New Chair And Directors for NZ Law Limited Board

NEW CHAIR AND DIRECTORS FOR
NZ LAW LIMITED BOARD

NZ LAW Limited has announced the appointment of its new chairman – Michael Busch, as well as the re-election of director, David Graham and the election of two new directors to its board – Gerard DeCourcy and Mark Henderson. These appointments took effect from 17 October 2014.

Michael Busch succeeds Christchurch lawyer, Simon Price, who has retired from NZ LAW’s board. Michael says, “The board and I would like to acknowledge the contribution Simon Price has made to the board as a director for seven years, and in the past three years as chairman. During this time NZ LAW has focused on providing its member firms with the most effective tools, information, technology and collaborative thinking to enable them to stay at the forefront of an ever-changing profession. Simon has driven many new initiatives for the benefit of member firms, their employees and, most importantly, their clients.”

Michael Busch is a partner at top niche Auckland law firm, Lowndes Jordan. He has been a director of NZ LAW since 2009. Michael’s law practice centres on share and business acquisitions and disposals, company takeovers, public offers of securities, managed funds, private equity, joint ventures and general contract negotiation. He is a member of the New Zealand Institute of Directors, the New Zealand Private Equity & Venture Capital Association and the Institute of Financial Professionals New Zealand Inc.

Re-elected NZ LAW director, David Graham is a director of DG Law Limited in Auckland’s Panmure. David’s expertise focuses on providing practical and effective commercial advice for his business clients, including asset structuring. He also has broad experience in the establishment, administration and operation of trusts. A former rower-turned-coach, David coached Auckland Grammar School’s rowing crews for NISS and Maadi until 2005. Earlier in life he was involved in spear fishing and underwater hockey, being president of New Zealand Underwater from 1994-2001.These days travelling with his wife Sally, cycling and enjoying food and wine occupies his leisure time.

Mark Henderson is a litigation partner at Christchurch law firm Corcoran French. His specialist fields are civil litigation, insurance law and employment. A church council member of the Hope Presbyterian Church in Christchurch, Mark is involved with the leadership and direction of the church and its significant community programmes. He has previously provided legal oversight to free advice at Community Law Centres.

Dunedin lawyer, Gerard DeCourcy is managing partner of Downie Stewart. He specialises in commercial law, property, trust and mediation. Gerard also lectures in business law at the University of Otago’s Business School. Formerly a nationally-ranked squash player (New Zealand top 16), Gerard was chairman of Squash New Zealand for five years, and then chairman and vice-president of the World Squash Federation. He is currently on the Federation’s Disciplinary and Appeals Committee and its Doping Hearing Panel.

Mr Busch says, “We welcome Gerard DeCourcy and Mark Henderson to the board and David Graham for another term. We look forward to their contributions to the group. NZ LAW would also like to acknowledge the long service to the board of Alan Vane of Taupo member firm, Le Pine & Co. Alan retires from the board having completed six years as a director. Alan has been pivotal in driving ‘special interest group’ initiatives during his time as a director.”

NZ LAW’s board of directors now comprises:

• Michael Busch, Lowndes Jordan, Auckland (chairman) with directors

• Michael de Buyzer, Berry & Co, Oamaru

• Gerard DeCourcy, Downie Stewart, Dunedin

• David Graham, DG Law Limited, Panmure, Auckland

• Jacquie Gray, Gifford Devine, Hastings

• Mark Henderson, Corcoran French, Christchurch, and

• Kristine King, Duncan King Law, Epsom, Auckland

NZ LAW is an association of independent legal practices with member firms located throughout New Zealand. There are currently 57 member firms practising in a wide range of legal disciplines including business law, dispute resolution, property law (including residential conveyancing and commercial property), immigration law, intellectual property, to tourism and viticulture.The group was established in 1992 when five law firms met in Auckland to find a way to benefit their clients by replicating the conviviality and the sharing of ideas and expertise that occurs in larger law firms, but still be able to retain client confidentiality and their own independence.

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