9:30am

Registration
Coffee and tea on arrival

10:00am

Mihi whakatau and conference opening from President
Sponsor Introductions

10:40am

Keynote 1 - The independent bar
Nigel Hampton KC
Introduced by Anne Toohey

Senior King’s Counsel, Nigel Hampton, will reflect on the growth of the independent bar and outline his vision for its future.

11:30am

Balancing work and life differently
Dr Joanna Prendergast
Chair: Clive Elliott KC
Introduced by Genevieve Haszard

Psychiatrist, Comedian and author Dr Joanna Prendergast talks with Clive Elliott about When Life Sucks and creativity as a tool for well-being.

12:30pm

Lunch

1:30pm

A different approach to accessing civil justice 
Hon Raynor Asher KC
Darryn Aitchison
Gabrielle O’Brien
Dr Bridgette Toy-Cronin
Felix Geiringer (Chair)

In 2022, a Working Group of people passionate about improving access to justice presented a draft national strategy to coordinate and strengthen the efforts to deliver access to civil justice for all. The panel were members of the group, and they will share the ideas gleaned from that process.

2:30pm

A different approach to the New Zealand Law Society| Te  Kāhui Ture o Aotearoa
John Billington KC
Maria Dew KC
Frazer Barton
Baden Vertongen
Peter Dunning KC (Chair)

The Independent Review of the regulatory framework for legal services promotes a “once in a generation” series of changes that will change legal practice for all.  Our panel considers the impact of these and whether the profession itself can remain independent.

3:30pm

Afternoon tea

4:00pm

Different approaches to criminal evidence and procedure 
The Hon. Justice Mathew Downs
Kerryn Beaton KC
Anne Toohey

Pressure to better accommodate the needs of complainants, evolving science, improving understanding of memory and bias. Criminal law is never static. The panel will highlight new developments and discuss their effect (for better or worse) on trials.

5:30pm

Casual drinks and canapés - Chateau on the Park Hotel

Wind up the first day of the conference by joining us for casual drinks and canapes.

8:30am

Different approaches to civil evidence 
Toby Landau KC (over video)
Leigh-Ann Mulcahy KC (over video)
Jack Pembroke-Birss
Lauren Lindsay (Chair)

International barristers Toby Landau KC, Leigh-Ann Mulcahy KC and Jack Pembroke-Birss join Lauren Lindsay to share ideas from around the world on more effective ways to present evidence in civil proceedings.

9:30am