Judicial directions to a jury – including the new ‘misconceptions’ directions (CPD 1.5 hr)

Nicolette Levy KC

Nicolette has been at the bar for nearly 30 years, taking silk in 2019.  Building on wide experience in Courts and Tribunals at all levels, she now specialises in criminal appellate work, complex relationship property, family property (wills and trusts), disciplinary matters, and general civil litigation.  She is also building up experience in investigations, and seminar presentations.

She has been appointed amicus curiae (counsel to assist the Court) in the District Court, High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court, in both civil and criminal matters.  This year she is living in Wanaka with her family for a lifestyle change.
 

Rob Stevens 

Rob was admitted to the Bar in 1986 and spent 25 years practicing as a Barrister and Solicitor specialising in criminal law in Wellington before moving to Tauranga in 2012 to open the Tauranga Office of the Public Defence Service.  Appointed to the role of Public Defender Northern in 2013,then Deputy Director Legal in January 2024, Rob will return to the private bar in June 2024 as a Barrister.

Rob has appeared as lead counsel in all NZ courts, including the Supreme Court, and represented clients charged with the full range of criminal offences, including murder.

Rob was a member of the New Zealand Bar Association Council from 2017 to 2019.  He is currently a member of the NZLS Access to Justice Committee (previously called the Legal Services Committee) where he has served on and off over the past 14 years, and was an inaugural member of the Legal Aid Tribunal in 2011 and 2012.  He was a member of the Te Matakahi (Defence Lawyers Association NZ) Steering Committee in 2020 and was subsequently elected to the Leadership Team which he remains a member of.

Sam Wimsett

Sam is an experienced courtroom advocate specialising in criminal and disciplinary proceedings. He appears in Courts and Tribunals all over New Zealand on a variety of matters. At any given time, his caseload includes charges alleging homicide, rape, class A drugs, serious fraud, and professional misconduct.

Prior to joining the bar, Sam worked as a Crown Prosecutor in Auckland and for commercial law firms in Wellington and Canberra. In 2008, he was awarded a Pegasus Scholarship and spent time in the United Kingdom working with top barristers and Judges. In more recent times, Sam has travelled to the United States and undertaken advocacy training with voice and acting coaches.

Katie Hogan (Chair)

Katie graduated in 2000 and joined Meredith Connell in 2006 becoming an Associate in 2012. With her young family she then moved to Samoa where she was legal consultant to the Attorney-General.  At the same time, Katie was part of the team that successfully bid for the new Manukau Crown Solicitor’s warrant. She returned to New Zealand and began working for Kayes Fletcher Walker as a senior Crown prosecutor in late 2015. Katie joined the Independent Bar in 2018.  She has in excess of 18 years’ trial experience and works for prosecuting entities and defendants in a wide spectrum of cases.  Criminal Proceeds is a particular specialty of Katie’s. She serves on the NZ Bar Association Criminal Committee, the NZLS Litigation Skills Programme and is a member of a number of prosecution panels (Serious Fraud Office, WorkSafe, Commerce Commissioner Cartel).