
| Paul David KC | Marie Taylor-Cyphers |
Commercial Bar Committee
The Commercial Bar Committee informs and advises the NZBA council on matters relevant to members of the Commercial Bar. The Commercial Bar consists of barristers who advise on commercial transactions or public law matters (such as inquiries and commissions) ;and who assist in the preparation of complex documentation. This is a specialist Bar, but one whose members are rarely if ever in court.
Most commercial advisory barristers have gone to the Independent Bar after careers in large law firms and/or government agencies. Invariably they have specialised in company law and business structures such as joint ventures, large and/or complex commercial transactions or contracts including construction and infrastructure project contracts and banking and securities law. Some went to the Bar and practised as advocacy barristers but have moved away from advocacy and into commercial and advisory work. Examples of work undertaken by a commercial barrister who falls into this category include advising on large-scale energy contracts, long-term pricing, credit rating applications, as well as advising overseas governments on energy resource development.
Their specialisation means they provide advice to smaller and/or non-metropolitan law firms whose clients do not typically undertake larger scale or complex transactions. Such law firms are comfortable instructing commercial barristers because they recognise that there is no risk of their clients being “poached”. Similarly, practising as barristers enables conflict referrals from the large law firms where their specialist skills are required.
Some practise as barristers because they can be instructed as subject matter specialists by in-house legal teams of large corporates, government departments and Crown entities. In many cases the in-house legal teams provide substantial resources to support an experienced and commercially aware senior practitioner.
Members:
| Stephen Layburn (Chair) | Debra Angus |
Criminal Committee
The Criminal Committee committee:
- considers issues related to the administration of criminal justice;
- assists the Council and Secretariat with public comments on matters that will affect both members and the wider public;
- works on law reform issues; and
- consults with the Education Committee, and in particular its training sub-committee, on training for members of the criminal bar.
Members:
| Ish Jayanandan (Co-Chair) | Rachael Reed KC (Co-Chair) |
| Kerryn Beaton KC | John Billington KC |
| Helen Coutts | Katie Hogan |
| Nicolette Levy KC | Robert Lithgow KC |
| Sarah Mandeno | Richard Marchant |
| Richard McGuire | Yvonne Mortimer-Wang |
| Emma Priest | Mark Ryan |
| Phil Shamy KC | Simon Shamy |
| Marie Taylor-Cyphers |
Diversity and Inclusion Committee
By developing initiatives and undertaking activities to mitigate against bias towards persons who have been traditionally underrepresented at Bar, the Diversity Committee intends to provide for the professional needs and aspirations of all persons at the independent Bar. The Diversity Committee will seek to promote inclusiveness at the Bar regardless of gender, ethnicity, religious belief, culture, and physical ability. The Committee will promote the independent Bar as an opportunity to all persons seeking to practice law and assist all persons to see the Bar as a viable career choice where they will be supported to have a fulfilling legal career. It:
- identifies people who as a group may be under-represented at the Bar;
- promotes inclusiveness at the Bar regardless of gender, ethnicity, culture, and physical ability;
- develops and reviews policies and initiatives to increase diversity and inclusion;
- promotes policy changes and initiatives across the wider profession; and
- raises awareness of and sensitivity in respect of cultural, ethnicity, gender, and physical needs or issues.
Members:
| Genevieve Haszard (Co-Chair) | Ish Jayanandan (Co-Chair) |
| Kellie Arthur | Nura Taefi KC |
| Aedeen Boadita-Cormican | Karen Feint KC |
| Jae Kim | Nick Malarao |
| Yvonne Mortimer-Wang | Kelly Quinn KC |
Education Committee
The Education - Training and CPD Sub-Committee has developed a syllabus that is based around providing quality, independent representation by the Bar. The NZBA focuses on the core skills that advocates need to successfully represent their clients, whether in dispute resolution situations or advice in the specialty Bars. We present practical CPD training in the form of seminars, workshops, webinars and online courses. The Committee:
- develops and maintains a syllabus aimed at fulfilling the needs of our members;
- presents practical CPD training;
- identifies skills and knowledge gaps of those at the various bars;
- offers assistance with CPD training;
- supports the other committees with training initiatives to enable them to achieve their goals.
Barristers and solicitors and in-house counsel are welcome at most NZBA training events.
Members:
| Christopher Gudsell KC (Co-Chair) | Nikki Pender (Co-Chair) |
| Rachael Reed KC (Co-Chair) | Shane Elliott |
| Stephanie Grieve KC | Michael Lennard |
| Stephanie Marsden | Richard McGuire |
| Kate Mills | Phil Shamy KC |
| Sarah Wroe | Daisy Williams |
| Garry Williams KC | Damian Chesterman |
Employment Law and Privacy Committee
Our Employment Law and Privacy Committee has been established to enhance and develop NZBA’s application and offering to barristers working in the area of Employment Law, Privacy, and related areas like Human Rights.
Employment barristers are highly experienced employment lawyers who have often worked as employment law partners or special counsels in large law firms and left to join the independent bar. As specialist barristers they can focus on courtroom advocacy, and act as independent workplace investigators and mediators.
The barristers listed below are specialist employment law and privacy barristers.
Members:
| Juliet Philpott (Co-Chair) | Jenni-Maree Trotman (Co-Chair) |
| Maria Austen | Rachel Burt |
| Vicki Campbell | Tim Clarke |
| Kathryn Dalziel | Geoff Davenport |
| Erin Davies | Maria Dew KC |
| Steph Dyhrberg | Tanya Kennedy |
| Shelley Kopu | Andrew Marsh |
| Karen Radich | Philip Skelton KC |
| Catherine Stewart | Ella Tait |
| Samantha Turner | Steve Wragg |
Family, Trusts and Estates Committee
Our Family Law Committee considers the needs of family barristers and how the Association can support their practice at the bar.
Members:
| Lynda Kearns KC (Chair) | Vivienne Crawshaw KC |
| Genevieve Haszard | Jo Hosking |
| Kathryn Lellman | Stephanie Marsden |
| Jacinda Rennie | Jennifer Wademan |
Junior Barrister Committee
The purpose of the New Zealand Bar Association Junior Barrister Committee is to foster and develop a strong and collegial network of junior barristers and barristers’ clerks throughout Aotearoa New Zealand. The Committee arranges social, educational and professional development events.
Members:
| Savanna Gaskell (Co-Chair) | Sarah Courtney (Co-Chair) |
| Jane Barrow | James Clark |
| Daniel Josephs | Diana Qiu |
| Liberty Soanes |
Management Committee
Management Committee monitors and assists with the day-to-day running of the Association.
Members:
| Paul David KC (Chair) | Maria Dew KC |
| Richard Raymond KC | Kellie Arthur |
| Phillip Cornegé | Tiho Mijatov |
| Jacqui Thompson (Exec Director) |
Membership Committee
This committee is involved in the Association's collegiality events, promotion of services and benefits to members, and promotion of the Association to prospective members. This committee:
- advises the Council on matters relating to members;
- promotes NZBA services and benefits for members;
- promotes membership of the organisation to those who qualify;
- considers the needs of the junior, advisory/commercial and specialist bars; and
- considers the needs of associate members.
Members:
| Kellie Arthur (Co-Chair) | Richard McGuire (Co-Chair) |
| Aedeen Boadita-Cormican | Gowan Duff |
| Savanna Gaskell | Kathryn Lydiard |
| Phil Shamy KC | Rosemary Thomson |
| Kishen Kommu |
Safety and Wellness Committee
The Safety and Wellness committee explores and establishes initiatives designed to promote the wellness and safety of our barristers inside and outside the court room. This includes hearing from our barristers, gathering information, establishing and promoting safety and wellness strategies, organising webinars, training, and online resources, and speaking to stakeholders to pursue and promote systemic change. The current focus of the committee is to understand and address:
- bullying, aggressive and threatening behaviour experienced in the workplace, including in the court room, and including by others in the profession and by clients;
- burnout and taking care of wairua (spirit, soul);
- courtroom safety
Members:
| Sarah Jerebine (Co-Chair) | Genevieve Haszard (Co-Chair) |
| Alice Strang | Gowan Duff |
Technology Committee
The Technology Committee supports the Council and Secretariat with advice on how technology can best be utilised by the Association, as well as reviewing developments within courts, tribunals and ADR. The Technology Committee:
- advises the Council on technology matters relevant to practice at the bar or to the Association’s own functions and practices;
- in consultation with the Education Committee, provides training on relevant litigation technologies; and
- advises and makes submissions on technology matters affecting the practice of law as it affects the bar, the administration of justice or access to justice.
Members:
| Phillip Cornegé (Chair) | Janette Campbell |
| Pauline Courtney | Scott Gazley |
| Felix Geiringer | Hon. David Harvey |
| Peter Kelly |