David Williams QC appointed University of Auckland's first Honorary Professor of Law

The Faculty of Law at The University of Auckland has appointed David A.R. Williams QC as its first Honorary Professor. Professor Williams is a long standing lecturer at the University, having variously taught taxation, evidence, medico-legal problems, and environmental law, as well as many arbitration courses on a part-time basis since 1967.

The Dean of Law, Professor Paul Rishworth, says the Faculty is delighted to have attracted Professor Williams to its senior ranks. "His experience and knowledge will strengthen our teaching and research in international arbitration as well as in his other specialist fields." Professor Williams will continue to teach an LLM course in international arbitration and will take other courses by arrangement.

Bankside members among first New Zealanders to attend ABA Advanced Advocacy Course

In January 2010, chambers members Rebecca Edwards and Jane Glover attended the Australian Bar Association Advanced Advocacy Course in Brisbane. The week-long course has been run each year since 2007, but this was the first year New Zealand barristers were invited to intend. The course involves intensive practice sessions and critiques of key advocacy skills, such as opening addresses, examination in chief, cross examination and closing submissions. The New Zealand attendees' contributions were praised, and the invitation is likely to be extended again next year.

Professor Peter Watts launches Directors' Powers and Duties; a "consummate work of scholarship"

Professor Peter Watts has published Directors' Powers and Duties, described by the Chief Justice Dame Sian Elias at the book's launch on 25 November as "a consummate work of scholarship".

Published by Lexis Nexis, the text provides practitioners and students with a full treatment of one of the most important and complex aspects of company law: directors' powers and duties, and touches knowledgeably upon the law of agency, fiduciaries, equitable remedies, the treatment of knowledge and recklessness, and much more. Directors' Powers and Duties is available at legal bookshops, and can also be bought online.