LawTalk 891 · 1 July 2016
Our Profession, Our People
Law firm news
Our Profession Our People Auckland barrister and commercial mediator Mark Kelly has been appointed to the World Intellectual Property Organisation Center’s List of Mediators. The WIPO Center is administered from Geneva, Mark Kelly Switzerland, and facilitates the resolution of IP disputes worldwide. Mr Kelly is on the Council of the Arbitrators’ and Mediators’ Institute of New Zealand (AMINZ). A u c k l a n d b a rr i s t e r Anita Killeen has been selected as a member of the New Zealand Institute of Directors Mentoring for Diversity Programme for 2016. The programme seeks to add to the diversity Anita Killeen of the director pool and to get directors board-ready for NZX company board positions. Members of the programme must have a track record in executive management plus board experience and have the capability to be offered a place on the board of an NZX company. The programme aims to promote diversity in its wider sense including ethnicity, age, social background, skills and experience in addition to gender. Ms Killeen is of Indian and Irish descent. Former lawyer Vanessa Stoddart has been appointed to the Financial Markets Authority Board. Ms Stoddart is an independent director for NZ Refinery, Paymark, The Warehouse Group, The Alliance Group and is a member of the Tertiary Education Commission. She was Carter Holt Harvey’s general manager performance improvement and legal counsel from 1992 to 2003, and a senior solicitor at Russell McVeagh from 1990 to 1993. ▪
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Emma Dawson (left) and Kirsty Kupa, who have opened their new law firm in Hastings.
Emma Dawson and Kirsty Kupa have opened their new law firm, DK Legal, in the Hastings CBD. It is the first Hawke’s Bay law firm to have legal software which is specifically designed for the legal profession and built in New Zealand, Emma and Kirsty say. The software enables them to have all the information they need at their fingertips which can be accessed very quickly. The pair say they are prepared to turn heads with their innovative approach. Emma says they wanted to offer more technology and efficiency, which was the main reason for opening a new firm. “There aren’t many Hawke’s Bay law firms which have facebook pages, but we’ve been amazed at how much new business we’re generating from our social media communication. It is so important that we have full digital capability, so we can service our clients properly.” ▪
Haigh Lyon History The firm founded by Frank Haigh in 1928 will be 90 years old two years hence. We would like to hear from all former Partners and staff with a view to recording what they recall of their time at Haigh Lyon or its predecessor, Haigh Charters. A telephone call to David Lyon (09 306 0606) or email d.lyon@haighlyon.co.nz would be greatly appreciated.