LawTalk 880 · 29 January 2016
New CanterburyWestland President Christchurch barrister Craig Ruane is the new President of the New Zealand Law Society’s Canterbury-Westland branch. Mr Ruane is a long-serving member of what was the Canterbury District Craig Ruane Law Society Council and then became the Canterbury-Westland branch Council. He first joined the Council in the early 1990s, when the entity was a district law society, then – after a short break – rejoined in the early 2000s. His Law Society service also includes being a long-serving faculty member of NZLS CLE Ltd’s Litigation Skills Programme, where he has also served as Programme Director. Before going to the bar in 2007, Mr Ruane was a senior prosecutor with Crown Solicitor Raymond Donnelly. He was a prosecutor for nine years, including time in East Timor prosecuting war crimes and crimes against humanity. Before that, he was a partner of Weston Ward and Lascelles in Christchurch. In fact, Mr Ruane has practised in Christchurch since graduating from Canterbury University in 1978. Mr Ruane’s current practice is a mix of civil and criminal litigation. One interesting aspect is his involvement in military law. He has regularly appeared in Courts Martial of Army, Navy and Air Force personnel. He is also a Colonel in the Territorial Force. A project which is currently occupying what little spare time Mr Ruane has is managing an earthquake rebuild and repair of his home. Having been involved in that, “I now have considerable sympathy for clients who are in the same position,” he says. He is also keen on reading, walking, tramping and pistol shooting.
10
Our Profession, Our People
Special sitting for retiring academic An unprecedented Special Sitting of the Environment Court of New Zealand honoured Associate Professor Kenneth Palmer for his exceptional contribution in the fields of environmental, resource management, planning and local government law on 10 December. Eminent members of the legal profession gathered in Auckland to commemorate Ken’s retirement after 46 years’ service as an academic at the Auckland Law School. He is retiring from full-time professorial duties to focus his full attention on legal writing and research. A former student of his, Principal Environment Judge Newhook, presided and the court included Justices Randerson and Wylie, Chief Employment Court Judge Colgan, Environment Judges Smith and Kirkpatrick and Environment Commissioner Leijnen. Peter Salmon QC, Bronwyn Carruthers, Andrew Brown QC, Dr Royden Somerville QC and Professor Barry Barton of Waikato University talked about Ken’s contribution to the legal profession as barrister, professor, editor and author. The full transcript of the special sitting is at www.rmla.org.nz/upload/files/ transcript_-_special_sitting_for_associate_professor_kenneth_palmer.pdf.
Lawyer in the top ten Auckland lawyer Mai Chen has been named in the shortlist of 10 people being considered for the 2016 Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year award. More than 330 nominations were received for these awards, which are now in their seventh year. The judging panel was due to announce the final shortlist of three this month, and the winner will be announced at the New Zealander of the Year Gala Awards evening in Auckland on 17 February. The managing partner of public and employment law specialists Chen Palmer, Ms Chen was also selected in the shortlist of 10 people for the 2014 New Zealander of the Year. “Mai Chen is one of New Zealand most highly regarded public lawyers,” the contest organisers say. “[Ms] Chen was awarded Next Magazine’s Business Woman of the Year in 2011, is a World’s Best New Zealander in the Kiwi Expatriates Network and has been named as one of New Zealand’s leading public lawyers in ALB Magazine, Legal 500, Asia Pacific Law Directory and the Chambers International Law Directory. In 2009 and 2010, Mai was featured in Unlimited magazine’s top influencers list. “Mai has written Public Law Toolbox, published by LexisNexis in March 2012. She has published articles and conference papers and contributed to seven books and major reports, mainly in the public law area.”