The Commercial team
Act for a range of clients including iwi governance entities, Māori trusts and incorporations, private businesses, public companies, developers and government departments. We provide advice relating to all forms of commercial matters, corporate governance and joint venture structuring.
Māori Governance
We advise Māori collectives on the most appropriate governance structures for their purposes. We have expertise in the range of entities which may be suitable including charitable trusts and charitable companies, Incorporated Societies, common law trusts and standard companies. We draft governance documents which are clear and unambiguous and which recognise the intricacies and specific needs of Māori organisations. Where charitable status or Māori authority status is required we liaise with the Charities Commission and the Inland Revenue Department to get the required approvals. Following establishment we advise boards as required as they implement and operate their governance structures.
Joint Venture Structuring/Commercial Negotiations
Our team have advised clients during joint venture negotiations relating to a range of commercial opportunities. We have where required lead negotiations or acted as part of a team advising negotiators. We have the experience to draft the documents required during negotiations and assisting in the development and implementation of negotiation strategies.
Public Law
As a small country New Zealanders have a high degree of interaction and interest in the decisions of central and local government. In business the interaction often needs to be direct as legislation implemented in Wellington can have a direct and immediate impact upon how an organisations functions.
We have worked with organisations to develop and implement strategies to ensure that their views are heard by officials and by Ministers. Conversely we have from time to time been asked to advise government agencies and select committees as specialist advisors.
In a Maori context we have extensive experience of Māori legal and Treaty issues in other contexts including the Māori Land Court, the Resource Management Act, the Public Works Act, and Emissions Trading. We have drafted and advised in respect to statutory acknowledgements, protocols and memorandums of understanding with government departments. We have advised in respect to Deeds of Mandate, Terms of negotiation, Agreements in Principle and Deeds of Settlements.
From a government perspective we have drafted all forms of policy papers: ministerial, PQs, Ministers briefing papers, Cabinet papers, PCO instructions and Departmental Reports to Select Committees. We have extensive knowledge of standard government core guides: Cabinet Office Manual, Legislative Committee Guidelines and the Step by Step Guide. We have advised agencies on a range of issues including recently the Auckland Super City.
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