Mary Peters appointed as Judge of the High Court

Bankside Chambers is proud to announce that Mary Peters has been appointed a Judge of the High Court. Mary graduated with an LLB from Victoria University in 1985. She practised with Russell McVeagh in Auckland between 1995 and 2004, being made partner in 1997. She joined the bar in 2004. Mary will be sworn in at Auckland on 20 August 2010 and will join former Bankside Chambers’ members Justice Stevens and Justice Woodhouse sitting in Auckland.

Sir Ian Barker QC appointed as President of Cook Islands Court of Appeal, Tom Weston QC as Chief Justice of High Court, David Williams QC to Court of Appeal

After several years as a judge of the Cook Islands Court of Appeal, Sir Ian Barker QC has been appointed as its President. David Williams QC will join Sir Ian as a permanent member of that Court after six years of service as Chief Justice of the High Court. Tom Weston QC, who recently joined Bankside Chambers and has served as a judge of the High Court for some four years, has replaced David Williams as Chief Justice. The new appointments took effect in May and June 2010.

Kate Davenport and Maria Dew appointed to High Court Panel of Mediators

Kate Davenport and Maria Dew have been appointed to the first Panel of Mediators for a pilot private mediation scheme at the Auckland High Court. The Panel is comprised of fifteen experienced legal practitioners who are all qualified and experienced in mediation. The pilot commenced in November 2009 and is aimed at reducing the number of full hearings in order to free up judicial time and hopefully to lead to the faster resolution of disputes.

Peter Watts’ “Directors’ Powers and Duties” wins Book Award

Professor Peter Watts’ new book Directors' Powers and Duties has been awarded the JF Northey Memorial Book Award for 2009. The annual award is the Legal Research Foundation’s prize for best book published by a New Zealand-based author, and is widely regarded as the premier legal writing award in New Zealand.

Rebecca Edwards admitted to practice in Cook Islands

Rebecca Edwards has been permanently admitted to practice as a barrister of the High Court of the Cook Islands. Rebecca has practiced in that jurisdiction since 2003, and has frequently appeared before the Cook Islands High Court and Court of Appeal.

Simon Mount appointed Director of the Legal Research Foundation

Simon Mount, a recent addition to Bankside Chambers, has been appointed Director of the Legal Research Foundation. Simon has been a member of the Foundation’s Council since 1994, and regards the Foundation as an important link between the profession, the University of Auckland Law Faculty, and the judiciary. As director he will be seeking to maintain the Foundation’s excellent record of promoting law reform, scholarship and high-level research across a broad range of legal topics.

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.

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.

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.