Insight / Relationship Property & Family Legal guardians and wills: what every parent needs to know If you're a parent, one of the most important steps you can take to protect your child’s future is to ensure your will is up to date — including naming someone you trust to make decisions about your child if something happens to you. In New Zealand, there are two main ways someone can become a guardian of your child under the Care of Children Act 2004: either by being appointed in your will (as a “testamentary guardian”) or by the Family Court. Read more
Insight / General Business & SMEs Don’t let a breakup break up your business When it comes to talking business and considering risk, often the last thing that comes to mind is what might happen to the business if a personal relationship ends. While it might not be front of mind, it is still an essential consideration as New Zealand relationship property law can turn a business into a battleground in the event of separation. Read more
Insight / Employment To investigate or not to investigate: Triaging employee complaints Often it can be difficult for an employer to know how to respond when they receive a complaint from an employee, including whether or not they should be commencing a formal investigation. Read more
Insight / Consumer Markets Mondelez v Aldi: What can New Zealand learn from this overseas lawsuit? A recent United States lawsuit between snack giant Mondelez and discount retailer Aldi has sparked global interest, not just for its legal drama, but for the broader implications it holds for branding, packaging and fair competition. While the case is unfolding in the United States, its lessons are highly relevant to New Zealand’s retail and intellectual property landscape. Read more
Insight / Employment When is it appropriate to suspend an employee from work? As a general principle, an employee can only be suspended from work if there is some contractual or statutory justification for doing so. There are exceptions to this - for example, where serious health and safety concerns exist. In deciding whether to suspend an employee, an employer must follow the rules of natural justice including consulting with the employee. Only in rare circumstances would it be justified to suspend an employee without complying with the rules of natural justice. Read more
Insight / Dispute Resolution Show me the money: enforcing court orders for debt payment Those owed money under a contract or because of a civil wrong are often quick to pursue the debtor for their loss. They may take their case to Court and obtain a judgment which confirms a debtor must pay. However, a successful creditor may not automatically receive the money owed, as the debtor might be insolvent or simply refuse to pay. Read more
