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New $10 million environmental fines: What dairy farmers and SMEs need to know

By: Neil Beadle and Finlay Watson What has changed? New Zealand’s Resource Management Act’s new maximum fine of $10 million for corporate offenders has attracted significant attention.1 For large corporates, the message from New Zealand Parliament appears clear. What was once a $600,000 maximum fine has become $10 million. The intent is plainly to expose serious […]

By : Tracey Govind Aug 14, 2026 Comments Off

Case Alerts

New Zealand Court of Appeal clarifies trustee discretion and duty of care

By: Mathew Francis, Rebecca Scott, James Dymock and Alison Cupples Perpetual Trust Ltd v Cooke [2026] NZCA 349 Background Mrs Cooke died in March 2017. Her two adult children (Mr Cooke and Mrs Panhuis) were the original executors of the estate and trustees of the testamentary trusts established by her will. The estate’s main assets […]

By : Tracey Govind Aug 13, 2026 Comments Off

WK News

Get to know Lucille Stewart: Special Counsel in WK’s Adelaide office

We recently caught up with Lucille Stewart, Wotton Kearney’s newest Special Counsel in Adelaide, about her move to the firm, her South Australian insurance experience, and what she is looking forward to in her new role. The strategic appointment of Lucille as Special Counsel in WK’s General Liability group builds on the strength of the […]

By : Joshua Weiler Aug 12, 2026 Comments Off

Thought Leadership

New Zealand’s Lawyers and Conveyancers Act 2006: A new complaints framework

By: Filip Nikolic, Mathew Francis, Emily Whiteside and Alison Cupples Introduction On 9 July 2026, the Regulatory Systems (Occupational Regulation) Amendment Bill received Royal Assent, introducing a series of targeted amendments to New Zealand’s Lawyers and Conveyancers Act 2006 (LCA). The changes are primarily designed to improve the efficiency of the complaints process and strengthen the […]

By : Joshua Weiler Aug 11, 2026 Comments Off

Case Alerts

Bondi Icebergs founder Maurice Terzini, Nine and the new privacy tort

By: Leah Mooney, Georgie Austin and Isabelle Ferrali Introduction Bondi Icebergs founder Maurice Terzini has commenced proceedings in the NSW Supreme Court against Nine Entertainment and his former wife, Emma Addams, in what could be the first substantial case invoking the newly legislated tort of serious invasion of privacy. According to the statement of claim, Terzini […]

By : Joshua Weiler Aug 5, 2026 Comments Off

Thought Leadership

D&O, Financial Institutions and Regulatory Update (to May 2026)

By: Antony Holden, Caroline Laband, Michael Cavanaugh and Sophia Lynch We’re excited to share our first update for 2026 in the D&O, Financial Institutions and Regulatory environment. The aim of these regular updates is to help you stay ahead of fast-moving changes. This snapshot distils the decisions, enforcement action and reform momentum that we think […]

By : Charlene Bungara May 28, 2026 Comments Off

Case Alerts

ASIC’s case against the directors of Star Entertainment: directors’ duties through a modern lens

By: Yen Seah and Bella Marazita ASIC v Bekier (Liability Judgment) [2026] FCA 196 If you read nothing else, read this: The Federal Court’s 500-page liability judgment in ASIC v Bekier delivers a clear message for directors and officers: passive oversight is not enough. Executives must escalate serious risks – failing to act on red flags can breach […]

By : Joshua Weiler Mar 17, 2026 Comments Off

Case Alerts

Another first for the Victorian GCO regime: Varying a Group Costs Order

By: Amanda Beattie, Jonathon Ferraro and Madeleine Wright Byrnes v Origin Energy (No 2) 2026 VSC 97 Another first for the Victorian GCO regime In a judgment delivered by Justice Waller on 11 March 2026, the Supreme Court of Victoria determined the first application to amend a Group Costs Order (GCO) pursuant to s 33ZDA(1) […]

By : Joshua Weiler Mar 13, 2026 Comments Off

Case Alerts

Court of Appeal finds trusts are criminally liable under HSWA: What are the implications for insurers?

By: Misha Heneghan, Richie Flinn, Neil Beadle, Matt Hutcheson and the WK Statutory Liability team. RH and JY Trust v WorkSafe New Zealand [2026] NZCA 12 The Court of Appeal has, by majority found that a trust, distinct from the individual trustees, can be prosecuted under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015. The […]

By : Joshua Weiler Feb 24, 2026 Comments Off

Thought Leadership

Federal or State? Understanding the Powers and Limits of Royal Commissions

By: Georgie Austin, Clare McNamara and Zoe Jones At a glance On 8 January 2026, the Governor-General issued draft Letters Patent establishing a Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion. The Commission has been tasked with addressing issues set out in its Terms of Reference, which are wide-ranging and encompass not only the terror event itself, […]

By : Joshua Weiler Jan 22, 2026 Comments Off

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