Pleadings matter (CPD 1.5 hrs)

5:00pm Wednesday, 20 November 2024
6:30pm Wednesday, 20 November 2024
CPD Training
At your desk
online online
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New Zealand

Regardless of your experience, your pleadings will always come under scrutiny.

We invite you to participate in our upcoming webinar with panelists Sarah Armstrong KC, Charlotte Griffin and Brent O'Callahan, (chaired by Stephen Mills KC), where we will delve into the critical importance of pleadings in shaping your case. This expert panel will discuss how effective pleadings serve as your first opportunity to persuade and influence the fact-finder's perception of your client’s situation.

Key Highlights:

  • Expert Insights: Join Stephen, along with Sarah, Charlotte, and Brent as they share their experiences and strategies for crafting compelling pleadings.
  • Understanding Impact: Learn about the significant role pleadings play in the legal process and how they can influence the outcome of your case, especially in light of the proposed procedural reforms for general civil proceedings outlined in the Rules Committee’s November 2022 report, "Improving Access to Civil Justice."
  • Common Pitfalls: Our presenters will highlight the risks of inadequate pleadings and how mistakes can be detrimental and difficult to repair.
  • Practical Tips: Gain valuable insights into the best practices for drafting pleadings, including how to maintain clarity, focus on key issues, the rules regarding the pleading of “particulars”, and the relevance of filing a “Reply”.

Whether you’re new to litigation or looking to refine your skills, this webinar will equip you with essential tools to ensure your pleadings are effective and best reflect what your case is all about.

Our Presenters

 

Stephen Mills KC (Chair)

Stephen was a barrister and Kings Counsel based at Shortland Chambers in Auckland until his retirement in 2022.  Before he retired, Stephen specialised in contract and commercial law, public law and defamation. For several years, he led the cases brought by the Commerce Commission to test and clarify the effect of the CCCFA. He has extensive experience in structural engineering disputes, in part as a result of his appointment as counsel assisting the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Canterbury Earthquakes, where he led the hearing on the collapse of the CTV Building. His practice involved both trial and appellate work. 

Stephen has kindly agreed to join us as chair of this presentation.

 

Sarah Armstrong KC

Sarah is a commercial litigation specialist practising from Shortland Chambers in Auckland. She has over two decades of experience in New Zealand and the UK.  

Sarah joined the independent bar in 2020 and is active across a broad range of commercial disputes, including company and securities law, banking and financial regulatory investigations, complex contract and tort claims, competition and fair trading.  Before joining the bar, Sarah was a partner in Russell McVeagh’s litigation practice for 12 years.

Sarah was appointed to the rank of King’s Counsel in 2024.  

 

Charlotte Griffin

Charlotte has practised as a civil litigation and public law specialist for the past 20 years. She leads trials and appeals at all levels of the Courts and has particular expertise in human rights, tort and public law damages claims, prison and parole law, and immigration and refugee proceedings. With broad experience in sensitive claims involving historic abuse of vulnerable persons, such as prisoners, children in state care/faith-based institutions, and those involved in mental health proceedings, Charlotte has dealt extensively with self-represented litigants in distressing and complex matters. Prior to joining the Independent Bar in 2015, Charlotte practised for ten years at the Crown Law Office and earlier in private practice and teaching roles. She is a District Inspector for Mental Health. She founded Kate Sheppard Chambers with Isabella Clarke, now Aotearoa’s third largest and only nationwide set of barristers’ chambers, focussed on supporting women lead at the Bar.

 

Brent O'Callahan

Over almost 30 years Brent has had a wide and varied advocacy practice in the senior courts with a particular reputation in professional negligence, securities, equity, trusts and international asset recovery.  This has included one of the longest running and most complex multi-jurisdictional cases to ever run through the New Zealand courts, including participation in overseas hearings and trials.  In terms of pleadings, he has seen it all, including how pleadings fare as they come under scrutiny from intermediate and final appellate courts both here and overseas.

 

This webinar is free to members of the NZBA 

Register using your NZBA email login to get the member price of $0.

Please Register below, visit your Cart, and follow all steps through to Place Order.  If you have successfully registered, you will receive a confirmation email with instructions on how to join the webinar. Please ensure you follow these to register on the Zoom platform and can therefore join on the day (or receive the recording, which will be available later). 

If you have any problems, please contact us.

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Contact Information

If you have trouble registering for this event please contact the organiser

 

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Additional Information

This webinar is free to all members.

Group Pricing

Group pricing is available to non members as follows:

  • 3-4 attendees - $200.00 
  • 5-9 attendees - $350.00
  • 10-15 attendees - $470.00
  • 16-30 attendees - $650.00
  • 31-50 attendees - $850.00
  • 51 plus attendees - price available on request

To take advantage of group pricing contact us

 

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