CPD Points: 1
Starts: 5:00pm Thursday, 14 Aug 2025
Ends: 6:00pm Thursday, 14 Aug 2025
Location: Zoom
View MapGroup Pricing 10-15: $450.00
Group Pricing 2-4: $250.00
Group Pricing 5-9: $350.00
Member: $0.00 Members Free
Non-Member Ticket: $75.00
Join us for this webinar presented by Judge Noel Sainsbury, Janine Bonifant and chaired by Mike Lennard, where they will share insights on how to present effective and compelling pleas in mitigation.
The webinar is designed to be a practical “how-to” session, where our panel will present the perspectives from both the advocate and the judge.
Topics covered will include:
· Sentencing Purposes under the Sentencing Act 2002
· The Principle of Totality
· Hessell/Moses Methodology
· Categories of Mitigating Factors – offender related, offence related and external factors
· Practical Advocacy - Structuring a Mitigation Plea; using documents and supporting evidence
· Anticipating and Addressing Aggravating Factors
· Ethical and Professional Issues – duties to client and court and managing unrealistic client expectations
· Common Pitfalls
The webinar is aimed at Junior and Intermediate practitioners, as well as those looking for a refresher on pleas in mitigation.
Event Speakers
His Honour Judge Noel Sainsbury
Judge Sanisbury is a Judge at the Wellington District Court, with both jury and civil warrants. Formerly a barrister with a specialisation in criminal law and disciplinary tribunal cases, His Honour is also a member of the Crown Panel for Wellington.
Judge Sanisbury is a Judge at the Wellington District Court, with both jury and civil warrants. Formerly a barrister with a specialisation in criminal law and disciplinary tribunal cases, His Honour is also a member of the Crown Panel for Wellington.
Janine Bonifant
Janine is an experienced barrister with a diverse litigation background. She began her legal career in Taranaki and later moved to Hamilton, where she served as a Crown Prosecutor. Janine then took on the role of Deputy at the newly established Tasman Crown Solicitor’s office before transitioning to defence work as the Deputy Public Defender in Wellington. Returning to the independent Bar, Janine brought with her extensive experience from both public and private sectors. She has also contributed to the legal community through her involvement in various New Zealand Law Society committees. Janine holds a BA/LLB from the University of Victoria.
Janine is an experienced barrister with a diverse litigation background. She began her legal career in Taranaki and later moved to Hamilton, where she served as a Crown Prosecutor. Janine then took on the role of Deputy at the newly established Tasman Crown Solicitor’s office before transitioning to defence work as the Deputy Public Defender in Wellington. Returning to the independent Bar, Janine brought with her extensive experience from both public and private sectors. She has also contributed to the legal community through her involvement in various New Zealand Law Society committees. Janine holds a BA/LLB from the University of Victoria.
Mike Lennard (Chair)
Mike Lennard is a leading litigation lawyer specialising in tax and commercial disputes, criminal proceeds litigation and serious fraud defence. With eight years as a Crown prosecutor and civil litigation lawyer, eight years as head of litigation for Inland Revenue, and over two decades at the independent bar, he is recognised both in New Zealand and internationally.
He contributes to training programmes, has taught at the University of Auckland, and is a member of the NZLS Taxation Committee. Mike regularly writes for "Taxation Today" and other Thomson Reuters texts, and has represented New Zealand at the International Fiscal Association. He frequently speaks at conferences on tax disputes and administrative law.
Mike Lennard is a leading litigation lawyer specialising in tax and commercial disputes, criminal proceeds litigation and serious fraud defence. With eight years as a Crown prosecutor and civil litigation lawyer, eight years as head of litigation for Inland Revenue, and over two decades at the independent bar, he is recognised both in New Zealand and internationally.
He contributes to training programmes, has taught at the University of Auckland, and is a member of the NZLS Taxation Committee. Mike regularly writes for "Taxation Today" and other Thomson Reuters texts, and has represented New Zealand at the International Fiscal Association. He frequently speaks at conferences on tax disputes and administrative law.