Commercial Law Conference 2026

Programme Thursday 30 April 2026

8.00am – 8.30am – Registration

8.30am – 8.35am – Welcome

Chair: Marika Eastwick-Field
 

8.35am – 9.40am – Case law update

A review of key judgments from New Zealand and overseas issued over the past year.

Presenters: Sarah Cahill and Honor Lanham
 

9.40am – 10.40am – Regulatory change snapshot

The current Government has been active implementing its policy agenda through a number of legislative reforms. This panel session will discuss the key changes that have been enacted and signalled to date, with a particular focus on the Overseas Investment Act 2005, Commerce Act 1986, employment law and health and safety.

Panellists: Lance Jones, Jessie Lapthorne and Alicia Murray
 

10.40am – 11.00am – Morning tea

11.00am – 11.50am – Reading the barometer: the commercial litigation forecast for 2026

Navigating commercial disputes in times of change has always been a challenge. Recent years have presented new and unexpected difficulties and 2026 promises to be no different. This session will examine:

• What is driving commercial litigation in 2026?
• Class actions – recent developments and trends.
• The new High Court Rules – what do they mean for your commercial disputes? Is a new strategy required?

Presenter: Bridgette White
 

11.50am – 12.35pm – AI legal toolkit

Overview of how practitioners are using AI - the opportunities and risks - and the potential impact of AI on the legal services industry.

Presenter: Tom Maasland
 

12.35pm – 1.25pm – Lunch

1.25pm – 2.10pm – Cyber governance

This session will look at cyber governance from a legal perspective with guidance on how to respond to an incident and what you can do to bolster your cybersecurity. Topics will include:

• balancing technology transformation and cyber risk management
• how to keep data secure including lessons from the increasing cyber landscape targeting New Zealand law firms
• an overview of the latest advances in privacy breach review tools.

Presenter: Campbell McKenzie
 

2.10pm – 3.10pm – Financial markets conduct update

An update on key regulatory developments and initiatives shaping financial markets over the past year.

This session will cover:

• recent amendments to the Financial Markets Conduct Act 2013, including updates to the climate-related disclosure regime and enhancements to the Financial Markets Authority’s (FMA’s) powers
• latest developments in the FMA’s outcomes focus and approach to ethical investment
• disclosure
• changes to market services licensing and upcoming plans for regulating custodial services
• the evolving wholesale-retail investor divide, and other emerging risks impacting financial market participants.

Presenter: David Ireland
 

3.25pm – 4.25pm – Afternoon tea

3.25pm – 4.25pm – Managing privilege and confidentiality in a M&A context

The primary motivation behind M&As include achieving synergies, expanding market share, and enhancing operational efficiencies. The importance of privilege and confidentiality leading up to the transaction cannot be overstated. This session will provide practical guidance and review the lessons learned from recent cases.

Presenters: Anastasiya Gamble and Alex Nelder
 

4.25pm – 4.30pm – Closing comments

Chair: Marika Eastwick-Field


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