Welcome to Lawlink's collection of publications.
As part of our service, we produce a range of legal publications designed to alert our members' clients to legal developments that may affect their businesses.
You can use the search box on the right to carry out a text search of all the publications on our website.
Attention landlords and tenants!
Summer 2010
The government has brought in several changes to the Residential Tenancies Act 1986 (the 'principal Act'). The principal Act applies to all residential tenancies, except as specifically provided. The vehicle of change is the Residential Tenancies Amendment Act 2010 (the 'amendment Act'). As most of the changes made by the amendment Act are effective as of 1 October 2010, landlords and tenants may wish to take note of them now. Voon Kong, a solicitor with Gibson Sheat, looks at the some of these changes.
Setting yourself up for success: What you should know about shareholder agreements
Summer 2010
Everyone who embarks on a new business venture does so full of optimism, but often gives little thought to what will happen if things go wrong, or if their circumstances change and they want to withdraw from the business. Arguably the most important aspect in the amount of money shareholders receive when they leave a business is the shareholding decisions made when the business is started. To set yourself up for success - or at least guard against the consequences of failure - Scott Wight, an associate at Gascoigne Wicks, discusses what should be considered when entering into a shareholder agreement.
Warranties under the agreement for sale and purchase
Summer 2010
The recent Supreme Court decision in Property Ventures Investments Limited v Regalwood Holdings Limited [2010] NZSC 47 clarifies an important aspect of law relating to land transactions, namely whether a purchaser is required to settle in full or at a reduced amount in the event of a breach of a vendor warranty at the time of settlement. The eighth edition of the Auckland District Law Society/Real Estate Institute of New Zealand form of Agreement for Sale and Purchase of Real Estate has been revised as a result of the Regalwood decision. Robert Huse, an associate with Anderson Lloyd, details this important change.
Avoid the 'name and shame' campaign
Summer 2010
The 90 day trial period is one of the 'hot topics' for employment law. It has been discussed widely by the media in both a positive and negative light. Despite the mass media coverage, a recent Department of Labour study found that the majority of employers surveyed lacked detailed knowledge of how a trial period worked. This lack of knowledge and a fear of getting things wrong have meant that many business owners choose not to take advantage of the 90 day trial period. Judith Collins, a solicitor with Webb Ross, asks 'So what are the tips for getting it right?'
Employers urged to review recruitment procedures in light of new immigration laws
Summer 2010
In this article, Mike McMellon, a partner at Pitt & Moore, considers new obligations for employers under the Immigration Act 2009 which comes into effect on 29 November 2010. These changes will warrant a review of recruitment processes. There are significant penalties for employers who get it wrong.
Amendments to the REINZ/ADLS sale and purchase Agreement
Summer 2010
The most important contract many New Zealanders will ever sign is the contract for the sale and purchase of their family home. The most commonly used standard form contract for this purpose is the REINZ/ADLS sale and purchase Agreement. The Real Estate Institute and the Auckland District Law Society recently carried out a comprehensive review of the Agreement and made some amendments (one big change and the rest relatively small). Paul Kirby, a solicitor with Gibson Sheat, outlines these changes.
Record keeping and our limitation laws
Summer 2010
How will changes to our limitation laws affect you? Charlene Sell, a solicitor with Wynn Williams & Co, discusses the impact of our new limitation laws on your business's record keeping procedures.
Financial services and financial advisers - the game is changing
Summer 2010
If you provide any one of a wide range of financial services, Marie Callander, a solicitor with Auld Brewer Mazengarb & McEwen, advises that you need to be ready to comply with a new regulatory regime by 1 December 2010.