Relationship Property Conference 2026

Programme Thursday 25 March 2026

8.00am – 8.30am – Registration

8.30 am – 8.35am – Welcome

Chair: Yoonha Park
 

8.35am – 9.40am – Case law update 

This session will cover key developments in the case law over the past year for the PRA and related issues. It aims to be a practical, accessible guide to what you need to know to give your clients the best up-to-date advice in this area.

Presenters: Kate Bradley and Anna Venz
 

9.40am – 10.40am – Valuation of Businesses

Separating couples must determine how to divide their relationship property, including business assets and any associated debts. Establishing a fair and realistic valuation can be challenging. This session offers practical guidance to help practitioners navigate these complexities with confidence.

Presenters: Shane Campbell and Scott McClay
 

10.40am – 11.00am – Morning tea

11.00am – 11.50am – China-New Zealand relationship property claims

Guidance on how to navigate the challenges that can arise when clients have relationship property held in China.

Presenter: Dr Ruiping Ye
 

11.50am – 12.50pm – Companies Act and the PRA

Considerations when parties in a relationship property dispute are company directors and/or principal shareholders. 

Presenters: Cecil Hanafin and Rebecca Scott
 

12.50pm – 1.40pm – Lunch

1.40pm – 2.30pm – Protecting “family property”– claims on separation to intergenerational business assets

Succession planning is often overlooked when a couple is running or investing in family businesses, including farms. This session looks at the PRA issues that can arise and provides practical guidance on how to ameliorate current and potential PRA issues.

Presenter: Stephanie Marsden
 

2.30pm – 3.10pm – Lawyers Complaints Service – what you need to know

This session will provide an overview of the Lawyers Complaints Service; what lawyers can expect at each stage of the complaint process, and what to do when a complaint has been made. There will be a focus on common themes across complaints and how some of these can be avoided, as well as information on how the Complaints Service supports Standards Committees to consider and make decisions on complaints.

Presenters: Alan Dodd and April Hussey
 

3.10pm – 3.30pm – Afternoon tea

3.30pm – 4.25pm – Navigating commercial negotiations

Commercial negotiations are critical to achieving an equitable settlement.  This session will focus on how to approach commercial negotiations and provide practical tips on what to do and not do.

Presenter: Nick Kovacevich 
 

4.25pm – 4.30pm Wrap up