NZBA Council 2023-2025

MARIA DEW KC President (Auckland)

Maria Dew KC continues her term as president until October 2024. She is well known to members, not just through her expertise in employment law and inquiry work, but also through the mahi she does in championing access to justice issues.

Now that that focus is no longer on Covid, Maria has had more time to turn her attention to the recent Law Society Independent Review, re-establishing connections with our colleagues at the Australian Bar and leads the council on working to achieve the goals outlined in the strategic objectives set out for the remainder of her council term.

KELLIE ARTHUR (Auckland)

Ko Whitireia te maunga

Ko Parirua te awa

Ko Raukawa te moana

Ko Tainui te waka

Ko Ngāti Toa Rangatira te iwi

Ko Takapūwāhia te marae

He tangata whenua ahau, he Pākehā hoki

Kellie is a member of FortyEight Shortland Barristers in Tāmaki Makarau Auckland, and practises in civil and commercial litigation. She came to the Bar in 2018, from Chapman Tripp. Law is Kellie’s second career having previously worked in New Zealand and internationally, advising corporate clients on brand strategy.

This is Kellie’s second term on the Bar Council. She is co-chair of the Association’s Membership and Wellness Committee, and serves on the Diversity and Inclusion Committee.

Enhancing collegiality, diversity and inclusion at the bar is important to Kellie. She wants all lawyers and law students to be able to look at the bar, including the senior bar and King’s Counsel, and see themselves. Improving diversity happens in incremental steps. But continuing to improve diversity and inclusion at the bar is imperative if we want a strong and vital bar that is relevant to, and reflective of, the society we serve.

Kellie is also committed to working within the Bar Council in its objectives of providing professional and collegial support to its members so that we all feel supported in our work and are able to practice well. In her time on Council Kellie has worked to deliver several initiatives focused on diversity and collegiality.

These include a joint NZBA/AWLA panel discussion –Women at the Bar. She has assisted with collegiality events in South Auckland and organised the Association’s first breakfast event (to enable members who cannot attend after-work events to catch up and network with colleagues). Kellie is the NZBA/AUT mooting competition liaison. NZBA’s sponsorship of this competition promotes the Association and the Bar to a diverse cohort of law students (and hopefully future barristers).

Kellie has represented the Association in meetings with the judiciary and external contractors and will continue to meet with representatives of other associations, including the Pacific Lawyers Association, to see how our respective associations can collaborate for mutual benefit.

JOHN BILLINGTON KC (Auckland)

John joined the independent bar in 1989. At the time he was a council member of the Wellington District Law Society. He became a member of the New Zealand Bar Association Council in the early 1990s.

In 2000 John moved his practice from Wellington to Shortland Chambers, Auckland. During his time in Auckland he has acted for the ADLS, the NZLS, and been a member of the NZLS Culture Change Review Panel. More recently John has contributed to the NZLS Independent Review Panel.

John has an interest in Tikanga and Te Tiriti issues which he feels need to be part of the broader jurisprudence which guides our practise. He is passionate about more work being done around diversity in the profession and feels as a profession we collectively need to consider the representative and regulatory function debate.

Throughout his time in practice, he has been vitally interested in the place the broader law profession occupies in our community, and specifically a role of the bar. It is this interest which prompted him to stand for the Bar Council again this year with the hope that he will be in a position to assist the bar in navigating the changes the profession will have to confront.

VICTORIA CASEY KC (Wellington)

Victoria joined the Bar Council as a Wellington representative in September 2021 and will remain on the Bar Council for the upcoming term. She has previously served as the Chair of the Law Society’s Human Rights Committee, presented on numerous aspects of public and administrative law, and provided pro bono representation on matters of public interest.

Victoria recognises the importance of the Bar Association providing collegial support as well as professional leadership, and has a special interest in supporting junior members of the Bar to progress in ways that work best for them. She believes that acknowledging the value of non-traditional career paths will help improve the diversity of the profession.

PHILLIP CORNEGÉ (Waikato/Bay of Plenty)

Phillip is in his third term on Council and is an active member of the Association’s Technology and Education Committees. He is the Association’s Treasurer and Secretary and has been in that role for the past two terms.

Phillip is an experienced litigator, providing advice and representation on a range of civil, criminal, and public law matters. He also acts for defendants in regulatory and professional disciplinary proceedings, and before sporting (including racing) disciplinary bodies.

Phillip has worked as in-house counsel as well as in the litigation departments of Bell Gully and Minter Ellison Rudd Watts and Almao Douch (Hamilton Crown Solicitor). Phillip came to the bar in 2014. He is a member of Riverbank Chambers in Hamilton.

PAUL DAVID KC President-Elect (Auckland)

Paul joins the council as PresidentElect. He began his career at the Bar of England and Wales. He moved to Aotearoa New Zealand, where from 1990 he worked at Russell McVeagh, later becoming a partner. In 2002, he and some colleagues founded Wilson Harle. Paul joined the independent bar in 2006 and the Bar Association in 2014, the same year he took Silk.

Paul’s practice is primarily commercial law and his areas of specialist practice are maritime and sports law.

Paul has dedicated himself to the ethical independent practice of law throughout his career, and is passionate about the importance of the role of the bar for the proper working of civil society. He is committed to the development of young lawyers.

Paul believes that the Bar Association will need to consider the potentially far-reaching consequences for the profession of the changes proposed by the Independent Review and also consider its current rules and objectives under the new Incorporated Societies Act.

Paul looks forward to joining the Council, listening to members’ current concerns and working with the Council on how to address issues like court backlogs, an overall increase in the demands imposed by cases and increasing technological challenges, as well as the public concern of access to justice. The Association can play an important role in all parts of the dispute resolution process for the benefit of all.

SAVANNA GASKELL Junior Barrister Representative (Otago/ Southland)

Savanah is a Junior Barrister at Barristers Chambers in Dunedin, where she works for three senior barristers. Her work spans several practice areas, including criminal, civil & commercial, family, resource management, mental health and ACC.

Savanna is passionate about promoting opportunities for junior barristers, and increasing the profile of the junior bar in Aotearoa. She is a member of the Junior Barristers sub-committee on council.

Savanna believes the NZBA has a vital role to play in fostering collegiality among its members, and providing support— particularly in light of recent concerns about the wellbeing of the profession. This includes advocating for members in relation to the NZLS Independent Review and ongoing Law Society reforms. She looks forward to working with Council as we navigate these changes.

GENEVIEVE HASZARD (Waikato/Bay of Plenty)

Genevieve joined the Bar Council in September 2021 as one of the two Waikato/Bay of Plenty District representatives. Her primary practice base is in Tauranga and Te Puke but as a member of Kate Sheppard Chambers she has a national reach and often acts for clients outside the Tauranga region on various criminal, civil, family and coronial matters. Genevieve’s Bar Council role allows her to contribute to the broader functions and work of the NZ Bar Association. Genevieve is particularly interested in assisting with the work of the Bar Council in upholding the rule of law, law reform in the area of criminal and family law and practical ways to improve access to justice and the legal aid framework. In addition, Genevieve is an advocate for the continued development of a positive culture of practicing well, ensuring our bar members remain resilient and healthy and improving the diversity and inclusiveness of the independent bar and the legal profession generally. Genevieve is a member of our Conference Committee and is the current co-chair of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee.

SARAH JEREBINE (Auckland)

Sarah joined the bar four years ago. She has practised law for over 20 years, both in private practice at large firms, and as Crown Counsel at the Crown Law Office. She enjoys being a barrister, including the challenges and freedoms, and the community, that life at the independent bar brings. She stood for the Bar Council to give back some of the support she has received, and to help build and strengthen our legal community.

Sarah specialises in civil litigation and public law, bringing claims for and against the state. As part of her practice, she also accepts a number of counsel assisting appointments, often dealing with access to justice, poverty, youth offending, prisoners’ claims, and uplift of children by the state, which she sees as critically important areas of the law. Sarah is an active member of the New Zealand Law Society, sitting on its Rule of Law Committee, and holds a representative role as a council member for the Auckland Branch of the NZLS.

RICHARD MCGUIRE Associate Member Rep (Canterbury)

Richard has been with the Public Defence Service since 2011. Prior to this time he was a director in a firm in Christchurch where he had a general practice, including a focus on criminal defence law, and family law. He held appointments as lawyer for child and youth advocate. He is a former President of the Canterbury Criminal Bar Association. Richard is a member of the NZBA Criminal Committee, Membership Committee and the Access to Justice Committee and is currently working on refreshing the mentoring programme for the Bar Association.

TIHO MIJATOV (Wellington)

Tiho is a barrister at Stout Street Chambers, Wellington. He has experience in a wide range of commercial, public law, criminal and disciplinary matters and regularly appears in courts at first instance and on appeal. Tiho has been involved with the NZBA for several years. His work has included preparation of legal submissions for the NZBA’s intervention in court cases; law reform submissions on matters as varied as access to justice civil reforms, evidence, and professional rules; and guidance on public comment and media statements on rule of law issues. Tiho looks forward to the NZBA continuing to promote the practice of law at the independent bar.

RICHARD RAYMOND KC (Canterbury)

Richard graduated with a BCom LLB from the University of Otago in 1988. He then worked in commercial litigation in leading Wellington and London firms before returning to New Zealand and the Crown Solicitor’s Office in Christchurch in 1993. He was appointed Senior Crown Counsel and was an Associate of Raymond Donnelly & Co.

In 1997 Richard joined the litigation team at Duncan Cotterill and became a partner in 1998. He led a large team of litigators and built a significant commercial and insurance litigation practice. He was on the firm’s Board for several years and served as Chairman before joining the independent bar in 2011.

Richard was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 2016. He has held several governance roles with various organisations and for the past four years been part of a new initiative in the Canterbury Westland region of NZLS with a sole focus on the well-being of practitioners. This has included the development of extensive programmes for junior and intermediate solicitors which have now been rolled out across New Zealand.

Richard will be looking for opportunities to introduce similar initiatives for junior members of the bar across regions which to date may not have had the same access to the courses which have been established.

As with others on the council, Richard is looking forward to the challenges which will present in the coming years with the proposed changes to the structure of how lawyers may be regulated in New Zealand and continue promoting the benefits of the NZBA and collegiality in the profession.

RACHAEL REED KC (Auckland)

Rachael practices at the intersection of criminal and civil law, primarily concentrating on acting for clients charged with fraud, financial or regulatory crimes or facing civil proceedings arising from similar allegations. She continues to conduct a few legal aid assignments a year around her other commitments.

Currently her pro bono work includes acting for two clients leading the Dilworth Class Action Group for survivors of sexual abuse at Dilworth.

Rachael’s previous roles have included President of Auckland Women Lawyers Association, five years on an Auckland Standards Committee (as a member and as convenor) and she is currently on the Friends Panel (sensitive issues) for NZLS. She sits on tribunals and conducts advocacy training internationally.

All of this experience she looks forward to bringing to her work on the Bar Council to strive to make a difference. Rachael is very committed to the Bar and the development of junior barristers through its ranks. Rachael is based in Auckland at City Chambers and has been since 2012.

TIM STEPHENS (Wellington)

Tim joined the independent bar in 2017 at Stout Street Chambers after being a partner for eleven years at Simpson Grierson. He has been a lawyer for over 25 years, including time working in London and obtaining the BCL at Oxford.

At the bar, Tim has a broad commercial, regulatory, and public law litigation practice. He has appeared at all levels of the New Zealand courts and in numerous arbitrations on behalf of clients ranging from Ministers, regulators, and listed companies, to SMEs, family trusts, and individuals. He has been counsel assisting coronial inquiries and is counsel for the Crown in the Porirua ki Manawatū Inquiry, which is the last major historical inquiry before the Waitangi Tribunal.

Tim also acts on pro bono and legal aid cases. He appeared for NZLS as intervener in the proceedings

brought by Andrew Borrowdale challenging the legality of the first lockdown in 2020. Last year, he acted on legal aid for two prisoners in a successful challenge to the rates of earnings set by the Minister of Corrections for work carried out in prison.

Tim has recently resigned from his role as the Convenor of the Law Reform Committee of NZLS, and is looking forward to his time on the Bar Council. He hopes to promote the values of NZBA and the perspective of our sector in legislative and policy-making processes, particularly in ensuring that the anticipated new regulatory regime for lawyers is fit-for-purpose for the modern bar.

OFFICERS AND CO-OPTED COUNCIL MEMBERS

Our Rules of Association allow the Council to coopt up to five members to the council to meet certain needs. Co-opted members will be appointed when the new Council meets for the first time in October. The Council will also appoint the office holders, including the Vice-Presidents, Treasurer and Secretary, at that meeting.

If you have any questions, please contact our Executive Director via our website contact form at https://www.nzbar.org.nz/contact-nzba